The best primer for acne-prone skin does more than help your makeup wear longer. They help reduce shine, correct skin tone, and texture, and even clear up acne. Primers as a base are one of the best tools to hide blemishes and prevent them, too.
Look for these ingredients to get the most out of your makeup. First, salicylic acid, sulfur, and resorcinol fight acne. Next, dimethicone mattifies the skin to minimize shine and redness. Along with that, aloe and allantoin calm your skin while antioxidants prevent premature aging of the skin.
We chose the best primers for acne-prone skin and reviewed them below for you. We hope you discover some new products that will make you look your best.
Best Makeup Primers for Acne-Prone Skin (2025 Update)
1. COVER FX Mattifying Primer with Anti-Acne Treatment
Cover FX checks all the boxes with their Mattifying Primer. To begin, it has salicylic acid from willow bark to heal acne and clarify your skin. Second, it calms inflammation and fades redness. And finally, antioxidants keep your skin healthy and young. While wearing these primers, you’ll find that your base foundation won’t slide off or melt away by noon.
2. Clinique Super Universal Face Primer
Clinique’s Super Universal Primer comes in two versions: color-correcting and translucent. The color-correcting ingredients camouflage pores, pimples, and dark circles. At the same time, it conditions your skin with algae and green tea. Hyaluronic acid adds moisture without clogging your pores. Additionally, the ingredients are paraben, artificial fragrance, and oil free.
3. Coola Suncare Mineral Face SPF 30 Sunscreen Matte Finish
Coola’s primers have a mineral-based sunscreen that keeps your skin matte, but not flat. Users say it feels very lightweight and makes their skin feel silky soft. It also has antioxidants derived from botanical ingredients like lily and honeysuckle.
4. Mineral Fusion Primer, Color-Correcting
The Mineral Fusion Primer is one of the best choices for customers with hyperpigmentation. It hides everything from acne scars to rosacea to bags under your eyes. Then, it revives dull skin with peptides, chamomile, and aloe. It has no parabens or phthalates.
5. Better’n Ur Skin MINERAL MAKEUP PRIMER
This Better’n Ur Skin is handy for people with combination skin because it takes care of both your T-zone and your cheeks. It mattifies the oily spots and hydrates the dry ones. But that’s not all – it corrects the pH balance and diminishes fine lines, too. The company offers a full refund if you’re not satisfied. And they manufacture it with primarily certified organic ingredients like aloe, jojoba oil, and green tea.
6. Tarte Poreless Mattifying Primer
The Tarte Poreless Primer is a silky gel that optically blurs pores and pimples. When you wear it, you can expect up to 12 hours of shine-free finish. During all that time, botanical extracts like echinacea, rosemary, and hibiscus protect your skin from signs of aging. Finally, avocado and other fruit extracts replenish moisture and essential vitamins.
7. DHC Velvet Skin Coat
DHC’s Velvet Skin Coat is the industry-standard for makeup artists. The silica in it absorbs excess oil to stop shine. The primers look like a powdery gel. When it sets, it turns your skin into a velvety soft canvas that’s perfectly ready for makeup.
8. Stila One Step Correct
The stila primer provides all the color correction you could ever need in one package. The blend of lavender, green, and peach pigments vanish blemishes and age spots alike. Your skin will look instantly fresher. At the same time, the multivitamin complex neutralizes free radicals that age the skin.
9. Jane Iredale Smooth Affair Facial Primer and Brightener
Jane Iredale’s Smooth Affair ingredients were formulated with oily skin in mind. But don’t worry, it won’t create dry patches as some oil-control primers do. It makes your skin radiant enough that you may decide to skip your makeup after all.
10. Murad Anti-Aging Acne Moisturizer with Broad Spectrum SPF 30 PA+++
The Murad Anti-Aging Acne moisturizer proved in clinical trials that it can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles. At the same time, willow bark extract clears up acne and gently exfoliates dead cells. Then, argan extract conditions the skin to keep it soft and smooth.
11. E.L.F. Studio Mineral Infused Face Primer
Vegan customers appreciate that e.l.f.Studio products are certified by PETA to be cruelty-free. The ingredients are also free of phthalates and parabens.
The Tone-Adjusting Green Primer is just what you need to counteract redness from pimples and rosacea. It controls shine so that your base foundation and eyeshadow look their best all day long.
12. Covergirl & Olay Simply Ageless Makeup Primer
Do you wish you could skip a step in your morning routine? The Covergirl & Olay ageless makeup primers double as a foundation for acne-prone, sensitive skin. Users with oily skin are delighted at how it keeps their skin clean and fresh throughout the day. The manufacturer recommends putting primers in the refrigerator so that they’re extra soothing to irritated skin and undereye bags.
13. ProBeautyCo BB Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30
ProBeautyCo BB Cream Broad Spectrum has a translucent tint that will make your skin luminous. The ingredients create a soft-focus filter. After you apply it, your foundation has an easy time concealing blemishes. In addition, the product protects your skin from harmful UV rays.
