A primer is essentially a makeup product, yet in some ways, it can be considered skincare in its own right. This is mostly because of its skin-protecting properties that serve as a barrier for your skin, preventing any of the foundation’s ingredients from being absorbed by your skin. On top of that, many formulas today offer a plethora of complexion-perfecting benefits.
But besides protecting your skin, primers often wear several hats including concealing, smoothing, and prepping. Its most common role, however, is to create a smooth canvas, allowing your makeup to seamlessly adhere to it and improve the staying power. Without it, your foundation won’t last as long as you would want it to, even after using a setting powder.
Whether you’re a pro-primer or not, odds are, you will love the products we will be reviewing today. All of them will give you a smooth and natural glow so you won’t have to rely on filters. But best of all, these products are ideal for sensitive skin – goodbye irritation and redness then!
Contents
THE BUYING GUIDE
How a Primer Works
In essence, there are three main roles of a primer. First, it works to turn your skin into a smooth canvas. It’s a base that allows for better blending of foundation, blush, and more. It also helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and enlarged pores. To achieve this, most primers have this blurring effect.
Second, a primer nourishes your skin. For instance, some uniquely formulated primers contain ingredients like Salicylic Acid that is perfect for acne-prone skin, or Vitamin E or Hyaluronic Acid for dehydrated skin.
Lastly, a primer acts as a shield for your skin so the product(s) after it sticks to the primer instead of your skin.
Otherwise, all the things you put on will pile up and get absorbed into the skin, which will likely lead to clogged pores.
How To Choose The Best Primers For Sensitive Skin
Millions of people share the same fate, uh, skin type rather, like you. Thus, it’s incredibly important to know which ingredients to be wary of. Naturally, you want your skin to be fed with nutrients, not poison. When it comes to primer, one wrong ingredient can mess up your sensitive skin. So, when choosing which one to buy, you must know which ingredients and formulations to avoid and which to go for.
More importantly, pick a primer with a short ingredient list. Many beauty supply stores will advise you on which primer is best for sensitive types. The rule of thumb here is that the fewer additives in your primer, the lower chance of experiencing a bad reaction.
SAY NO to:
- Harmful chemicals (e.g., parabens, fragrance, phthalates, etc.)
- Essential oils and plant extracts
- Mineral oils
- Silicones
SAY YES to:
- Hypoallergenic
- Oil-free
- Paraben-free
- Fragrance-free
- Silicone-free
- Non-comedogenic
Our Top 6 Primer Picks For Sensitive Skin Type
1.Maybelline New York Face Studio Master Prime Primer, Blur + Redness Control
Sensitive skin sometimes has redness on it. You can use a primer that tones down any red area. One of these is the Maybelline’s Blur + Redness Control Primer. Just to warn you, it’s a green-toned primer, so don’t be alarmed with the green tinge. This is actually a good thing since a green-tinted formula will cancel out your red skin.
On top of that, it’s a water-soluble base combined with active ingredients that blur out any imperfections you may have. In addition to blurring your blemishes, it helps control oiliness while also hydrating the skin, and applies smoothly without the greasy feeling.
It’s dermatologist AND allergy tested, so your sensitive skin won’t complain. It won’t clog your pores, too!
Highlights
– Water-based
– Lightweight
– Non-clogging
– Great for evening skin tone
– Dermatologist tested
Downsides
– Needs more blurring effect
– Too moisturizing for oily and combination skin
2.Glossiva Makeup Primer One Step Color Corrector, Skin Tone Correcting and Brightening Primer
A triple-action primer from Glossiva is one heck of a formula, with its abundance of skin-nourishing ingredients. It can even pass off as a skincare product! One of its primary tasks is to correct skin discoloration, whether it’s red areas, dark circles, or spots.
If your skin is not overly sensitive and doesn’t mind getting several kinds of nutrients, this primer may be perfect for you as it is packed with various types of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. As a result, it won’t just cover-up, but ultimately, enrich your skin to provide a healthier, natural beauty.
Wait, there’s more! This tone correcting and brightening primer also helps protect your skin from the sun. And lastly, it’s gentle enough to suit sensitive facial skin.
Highlights
– Hypoallergenic and gentle
– Very nourishing
– 3x the benefit
– Cruelty-free and no harmful chemicals
– Mattifies and hydrates
Downsides
– Has a mild to strong scent
– Doesn’t glide easily
3.TULA Probiotic Skin Care Face Filter Blurring and Moisturizing Primer
TULA Skincare’s secret to clean and effective products lies with the power of probiotics and superfoods. And true enough, the TULA blurring and moisturizing primer is a testament to this.
Formulated to enhance the skin’s appearance and bring back its natural balance, this primer instantly smoothes the look of uneven tone and redness.
