Best Primers for Oily Skin
If you have oily skin, then you’re no stranger to the daily struggle to keep your makeup from sliding off your face. Only a couple of hours after you’ve painstakingly applied foundation, eye makeup, and blusher, you look like you’ve just finished a strenuous workout. How do you preserve the shine-free complexion that you spend so much time perfecting? The best way to help your makeup products last longer is to use a primer for oily skin.
Primers create a buffer zone between your skin and your makeup. Those that are specially formulated for oily skin absorb excess sebum and even out the skin’s surface. They keep your cosmetics in place and make the colors more vibrant. It’s the extra step that makeup artists use to give the skin a luminous glow without greasiness.
9 Value-for-Money Primers for Oily Skin
Don’t be dismayed that you have to shell out more of your hard-earned cash to incorporate a primer into your routine. An effective product doesn’t have to be expensive. We’ve rounded up nine primers that will solve your oily skin problems and won’t break your budget.
| Product | Size | Key Benefit | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Neutrogena Shine Control Matte Booster Face Primer + Serum | 30 mL (1.0 fl oz) bottle with dropper | Primer and serum hybrid | $10.48 | Buy on Amazon |
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Covergirl Full Spectrum Matte Ambition Skin Primer | 30 mL (1.0 fl oz) tube | Full spectrum sunscreen | $10.36 | Buy on Amazon |
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Nyx Professional Makeup Shine Killer Primer | 20 mL (0.67 fl oz) tube | Long-lasting mattification | $6.18 | Buy on Amazon |
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Revlon PhotoReady Pore Reducing Primer | 27 mL (0.91 fl oz) pump bottle | Mimics photo filters | $10.95 | Buy on Amazon |
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e.l.f. Matte Putty Primer | 0.74 oz tub | Infused with kaolin and white charcoal | $8.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser | 20 mL (0.67 fl oz) tube | Antioxidants from bitter cherry extract | $8.21 | Buy on Amazon |
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Revlon PhotoReady Prime Plus Makeup and Skincare Primer Mattifying + Pore Reducing | 1.0 oz pump bottle | Prevents breakouts with salicylic acid, AHA, and plant extracts | $9.97 | Buy on Amazon |
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Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Matte Face Primer | 30 g tube | Minimizes the look of pores and fine lines | $15.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Touch in Sol No PoreBlem Priming Eraser | 1.0 g (0.03 oz) pen | Convenient and discreet | $11.99 | Buy on Amazon |
1. Neutrogena Shine Control Matte Booster Face Primer + Serum
- Retail Price: $10.48 (Click here to save up to 30%)
- Size: 30 mL (1.0 fl oz) bottle with dropper
- Key Benefit: Primer and serum hybrid
Nothing beats a multitasking product when you’re looking for the best value for your money. Neutrogena Shine Control Matte Primer + Serum can be used two ways to tame oiliness. Mix a few drops with your moisturizer to create a perfect canvas before putting on your makeup. At bedtime, use it as a serum after cleansing your face. It contains rice protein that acts like a sponge to absorb excess oil throughout the night.
2. Covergirl Full Spectrum Matte Ambition Skin Primer
- Retail Price: $10.36 (Click here to check the latest promotion)
- Size: 30 mL (1.0 fl oz) tube
- Key Benefit: Full spectrum sunscreen
You can never have too much sun protection. Covergirl Matte Ambition Skin Primer contains a touch of broad-spectrum SPF 20 to complement your usual sunscreen. This oil-free primer has hard-working ingredients to soak up grease. But at the same time, the lotion-like texture won’t dry out your skin. It’s transparent so it won’t clash with foundation or blush to give you more control over your makeup.
3. Nyx Professional Makeup Shine Killer Primer
- Retail Price: $6.18 (Click here to save up to 56%)
- Size: 20 mL (0.67 fl oz) tube
- Key Benefit: Long-lasting mattification
Leave it to the professionals to make a great primer. Nyx Shine Killer Primer absorbs oils and creates a flawless veneer that makes it a joy to work with. Your makeup will stay in place for hours, giving you a fresh look that won’t quit. It’s especially effective on the T-zone. You’ll also love the extra nourishment from vitamin E—an anti-aging ingredient that won’t clog your pores.