14. Rosé Spot Defying Primer
Rose Spot Defying Primer ingredients are free of parabens and artificial fragrances. It avoids triggering acne while it masks acne and fine lines. Repeat customers comment that it makes their skin satiny smooth all day long.
15. Benefit Cosmetics POREfessional Pro Balm Face Primer Pore Minimizer
The POREfessional Pro Balm tames oily skin and large pores. While it manages shine, it helps heal inflammation and fight signs of aging. Should you have an especially stressful or humid day, pat a little primer over the oily spots and blend it with your foundation.
16. [Touch in Sol] No Pore Blem Primer
When we discovered this primer, it proclaimed that it had “sebum catching powder.” Translation: it soaks up excess oil so that your skin stays satiny fresh. Plus, soluble collagen and green tea improve your skin’s elasticity and firmness.
17. Rimmel Stay Matte Primer
Rimmel’s Stay Matte Primer is cheap but effective. If you have oily skin, it will mattify the surface and shrink your pores. It works for up to eight hours.
18. NYX Shine Killer
The NYX Shine Killer primer is also made just for oily skin. It prolongs the life of your foundation for hours. Some users put it on without makeup just to look better at the gym.
19. Smashbox NEW Photo Finish Foundation Primer Pore Minimizing
Smashbox won an award from Allure for their Pore-Minimizing Primer. It’s tailored to combination and oily skin especially if you want to disguise imperfections. It has a built-in “photo filter” with light-diffusing particles. Skip the powder foundation, this one works best with liquids and creams. In addition, it’s gentle enough for contact lens wearers and is talc, perfume, paraben, and oil free.
20. Maybelline Face Studio Master Prime Primer, Blur + Smooth
The Maybelline Blur and Smooth Primer is translucent with microscopic blurring spheres. It makes your skin ready for the camera by hiding uneven texture.
21. Honest Beauty Everything Primer
The Honest Beauty Everything Primer corrects a variety of issues like large pores and acne scars. Not only does it control oil all day long, but it also makes your skin smooth and soft. Fortunately, it doesn’t dry out the skin. And even with a name that makes it sound like a heavy-duty product, it feels lightweight.
22. Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Primer
The Thank Me Later primer is waterproof. Next, it manages shine to create a matte canvas ready for makeup. One of the main ingredients is dimethicone, best known for reducing oiliness and redness. If you’re nervous about silicone-based primers, this one comes with 100% satisfaction guarantee. The ingredients are also free of parabens.
23. Revlon PhotoReady Perfecting Primer
Revlon’s PhotoReady primers are yet another option that preps you for the camera. The light-diffusing components blur uneven tone and texture. It sets to a clear, satin finish that you can enjoy with or without makeup.
24. Too Faced Hangover Rx Replenishing Face Primer
Acne-prone skin needs moisture to avoid overproducing oil. That’s where these primers help. It uses probiotic coconut water to hydrate your skin. As a result, you’ll end up with a healthier, brighter, dewy skin. Moreover, it has no silicone, but you can wear it under liquid or powder foundation.
25. Almay Primer 5-in-1
Almay’s primers have microspheres that disguise reddened skin and dark circles alike. Furthermore, it mattifies your skin. Customers say although it brightens their skin, it’s very lightweight.
26. bareMinerals Prime Time Brightening Foundation
Control shine and diminish hyperpigmentation with the bareMinerals primer. It brightens dull skin and lasts up to 12 hours. Also, the ingredients are free from preservatives and irritants.
27. L.A. Girl PRO Prep HD High Definition Smoothing Face Primer
Fans of the LA Girl primer like how it makes their skin feel silky soft. Fine lines and pores fade and makeup lasts for hours longer when they wear this product. Also important, it’s free of parabens and perfumes.
28. Hourglass Cosmetics Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15
The Veil mineral primer gets double mileage from minerals. Not only does it provide broad-spectrum skin protection, but it’s also a top face sunscreen for acne prone skin. Even with those benefits, it feels light on the skin. And it doesn’t have artificial fragrances or parabens.
29. NYX Professional Makeup Pore Filler
Nyx professional makeup pore filler primer is an excellent product that is suitable for all skin types. This product is better for combination or oily skin. This primer can be used all through the day. It provides an amazing matte finish and can be applied without or with makeup.
This primer by NYX is handy. The quantity of the primer is 0.64 Oz. You can use it for a fast touch-up. The primer can help hide pores and even your skin tone. It feels like there is no make-up on your skin.
30. Dr. Brandt Skincare Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer
Are you struggling to hide the fact that you’re not as young as you used to be? The Dr. Brandt primer conceals fine lines and diminishes wrinkles. The powdery finish reduces skin shine even if it’s a hot and humid day. One of the key ingredients is flaxseed extract that absorbs sebum. Another is tea tree oil that helps heal acne.
Conclusion
Even if you’re prone to breakouts, not all hope is lost. Getting one of the best primers will help prep your skin so that you get the most out of your makeup. This includes keeping shine under control and disguising blemishes. As you shop, take note of additional benefits like sunscreen, light diffusers, and anti-aging ingredients. Also, look into other removal products (momcurls.com/best-blackhead-removal-products) that compliment the best primers for acne.
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