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12 Best Drugstore Primers To Achieve Perfect, Long-Lasting Makeup

For great makeup that won’t go away!

Though primers may sometimes seem like an unnecessary step to your beauty routine, they are your BFF in keeping makeup in place all day. A good primer can even out skin tone, minimise pores, hide fine lines, and prolong your makeup. Also, applying primer creates a silky-smooth canvas for your skin to allow for a flawless foundation application that will not melt halfway through the day. 

However, not all primers are created equal. There are so many options available out there, with our drugstores selling a few that are actually worth your time. You should pay attention to your skin concerns when picking out the right formula for your skin, just like you would when purchasing skincare products. 

With that in mind, check out our edit below for the best drugstore primers to try now.

Is Primer Really Necessary?

While you can still apply makeup without this extra layer of cream, face primers do act as a protective barrier over the skin to help grip your makeup and make it last longer. Imagine using a face primer as you would paint primer for your house – the goal is to achieve a smooth base coat before applying foundation. 

Below is a list of the top benefits a primer brings to the table:

  • Helps keep your makeup in place longer even during unfavourable weather conditions.
  • Creates a smooth surface for foundation to glide on evenly
  • Absorbs oil and controls shine throughout the day
  • Minimises the appearance of pores and fine lines.
  • Evens out skin tone and brightens skin
  • Prevents makeup from caking
  • Creates a protective barrier over the skin
Best Overall Drugstore Primer - great illuminating primer
Nyx Professional Makeup
Check Nyx Professional Makeup Honey Dew Me Up Primer price below:

NYX Honey Dew Me Up Primer creates a golden glow for a luminous effect. Featuring light reflective gold flecks and honey to nourish and neutralise any discolouration, this primer ensures your skin looks radiant all day. Not only does this gel primer prep your skin for makeup, it improves your face with skin-loving ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and collagen. 

Best drugstore matte primer - suitable for oily skin
Rimmel
Rimmel Stay Matte Primer-review-singapore
Check Rimmel Stay Matte Primer price below:
add_circle It blends well
add_circle It is cheap
add_circle Can purchase easily
remove_circle It may not cover fine lines and pores

Rimmel’s new Stay Matte primer creates a soft, perfectly matte complexion that does not feel heavy or greasy. This ultra-lightweight perfecting primer instantly minimises the appearance of pores and controls shine for that flawless London look. Whether used alone or under makeup, this matte primer will make sure that your skin is photo ready any time of the day. 

Best drugstore primer for acne-prone and sensitive skin
Revlon
Check Revlon PhotoReady Pore Reducing Primer price below:

Get selfie-ready with Revlon’s ultra-lightweight skin-perfecting primer. This luxurious primer seamlessly blends into your skin to soften and minimise the appearance of pores for a flawless, airbrushed look. With Revlon’s High-Definition Filter technology, this primer captures and transform light to mimic photo filters so you’re always photo-ready wherever you go.  

Check Milani Prime Perfection Hydrating + Pore-minimizing Face Primer price below:

Add radiance and a healthy-looking glow to your skin with Milani’s Prime Perfection Hydrating + Pore-minimizing Face Primer. This multi-tasking primer maintains your skin’s natural moisture balance while eliminating the appearance of fine lines and large pores. You can now finally bid adieu to dry skin while looking fearlessly flawless.

Best water-based drugstore primer - suitable for dry skin
Nyx Professional Makeup
Check Nyx Professional Makeup Hydra Touch Primer price below:

Enhance your complexion with NYX’s all-new Hydra Touch Primer. Featuring Centella Asiatica Extract, this refreshing gel cream leaves skin lightly hydrated and ready for the next step without creating any unnecessary shine. The primer’s refreshing formula absorbs quickly to create a smooth and glowing canvas while its water consistency ensures flawless coverage.

*Additional delivery fee applies*

Best drugstore silicone primer - suitable for combination skin
Nyx Professional Makeup
Check Nyx Professional Makeup Studio Perfect Primer price below:

Studio Perfect Primer’s silky texture helps you achieve gorgeous and pristine complexion effortlessly. This cruelty-free primer is easily absorbed and blends on smoothly to minimise shine and imperfections for a radiant finish. If your skin has lost its lustre lately, this hardworking multi-tasker will definitely help to groove it right back. 

Best drugstore primer with SPF
e.l.f Cosmetics
Check e.l.f Beauty Shield SPF 50 Skin Shielding Primer, Universal Tint price below:

e.l.f’s SPF 50 Skin Shielding Primer creates a lightweight base layer that reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for smoother makeup applications. The skin-shielding primer is formulated with Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB and key antioxidants to gently protect your skin against everyday environmental aggressors. Featuring a sheer, universal tint, this primer easily blends into any skin tone.

*Additional delivery fee applies*

Best drugstore pore-filling primer
e.l.f. Cosmetics
Check e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer price below:

Perfect your skin and lock in moisture with this 100% vegan skin perfecting primer. E.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer features Squalene infusion to protect skin against moisture loss while griping your makeup for all-day wear. Its smooth and velvety texture glides over skin effortlessly to create a flawless complexion throughout the day.

Best drugstore primer for redness issue and mature skin
Maybelline
Check Maybelline Master Prime for Oily Skin / Redness Control / Hydrating price below:

Maybelline Master Prime® colour correcting primer preps skin for makeup application by blurring away all your skin concerns. The water-soluble based primer is formulated with active ingredients to refine complexion while also ensuring your makeup lasts all-day. This Photoshop-in-a-tube has a lightweight consistency that provides a full coverage for perfecting the skin. 

Best drugstore eyeshadow primer - for overall eye makeup
Milani
Check Milani Eyeshadow Primer price below:

Intensify the colour of your favourite eyeshadow and make them pop with the lightweight and crease-proof Milani Eyeshadow primer. This smoothing nude eyeshadow base dries to an invisible finish to create the perfect canvas for long-lasting makeup. The 100% vegan and cruelty-free formula will increase the longevity of your eye looks without harming the environment.

Best drugstore lip primer
e.l.f. Cosmetics
Check e.l.f. Cosmetics Studio Lip Primer & Plumper price below:

Plump and prime with e.l.f Cosmetics’ two-in-one lip primer. This primer creates a smudge-proof base while also working to neutralise any discolouration for a much more consistent and vibrant lipstick colour. Flip it upside down to find the cinnamon scented plumper that works wonders in helping you achieve a sexier and naturally fuller pout.

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