The Best Primer for Combination Skin – 2023 Reviews and Top Picks
In our commitment to help you look your best when wearing makeup, we reviewed 5 of the best primers created for people who have combination skin. These primers were selected and ranked based on their ability to smoothen out face, their mattifying power, their overall feel on the face, and their affordability so we can present the best primer for combination skin.
Maybelline’s Face Studio Master Prime, Blur + Smooth is great at blurring out skin flaws. This lightweight primer can be worn under foundation or by itself for a poreless complexion.
The Honey Dew Me Up Primer by NYX contains honey and collagen that help repair skin. It also contains gold flecks to help boost the skin’s natural radiance.
Choose the Skinperfect Primer SPF 30 by Dermalogica for an enhanced radiance and luminosity. It contains SPF to provide protection against the sun’s damaging rays.
As the name suggests, the Mattifier & Face Primer by Sacha is designed to leave face with a matte finish for hours. It is incredibly lightweight and has a wear that can last for up to 8 hours.
Go for the Shine Stopper by Paula’s Choice to reduce the appearance of large pores. It also boasts of its Microsponge Technology that helps keep oil at bay.
2017’s Reviews of the Best Primers for Combination Skin
Rankings | Brands | Content | Key feature/s | Editor’s Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
#3 | 0.75 ounce | Soy protein, natural minerals, peptides, white tea polyphenols, and SPF | ||
#2 | 0.77 ounce | Honey, gold flakes, and collagen | ||
#1 | 1 ounce | Blurs and smoothens | ||
#4 | 1 ounce | Provides an 8-hour shine-free look | ||
#5 | 1 ounce | MICROSPONGE® Technology |
Curious to know as to what the best primers for combination skin are? Keep reading to find out our top favorites.
The Face Studio Master Prime product line comes in three variations. This product blurs out lines, Blur + Illuminate helps boost your glow while Blur + Redness Control rids of redness.
Its ability to blur out skin imperfections makes this the best primer for combination skin. This also helps smoothen fine lines to create a flawless and even canvas for makeup or foundation.
Lightweight, this primer has an oil-free formula and does not cause clogged pores. It is allergy and dermatologically-tested, making it great for almost all skin types.
This product comes with a creamy texture that’s quickly absorbed by the skin and easy to apply. It is lightly hydrating and the drier parts of your face will feel softer and smoother in an instant.
This makeup primer is, however, not silicone-based so those with large pores wouldn’t be thrilled with this. But, for those with smaller pores who seek hydration, this is the perfect one for you.
What We Like:
- Lightweight
- Free of fragrances
- Can also be used as an eye primer
- A little goes a long way
What We Didn’t Like:
- May not be for sensitive skin
- Does not leave a matte finish
- Can dry out face
What makes this a great primer for combination skin is that it’s packed with nutrients that are beneficial for the skin. It also helps in neutralizing the appearance of redness and discoloration.
Its first skin beneficial ingredient is honey, which is a natural antiseptic. This product is also enriched with collagen and gold flakes, which strengthen skin and boost its overall radiance.
This product comes with a spatula-like applicator and is easily absorbed by the skin. It instantly gives you soft, supple skin with decreased redness- great features for the summer.
The texture of this primer is like watered-down honey. It provides a dewy, smooth finish that your dry skin will love.
It allows foundation or makeup to glide on smoothly and easily.
We, however, didn’t like that it came with gold flecks that just sit on top of the skin—making you look like you applied glitter on your face. It is also packaged beautifully, but not really practical.
What We Like:
- Highly moisturizing
- Readily absorbed by the skin
- Gives skin a radiant, golden glow
What We Didn’t Like:
- Contains fragrance
- Can be a bit sticky
- Comes in a glass jar
- Application can be messy
Its ability to add a radiant glow is really interesting. Apart from being a primer, it also works as a sunscreen and an anti-aging treatment, so you’re really getting more for what you pay for.
This product contains Soy Protein that evens out skin. It also contains minerals that balance skin tone, peptides that boost skin firmness and White Tea polyphenols that fight free radicals.
This primer has a slight dewy finish to it. It also looks darker on the tube, but once the product touches your skin, it turns transparent and immediately matches your skin tone.
And did we mention it has SPF30? That’s quite rare for a primer, and is a must when dealing with skin aging.
Silicone-based, this product is perfect even for those who have larger pores. It also comes in a firm plastic tube with a fine point tip, meaning you get to control the amount you squeeze out.