That’s because the product is loaded with skin-loving ingredients like turmeric, chia seeds, licorice, and probiotics. It also locks in hydration, leaving your face hydrated, radiant, and prepped for the rest of your beauty routine.
Unlike green-toned primers, this one has a warm tone, which makes a great luminous makeup base for a ‘golden’ finish.
Highlights
– Glow particles that give off a sun-kissed look
– Lightweight
– Suitable for all skin types
– Clean and safe ingredient list
– Infused with effective and good stuff
Downsides
– Too ‘orangey’ for some
– Too runny consistency
4.Honest Beauty Everything Primer, Matte with Micronized Bamboo Powder
If you go by its features alone, this primer from Honest Beauty ticks off all boxes that scream ‘formulated precisely for sensitive skin’.
Made with micronized bamboo powder, this product ensures a matte finish and long-lasting makeup coverage.
Plus, it blurs imperfections and pores for a more even appearance. The micronized bamboo ingredient primarily works to give off a soft-focus loss and to control surface oils.
Besides being a mattifying primer, it’s also made with black currant and raspberry extracts for antioxidant properties. With its clean yet high-impact formula, you wouldn’t have to choose between a safe primer or one that’s effective.
Highlights
– Paraben, fragrance, silicone, and oil free
– Non-comedogenic
– Dermatologist-tested
– Hypoallergenic
– Natural ingredients
Downsides
– Not ideal for dry skin
– Lacks shine control
5.Almay 5-in-1 Correction Primer, 1 fl. oz. face primer
Another hypoallergenic primer that works amazingly on sensitive skin types is the Almay 5-in-1 face primer that’s infused with microspheres to refine, smoothen, brighten, mattify, and even out your skin tone all at once.
It’s truly a do-it-all primer! It also claims to go on smoothly on the skin, accomplishing a perfect complexion that lets you skip foundation. This primer doesn’t feel tacky since it’s an oil-free gel. The microspheres are composed of two kinds – lavender spheres for evening skin tone and green spheres for minimizing redness.
Furthermore, it can help soften your skin texture, thanks to its hydrating properties. While it’s specifically made for sensitive skin, it works just as well with other skin types.
Highlights
– Lightweight and oil free
– Dermatologist tested and hypoallergenic
– 5x the benefit
– Ideal for all skin types
– Fragrance-free and cruelty-free
Downsides
– Off-putting smell
– Lacks color correction effect
6.Too Faced Hangover Rx Replenishing Face Primer
Need a quick beauty fix after your hangover? Try Too Faced’s replenishing primer. Excellent for dry skin, this primer instantly hydrates, brightens, and smooths your face, creating a healthy dewy finish.
The result? You’d look like you had enough sleep and drank many liters of water. It also promotes skin’s elasticity and is made with coconut water, which is a bonus for dry and normal skin, even more so if you have dry patches.
At the same time, this primer is formulated without harmful chemicals so sensitive skin can safely use it.
If you want a primer that will give you a more natural glow, instead of a matte finish, then this is perfect for you.
Highlights
– Paraben and silicone-free
– Nicely hydrating
– Softens and smoothes skin texture
– Great consistency
Downsides
– Too moisturizing for oily skin
– Doesn’t do much hiding imperfections
FAQs
1.How is a primer different from foundation and concealer?
The logic is simple actually. Think of the primer as the base of your makeup, the foundation as the main tool to even skin tone, and the concealer as a spot product that’s specifically applied on blemished areas. With primers, you can have one for the face, eyes, and even nails, while concealers and foundations are mostly used on the face.
2. What color makeup primer should I use?
Makeup face primers come in clear and colored shades. Typically, clear primers are used for even skin complexions without too many blemishes. Meanwhile, color-toned primers follow the color wheel concept wherein colors on one side cancel the colors on the opposite side. For instance, green primers are effective in correcting red spots on the skin.
3. Why do many primers contain silicone?
Primers having silicones usually produce a blurring, poreless effect. Aren’t we all attracted to this kind of finish? Silicones work to smooth fine lines and wrinkles, prolong your foundation’s wear, and help the rest of your makeup products apply evenly. Its bad rep is not entirely unfounded though. On a positive note, many silicone-free face primers work just as great. You just need to find the right formula.
4. What’s the best primer for my sensitive skin?
Sensitive skin, as we all know, is highly vulnerable to inflammation, irritation, or any adverse reaction. Because of this, it’s best to play it as safely as possible when picking a primer. As such, opt for one that has the cleanest and most natural ingredient list like the Honest Beauty Everything Primer, Matte with Micronized Bamboo Powder.
Final Say
Hopefully, this blog has helped streamline your search for the best primers. With countless products to choose from, there has to be a formula that’s perfect for you.
Remember, a primer can make or break your look.
Whatever the brand is, so long as it’s a nourishing and gentle formula that suits your skin type and needs, then your skin will thank you.