7 Must-Have Makeup Primers

The most natural and lasting makeup applications are the ones that are applied over a primer. A primer prepares the skin for makeup and can be used on eyes, cheeks, lashes, and lips. Like providing a blank canvas, it helps create an even base and blur the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also keeps makeup in place for longer. And the very best primers even give some TLC to your skin by moisturizing and soothing. Here are seven primers you’ll love. —Jennifer Cox

Lise Watier Base Miracle Skin Perfecting Primer, $44

This is the perfect blurring makeup primer that instantly and visibly gives skin a silky finish while reducing the appearance of enlarged pores and small lines. Your skin will feel velvety-soft and will be transformed into a smooth canvas for flawless, long-lasting makeup. It’s enriched with antipollution properties, helps shield skin against urban and digital pollution, and has illuminating qualities, reducing the appearance of dark spots and imperfections too.

Smashbox Mini Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Oil-Free Foundation Primer, $22, available at Sephora Canada

You’ll love this clear, oil-free primer gel. It not only smooths your skin and relaxes the look of pores, but it also helps your makeup last. Lightweight and oil-free, it gives you a flawless finish. Meanwhile, antioxidants and vitamins A and E help protect your skin from pollutants, damage, and stress.

The Liquid Silk Canvas from Tatcha, $34

Nothing beats a makeup-perfecting liquid that also protects your skin. This primer does it all: smooths texture and blurs pores for even, long-lasting makeup, hydrates and leaves a healthy glow before makeup, and cocoons skin from the harmful effects of blue light and pollution. This primer is actually proven to improve your skin over time!

Caliray So Blown Clean Primer, $36

This lightweight and ultra-blurring complexion primer has a soft, silky feel your face will love. It nourishes skin with collagen peptides, oleic acid, vitamin E, niacinamide, and a pore-disappearing wonder called poreaway. You can wear it alone or underneath skin tint. It plumps up skin and yet diminishes pores, and it creates a velvety, super-filtered look.

Tarte Poreless Mattifying Primer, $46

This smoothing face primer has a waterproof formula with optical matte-blur technology that filters out any imperfections you have. It’s a silky, invisible gel that creates a seamless shine-free finish for extended 12-hour wear. This particular primer is ideal if you have oily or combination skin.

Benefit Cosmetics Mini The POREfessional Pore Minimizing Primer, $20, available at Sephora Canada

Quickly minimize the appearance of pores and fine lines, and help makeup stay put with this priming phenomenon. The silky and lightweight formula can be worn under makeup to create a smoother-than-smooth canvas, or it can be used throughout the day to mattify shine and touch-up problem areas. It’s so translucent, no one will know you’re wearing anything.

Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer, $38

This is a clean hydrating face primer that grips makeup up to 12 hours and hydrates skin with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to prevent makeup from caking, fading, and creasing. You don’t need much of this concentrated primer – a little goes a long way! No wonder it’s been the recipient of more than 10 beauty and makeup awards! It’s great for those with normal to dry skin.