Best Primers for Dry Skin
If your skin type is dry, then you know that applying makeup can be a major hassle. Your skin is dehydrated and rough, which means that foundation tends to clump up or flake off. Moisturizer can help, but most of them won’t give you the right surface to put on makeup and keep it on. What you need is a product that will transform your face’s texture and enable other products to go on smoothly. What you need is a primer—one that works best on dry skin.
9 Best Hydrating Primers for Dry Skin
Different hydrating primers produce different effects. Depending on the look you’re going for, you can have either a matte or a dewy surface to work with. Some primers also address specific concerns, such as large pores or wrinkles. To help you choose the best one to fit your needs, we’ve rounded up these affordable, yet effective, dry skin primers.
| Product | Size | Key Benefit | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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The Ordinary High-Adherence Silicone Primer | 30 mL (1.0 floz) tube | Blurs pores and imperfections | $11.88 | Buy on Amazon |
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e.l.f. Hydrating Face Primer | 0.47 floz pump bottle | Infused with grape, Vitamins A, C and E | $6.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Nyx Professional Makeup Hydra Touch Oil Primer | 20 mL (0.67 floz) bottle with dropper | Added hydration for extreme dryness | $9.54 | Buy on Amazon |
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Wet n Wild Photo Focus Dewy Face Primer | 25 mL (0.84 floz) tube | Works like a light tinted moisturizer | $4.79 | Buy on Amazon |
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Revlon PhotoReady Prime Plus Perfecting + Smoothing Makeup + Skincare Primer | 30 mL (1.0 floz) pump bottle | Corrects uneven skin texture | $11.87 | Buy on Amazon |
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Neutrogena Hydro Boost Glow Primer + Serum | 30 mL (1.0 floz) bottle with dropper | Primer and serum hybrid | $14.97 | Buy on Amazon |
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Maybelline Facestudio Master Prime Hydrate + Smooth Primer Makeup | 30 mL (1.0 floz) tube | Skin-refining primer | $7.77 | Buy on Amazon |
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Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Illuminating Face Primer | 30 g tube | Contains pearl powder | $15.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Honest Beauty Everything Primer Glow | 30 mL (1.0 floz) bottle | Nurtures skin with peony root extract | $17.59 | Buy on Amazon |
1. The Ordinary High-Adherence Silicone Primer
- Retail Price: $11.88 (Click here to save up to 26%)
- Size: 30 mL (1.0 floz) tube
- Key Benefit: Blurs pores and imperfections
The Ordinary is one of the most popular skincare brands out there, but did you know that they have foundations and primers, too? The Ordinary High-Adherence Silicone Primer is an oil-free hydrator that will make your skin look like you’re drinking tons of water every day. The formula is a bit thick, but it melts into your skin quickly. It uses advanced adaptive silicones to create a flawless matte veneer for your regular makeup. Fine lines and pores are minimized, and as the name says, it adheres to your face for hours.
2. e.l.f. Hydrating Face Primer
- Retail Price: $6.00 (Click here to check the latest promotion)
- Size: 0.47 floz pump bottle
- Key Benefit: Infused with grape, Vitamins A, C and E
If you’re looking for a primer that is super specific to your skin type, then e.l.f. probably makes it. With over a dozen primers in their arsenal, there’s something for everyone. For extra hydration with a natural matte finish, they have e.l.f. Hydrating Face Primer. Its creamy texture glides on easily, transforming your face into a smooth canvas. It contains grape seed oil to moisturize the skin and tighten pores. It also has anti-aging multivitamins to shield you from environmental damage.
3. Nyx Professional Makeup Hydra Touch Oil Primer
- Retail Price: $9.54 (Click here to save up to 32%)
- Size: 20 mL (0.67 floz) bottle with dropper
- Key Benefit: Added hydration for extreme dryness
Is your skin so dry that your makeup just flakes off as soon as you put it on? Nyx Hydra Touch Oil Primer has you covered. Formulated with oils from sweet almond, safflower, and jojoba, it moisturizes without feeling heavy. It won’t clog your pores, either. Gently massage one dropper-full of this primer on your face and let it sink in for a few minutes. The result is a dewy complexion that will make your makeup pop.