4. Revlon PhotoReady Pore Reducing Primer
- Retail Price: $10.95 (Click here to check the latest promotion)
- Size: 27 mL (0.91 fl oz) pump bottle
- Key Benefit: Mimics photo filters
Have you ever wondered why some people’s selfies look so immaculate? Maybe, it’s because they use Revlon PhotoReady Pore Reducing Primer. It’s formulated with Revlon’s exclusive High-Definition Filter technology to capture the light to give your skin an ethereal glow without the shine. Just a few dots around your face will control the oil and erase your pores effortlessly. Who needs photoshop? #nofilter
5. e.l.f. Matte Putty Primer
- Retail Price: $8.00 (Click here to check the latest promotion)
- Size: 0.74 oz tub
- Key Benefit: Infused with kaolin and white charcoal
The velvety-soft e.l.f. Matte Putty Primer glides comfortably over the skin, smoothing over minor imperfections and enlarged pores. It has two special ingredients that help you manage oily skin. First, there’s kaolin clay to soften the skin while gently removing dead skin cells. It’s followed up with white charcoal that draws out excess oil and impurities. Your makeup will stay in place as if it’s glued on.
6. Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser
- Retail Price: $8.21 (Click here to check the latest promotion)
- Size: 20 mL (0.67 fl oz) tube
- Key Benefit: Antioxidants from bitter cherry extract
Is your skin mostly oily but also prone to dryness in some areas? You probably have combination skin. Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser goes on like a moisturizer, but leaves your skin with a matte finish. A thin layer is enough to make your face as smooth as a baby’s bottom. Bitter cherry extract strengthens your skin’s natural barrier, and also imparts a brightening effect.
7. Revlon PhotoReady Prime Plus Makeup and Skincare Primer Mattifying + Pore Reducing
- Retail Price: $9.97 (Click here to save up to 29%)
- Size: 1.0 oz pump bottle
- Key Benefits: Prevents breakouts with salicylic acid, AHA, and plant extracts
If you’re looking for a product that won’t cause your acne-prone skin to break out, then you’ll be glad to know about Revlon PhotoReady Prime Plus Mattifying + Pore Reducing Primer. It’s made with salicylic acid, a potent pimple-fighting ingredient. Alpha hydroxyl acid (AHA) is added to exfoliate your skin and reveal a fresh radiance. Essential nutrients from artichoke, watermelon, lentils, and apple visibly improve your skin the more you use it. In just four weeks, you’ll notice less oil production and easier makeup application.
8. Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Matte Face Primer
- Retail Price: $15.00 (Click here to check the latest promotion)
- Size: 30 g tube
- Key Benefit: Minimizes the look of pores and fine lines
With almost 7,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, Thank Me Later Matte Face Primer by Elizabeth Mott is the worst-kept secret by oily-skin sufferers. Not only does it reduce shine and minimize pore size, but it also has a filler effect to blur wrinkles and fine lines. It locks down makeup for hours with its sweat-proof and waterproof formula, while your skin remains satiny-smooth. It contains pearl powder to brighten and balance skin tone for days when you want to go foundation-free.
9. Touch in Sol No PoreBlem Priming Eraser
- Retail Price: $11.99 (Click here to save up to 8%)
- Size: 1.0 g (0.03 oz) pen
- Key Benefit: Convenient and discreet
To control oil when you’re on the go, reach for a Touch in Sol No PoreBlem Priming Eraser. It’s a handy way to freshen up any time of the day. Apply it wherever you want to lessen oiliness or to repair smudged makeup. One end of this easy-to-grip stick dispenses just the right amount of primer, while the other has a soft cushion tip for flawless blending. Its rich blend of grease absorbers and calming extracts will make it a must-have item in your purse.
Keep Shine Under Control Without Spending a Lot
To prepare your oily skin for makeup application, you can’t forego a primer. The ones on this list will give your skin a matte finish and keep your makeup in place all day. They’ll also blur large pores and fine lines, while controlling oil production and preventing breakouts. With all these benefits and reasonable prices, you shouldn’t think twice about adding a primer to your daily routine.
