I’ve recently been experimenting with my makeup routine and I’ve quickly learned that finding a really good primer is essential to achieving that glow-from-within beauty look. Through trial and watching beauty videos on social, I’m sharing the best pore minimizing primers.
I highly recommend following this order: skincare first, primer second, foundation third, and concealer last.
Primers are amazing at blurring any large pores, uneven skin texture, and fine lines. They also help keep your makeup in place all day long.
Primers are the ultimate makeup artist’s secret to the flawless filter look!
The most important takeaway is that a really great primer is key to making your face the perfect silk canvas. So, if you weren’t using a primer before this is your sign to start incorporating it for good. 😉
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Shop my picks for the best pore minimizing primers below:
8 Best Pore Minimizing Primers
1. Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer
I had to start off with my current favorite primer, which is the Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer.
This primer recently went viral and I’m so here for it because it’s that good! 🤩
This primer works amazingly on all skin types but works especially well on people with dry skin since it’s hydrating.
It’s a 94% gel formula that smooths your skin and keeps makeup in place for up to 12 hours—it leaves a radiant finish.
I love that this primer is loaded with skin-loving ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, Hemp-Derived Cannabis Seed Extract, Niacinamide, and Blue Agave Extract.
All of these ingredients work together to bring benefits like boosted hydration and glowy skin texture.
2. Rare Beauty Pore Diffusing Primer
I’ve been seeing Rare Beauty everywhere on social and I’ve been so curious to try this Pore Diffusing Primer.
This primer is especially a cushiony gel primer that blurs the look of pores and fine lines.
It has a matte finish and works amazingly on combination skin, oily skin, and dry skin.
You’ll find amazing key ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, Green Tea Extract, and Vitamin E in it.
All of these ingredients work together to hydrate, soothe, and protect skin from any environmental stressors. I also love that it’s free of parabens or bad skin ingredients.
You can either wear this primer alone as skincare or you can wear it under makeup to keep your makeup looking smooth all day.
3. Tatcha The Liquid Silk Canvas Primer
If you’ve been following me, you know how much I love Tatcha—you can read my Best Tatcha Products post here.
With that being said, it’s no surprise that I fell in love with the Liquid Silk Canvas featherweight protective primer.
This primer has a very lightweight feeling once absorbed into the skin. It’s made with silk extracts to protect the skin from any environmental stressors while keeping your makeup in place all day.
Again, this is a primer that doubles as skincare so you’re really getting a 2-in-1. This formula works amazingly on all skin types but is especially sensitive skin and acne-prone skin-friendly.
The silk extract provides a ton of hydration to make your skin glow from within.
The Hadasei-3 complex has double-fermented Uji green tea, Akita rice, and Mozuku algae that promote anti-aging.
I’m obsessed with the way this primer minimizes the look of my pores and fine lines—yay for no more foundation creasing!
Click below to shop the best pore moisturizing primers:
4. Smashbox Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Primer
The Smashbox Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Primer is another classic pore-minimizing primer. It has a clear gel consistency that instantly smooths your skin and blurs your pores.
I love that there are vitamins A and E to protect the skin from any pollutants. I’ve noticed that when my skin is especially dry, this primer works really well at hydrating the skin to prevent any creasing.
This primer will also really keep your foundation and concealer in place all day. My makeup glides on the skin so easily after applying the primer post skincare.
5. POREfessional Pore Minimizing Primer
The POREfessional face primer by Benefit is easily a cult favorite primer—this one has been around forever. Prior to using the Milk Makeup primer, I was using this primer for years.
I love how quickly this blurs the look of my pores and fine lines. My skin also feels instantly soft after applying a layer of this primer.
It has more of a cream-like consistency that leaves a natural finish. It doesn’t leave you looking too oily or too matte.
I’ve also learned that using less of this product is more. Just apply a thin layer and you’re good to go.
6. Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer
The Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer is another really great option if you’re really into SPF. I’m a huge SPF girl, so when I saw that this primer has SPF 15 in it I knew it was a keeper. 🤩
Although this primer has mineral SPF so if mineral SPF doesn’t work with your skin type, you might want to avoid this product.
If you struggle with your foundation staying in place or creasing, this primer will help extend the wear of your foundation. The texture is very silky soft leaving your skin smooth and even.
You’ll also notice that this primer helps with concealing any redness and minimizing the appearance of pores.
The best feature is that it repels water to keep your face looking fresh all day long—now you don’t have to worry about sweating with your makeup.
Discover the best pore moisturizing primers by clicking below:
7. Dr. Brandt Skincare Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer
I’ve heard a lot of great things about the Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer and it’s definitely on my wishlist.
It’s a 2-in-1 pore refiner makeup primer that minimizes the look of pores and texture.
Apparently, a layer of this will leave your skin feeling like a smooth canvas.
Besides making your makeup look flawless, there are also skincare ingredients in the formula like salicylic acid and red clover flower extract. Both ingredients will help reduce the look of pores and exfoliate any dead skin cells.
This primer works especially well on oily skin since it has oil-absorbing spheres to mattify the skin.
8. Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer
Last but not least, sharing a more affordable option that works amazingly well!
The Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer is only $8 and leaves your skin looking baby soft.
It has a very hydrating formula that leaves your skin feeling moisturized all day long.
This primer works on all skin types and is fragrance-free.
Your pores will literally instantly be blurred after applying one layer of this primer.
I love that it leaves a soft matte finish so you still can maintain your glowing skin.
Those were all the best pore minimizing primers to choose from! I swear by all of these makeup primers and regardless of your skin type or skin tone, there is one that will work for you.
Remember before applying your makeup to do your regular skincare routine then follow with your primer and then go in with your foundation. I can guarantee if you follow this routine your makeup will have the smoothest finish.
If you decide to try any of these or have any more recs, send me a DM on Insta @wtfab. 😘
Shop my picks for the best pore moisturizing primers by clicking the images below:
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FAQs
The best pore minimizing primers are:
– Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer
– Rare Beauty Pore Diffusing Primer
– Tatcha The Liquid Silk Canvas Primer
The best drugstore pore minimizing primer is the Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer. It instantly makes your skin look smooth and baby soft.
You don’t need to use a primer before makeup, but it’s definitely recommended to prevent any creasing.
Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.