4. Wet n Wild Photo Focus Dewy Face Primer
- Retail Price: $4.79 (Click here to check the latest promotion)
- Size: 25 mL (0.84 floz) tube
- Key Benefit: Works like a light tinted moisturizer
Wet n Wild is one of those drugstore cosmetics brands that have been around forever. It’s not a surprise, given that their products are so affordable and work better than you’d expect. Their Photo Focus Dewy Face Primer contains pearl pigments to give your skin a glow-from-within look. And, it’s infused with Vitamin E to boost skin barrier function. This light pink cream can be worn alone, or you can use it under makeup for a subtle, non-greasy sheen.
5. Revlon PhotoReady Prime Plus Perfecting + Smoothing Makeup + Skincare Primer
- Retail Price: $11.87 (Click here to save up to 15%)
- Size: 30 mL (1.0 floz) pump bottle
- Key Benefit: Corrects uneven skin texture
Wouldn’t it be great if your cosmetics could improve your skin not just on the surface, but also deep within the cells? Revlon PhotoReady Prime Plus Perfecting + Smoothing feeds your skin with vitamin B5 every time you use it. This ingredient has calming and soothing properties to reduce facial blemishes. It’s partnered with hyaluronic acid, a potent humectant that absorbs moisture from the air and traps it. Together, they plump up the layers of the skin to reveal a smooth, even texture that enhances your makeup.
6. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Glow Primer + Serum
- Retail Price: $14.97 (Click here to check the latest promotion)
- Size: 30 mL (1.0 floz) bottle with dropper
- Key Benefit: Primer and serum hybrid
For instant hydration, Neutrogena has made a name for itself with its Hydro Boost product line. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Glow Primer + Serum can be used two ways to beat skin dryness and dullness. A few drops mixed with your moisturizer will create a dewy canvas for your makeup. Or, you can use it alone as a serum after cleansing your face. Its ingredients are simple but powerful: glycerin to moisturize, and sodium hyaluronate to help you retain that moisture.
7. Maybelline Facestudio Master Prime Hydrate + Smooth Primer Makeup
- Retail Price: $7.77 (Click here to check the latest promotion)
- Size: 30 mL (1.0 floz) tube
- Key Benefit: Skin-refining primer
Maybelline Facestudio Master Prime has five variants to address every skin concern. For dry skin, use the water-based Hydrate + Smooth. This lightweight primer erases imperfections and refines your skin’s look and texture. It contains light reflectors that will minimize the appearance of large pores and fine lines. At the same time, it nourishes your skin with just the right amount of moisture. The effect is sheer luminosity that lasts all day.
8. Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Illuminating Face Primer
- Retail Price: $15.00 (Click here to check the latest promotion)
- Size: 30 g tube
- Key Benefit: Contains pearl powder
Dry-skin sufferers know that Thank Me Later Illuminating Face Primer by Elizabeth Mott is one the best products for treating dull, dry skin. It has castor oil that’s rich in vitamin E and omega 3 fats to fight skin aging. It also has anti-inflammatory properties to relieve irritation caused by arid environments—goodbye, winter redness! This formula is sweat-proof and waterproof, so you’ll be sure that your makeup won’t budge. Pearl powder is added to give your skin a magical iridescence.
9. Honest Beauty Everything Primer Glow
- Retail Price: $17.59 (Click here to save up to 20%)
- Size: 30 mL (1.0 floz) bottle
- Key Benefit: Nurtures skin with peony root extract
When Jessica Alba founded The Honest Company in 2011, people could not wait for her makeup line to hit the stores. Her products are designed with ethical consumerism in mind, and Honest Beauty Everything Primer is no exception. It uses ingredients that are vetted by dermatologists, and certified cruelty-free. Boost your skin’s moisture with hyaluronic acid and shea butter, and protect it with anti-aging peony root extract. Get that Jessica Alba glow every time you apply this primer.
Glow Up with a Dry Skin Primer
When it comes to skincare and cosmetics, you have to do the research before you buy. There are loads of different formulas in the market today, and each has a specific purpose. For dry skin, you need products that will moisturize and prevent further water loss. One such product that you should be using is a primer. With the right primer, your skin will look and feel supple, and your makeup will glide on like a dream.
