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3 hours ago
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Sephora
It doesn't matter if your makeup looks—or actually was—professionally done. If your full beat melts off the second you step outside or your concealer looks crusty by happy hour... what's the point?
A good primer is just as (if not more!) important to your glam as the foundation, contour, and rest of your 12-step routine.
And not all formulas are created equal! A good prep should grip your foundation well enough to not worry about constant touch-ups and lock in your smokey eye with minimal effort. The best prep goes a step further and actively hydrates, evens, and improves your overall complexion too.
Keep scrolling to browse 8 primers that will keep your makeup pristine for up to 12 hours—and your skin even prettier than before you used it.
ELF Power Grip Primer
Budget-friendly doesn't mean less effective. Case in point: ELF's Power Grip Primer that probably costs less than your weekday lunch order—but boasts over 30,000 glowing reviews.
Shoppers Say: It's an "easy application and helps make [their] makeup last all day."
Tarte Base Tape Priimer
Fan of Tarte's Shape Tape Concealer? You'll love the Base Tape just as much. The hydrating primer creates the perfect foundation for a full beat and leaves your complexion even glowier than it started.
Shoppers Say: the primer is "intensely moisturizing but not greasy at all" and it "keeps [their] face looking dewy."
Refy Glow and Sculpt Face Serum Primer
Refy's Glow and Sculpt Face Serum Primer is a 10/10 formula (that leaves your skin dewy and locks in makeup) but wait! It gets better! The applicator literally sculpts your face while prepping the skin, so you can skip your morning Gua Sha routine.
Shoppers Say: the product is the "holy grail" of primers and a "staple" in their routine. One reviewer said they love the way it makes their "skin feel and look."
One/Size by Patrick Starrr Secure the Blur Makeup Magnet Primer
One/Size is the GOAT of setting spray, so it only makes sense the Patrick Starrr-led makeup brand would slay the primer game too. As the name suggests, Secure the Blur is a blurring, mattifying formula that minimizes pores, evens texture, and controls shine while keeping your makeup in place all day.
Shoppers Say: Their "foundation goes on flawlessly and lasts all day without creasing or settling into pores."
Huda Beauty Easy Blur Primer
Huda Beauty's Easy Blur Primer will give you that airbrushed look you thought was only achievable with Facetune. It asborbs excess oil, smooths texture, and blurs pores—as if it was never there to begin with!
Shoppers Say: it "makes [their] makeup last & gives off a filter effect!!"
Urban Decay All Nighter Primer
The All Nighter Primer from Urban Decay is tried-and-true for a reason. It's just that good. The formula delivers on its name with a grip that keeps your entire makeup look perfectly in place...all night.
Shoppers Say: the primer is a "makeup game-changer" that extends "the wear of [their] makeup for hours on end."
Merit Great Skin Priming and Firming Moisturizer
Talk about double duty! Merit's Great Skin Priming and Firming Moisturizer does it all. The lightweight cream hydrates and preps the skin while firming, soothing, and creating more elasticity in your complexion at the same time.
Shoppers Say: the formula "feels light, clean ingredients and hydrating." One person said it "makes [their] skin look like glass and [their] makeup slides on so effortlessly."
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer
Worried about breakouts? Don't. This Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer is a holy grail find for anyone with acne-prone skin and even offers a lightweight blurring effect for days makeup feels like too much effort.
Shoppers Say: it's "worth the investment," "hasn't caused breakouts," and makes their skin look "so smooth."
These are the most-searched beauty gifts of 2025, according to Google's Holiday 100 List
How We Choose
The E! Insider Shop editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews, and use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think our readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not E!. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.
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