What We Like:
- Contains SPF
- Lightweight
- A little goes a long way
- Fragrance-free
What We Didn’t Like:
- Can cause breakouts
- Firm plastic tube makes squeezing a hassle
- May not be for people with fair skin
Its long-wearing property and ability to control oil are what make this product a great help for combination skin. It also works well on all skin types as it is lightweight and applies smoothly on the skin.
This product has a creamy texture and is whitish. Despite these properties, it is quickly absorbed by the skin.
A little also goes a long way for this product. You can apply it all over your face or on your problem areas alone.
We really love that this primer can withstand hot weather. It does a great job in minimizing the appearance of pores and in making foundation easier to apply and more blendable.
This product is different because it uses cornstarch instead of silicone. This makes it gentler on the skin and makes it better at keeping makeup stay in place.
And the best thing is that it does not cause clogged pores.
Because this face primer lasts the whole day, there is little to no need for retouches. A person I know even stated that 2 blot sheets were reduced to ½-1 ever since she started using the product.
What We Like:
- Great oil control
- Easily absorbed by the skin
- Lightweight
What We Didn’t Like:
- Not fragrance-free
- Is a bit sticky
- Can be a little waxy
The Microsponge Technology of this product is what makes this primer interesting. This is great in keeping oil at bay while reducing the size of pores for a flawless appearance.
It basically comes in a tube with a very small opening—which is a good thing, because you get to control how much you’re going to use. This, for us, is a plus point for value for money.
Clinical results show that this product leaves you with a mattified look for up to 8 hours. This creamy formula dries to a smooth, powder-like finish to smoothen minor skin imperfections.
The product balances out combination skin and is ideal for those who want to maintain a fresh, mattified look. It can be used on its own, as well as prior to makeup for it to stay put all day long.
This face primer is highly recommended for men. However, what sets it apart is it can also be used on shiny areas of the scalp.
What We Like:
- Does a great job at controlling oil
- Leaves skin smooth and silky
- Great even on hot weather
What We Didn’t Like:
- Does not control oil for 8 hours as advertised
- Works better without makeup
- May not work for seriously oily skin
Reviews and Comparisons of the Best Primers for Combination Skin
Rankings | Best Overall | 2nd choice | 3rd choice | 4th choice | 5th choice |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Top-Rated Primers for Combination Skin 2017 |
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Brand | |||||
Lightweight | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Oil-free | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Fragrance-free | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Get Started |
The Best Tips in Choosing a Primer for Combination Skin
Makeup geeks know that applying primer should always be the first step in any beauty routine. Aside from preparing our face for makeup, primers help prevent it from “melting off.”
Prepping the face includes four steps. There’s cleansing, toning, and moisturizing.
The last step is applying a primer. However, similar to other skin care products, you should pick one that matches your skin type the best.
As a rule of thumb, always go for primers that offer a mattified finish. A product that is free of any oils will be able to give you that.
Primers with such properties can be bought in powder form or liquid-to-powder form.
Using a small amount, apply it evenly on your face. You don’t have to use too much product on your skin. Instead, you should focus on setting the product into your skin.
For a flawless makeup, apply it on your eyelids as well as they tend to oil up by midday.
How to Fight Oil After Wearing Makeup
Even after applying matte makeup, we cannot prevent our natural oils from seeping in at some point. Here are some tips on how to stay shine-free even if you have combination skin:
- Invest on blotting papers. They help remove excess oil on your face without ruining your makeup. Just remember to use “pressing” motions, and avoid rubbing it on your face.
- Apply powder on areas where you have removed oil. Powders help in absorbing excess oils that have remained and help you keep an even complexion. This can be applied by pressing a beauty blender, sponge, or puff on the area. A great tip is to always have powder in your purse.
- Consider applying a face mask at least twice a week. A good oil-fighting mask includes ingredients like bentonite or kaolin clays.
Start off by applying a thin layer on your face, and then wait for about 15 minutes or until it hardens. Use warm water to wash it off.
While great at absorbing oils, these clays help soothe irritations that can be caused by dry skin.
Conclusion
Having a primer is a must if you follow makeup application religiously. As the name implies, they help prep your face before applying makeup for that smooth, flawless finish.
People with combination skin can really benefit from primers because they keep makeup from “melting off.” But with a lot of options to choose from, do you know which one’s the best for you?
We have chosen the Face Studio Master Prime Makeup, Blur + Smooth by Maybelline as the best primer for combination skin. It perfectly blurs out skin imperfections and smooths out fine lines.
Lightweight, it is free of any oils and is non-comedogenic. The best part is it is absolutely cheap, so if you’re looking for an economical yet effective product, this is what you’re searching for.
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