Get a flawless base with the 12 best makeup primers I tested in 2025

For any beauty lover, one of the most annoying issues to deal with is spending hundreds of dollars on makeup a year and having it smudge, smear or fade away.I hear you, especially if you purchase a primer and your makeup isn’t perfectly locked in place.

You may be thinking, “what does makeup primer do?” So, as a full-time commerce reporter who’s absorbed in all things beauty, I’m here to bring the best makeup primers to your attention.Not only did I test dozens myself but I also called upon top beauty experts to dial down what a primer *actually is*, if it’s necessary, how to apply it and more.Consider it the sister of the setting spray, the free agent helping to make your full-coverage foundation last all day.“You should be able to tell if the makeup primer is working for you right when you start applying foundation — it should glide on effortlessly and blend beautifully and evenly,” David Razzano, Sephora Beauty Director, told The Post.

“You should also notice that your complexion makeup stays looking fresh and gorgeous throughout the day.”The best makeup primers not only help your makeup stay in place and look fresh for hours at a time, but will also smooth fine lines, minimize the appearance of pores, and even out skin tone.You’ll want to keep in mind your personal skin type and needs, ideal longevity, application, ingredients, coverage and finish when choosing the right makeup primer for you.Check out the in-depth FAQ section for tips on shopping for and properly applying a makeup primer, too.I don’t like to use the term “holy grail” because I deem it overused in the beauty community, but that’s the perfect way to describe the Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Hydrating Makeup Primer.

If you love the brand’s cult-favorite (another overused beauty term) Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Foundation ($69) — one of the best foundations for dry skin — you haven’t seen anything yet.Its silk-smooth packaging mimics the super-smooth formul...