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Ria Bhatia profile imageRia BhatiaPublished on

The best primers for makeup that offer skincare benefits in one product. Learn why these hybrid beauty solutions are essential for flawless makeup application.

The best primers for make-up with in-built skincare benefits

Why layer multiple products before make-up application, when one can do it all?

Living in a place with a tropical climate, melting make-up is a pressing concern. Transitioning from summer to monsoon only makes managing your make-up tougher, thanks to humidity and surprise showers. This is why resorting to a primer before applying your base make-up becomes even more important. But let’s admit it: layering multiple skincare products, and then using a separate set of products to prep the skin can be taxing and overwhelming. The solution? Hybrid beauty products, or primers that also offer skincare benefits. We list the best primers for make-up that will let you do away with a slew of skincare products. 

Porefessional Hydrate Primer, Benefit CosmeticsIf the original Benefit Porefessional Primer feels too powdery, or too matte for your skin, try the Porefessional Hydrate Primer.  It is infused with hyaluronic acid and shea butter to maintain the skin’s hydration level. With the same amount of mattifying and smoothing benefits, this flesh-hued primer also supports the barrier’s resilience. Image: Instagram.com/benefitcosmetics

Porefessional Hydrate Primer, Benefit Cosmetics

If the original Benefit Porefessional Primer feels too powdery, or too matte for your skin, try the Porefessional Hydrate Primer.  It is infused with hyaluronic acid and shea butter to maintain the skin’s hydration level. With the same amount of mattifying and smoothing benefits, this flesh-hued primer also supports the barrier’s resilience. 

Image: Instagram.com/benefitcosmetics

Vitamin Enriched Face Base, Bobbi BrownLoved by celebrity make-up artists across the world, this face cream is what established Bobbi Brown’s identity as a skin-prep brand too, since its launch in 2001. A powerhouse of nourishment, the cream gets its buttery-soft texture from ingredients such as shea butter, vitamins B, C and E, hyaluronic acid, squalane, and botanical oils. Suitable for all skin types, it also doubles as one of the best primers for make-up since it smoothes texture, plumps and nourishes the skin, renders a dewy finish to the complexion, and allows for a flawless foundation application.Image: Instagram.com/bobbibrown

Vitamin Enriched Face Base, Bobbi Brown

Loved by celebrity make-up artists across the world, this face cream is what established Bobbi Brown’s identity as a skin-prep brand too, since its launch in 2001. A powerhouse of nourishment, the cream gets its buttery-soft texture from ingredients such as shea butter, vitamins B, C and E, hyaluronic acid, squalane, and botanical oils. Suitable for all skin types, it also doubles as one of the best primers for make-up since it smoothes texture, plumps and nourishes the skin, renders a dewy finish to the complexion, and allows for a flawless foundation application.

Image: Instagram.com/bobbibrown

Power Grip Primer + Niacinamide, e.l.f. CosmeticsThe second rendition of the Power Grip Primer comes with an infusion of niacinamide, an ingredient that improves barrier resilience, tones the complexion, and regulates sebum on the skin. Its vegan formulation features a gel-based texture that leaves the skin feeling dewy as well as tacky for the base make-up to adhere well and last long. Sodium hyaluronate and vitamin E make sure the skin remains moisturised.Image: Instagram.com/elfcosmetics

Power Grip Primer + Niacinamide, e.l.f. Cosmetics

The second rendition of the Power Grip Primer comes with an infusion of niacinamide, an ingredient that improves barrier resilience, tones the complexion, and regulates sebum on the skin. Its vegan formulation features a gel-based texture that leaves the skin feeling dewy as well as tacky for the base make-up to adhere well and last long. Sodium hyaluronate and vitamin E make sure the skin remains moisturised.

Image: Instagram.com/elfcosmetics

Lait-Crème Concentré Moisturiser, EmbryolisseIf there’s truly a do-it-all product that leaves the skin feeling soft and supple, it’s this facial cream from French pharmacy brand Embryolisse. Loaded with nourishment-boosting ingredients like shea butter, aloe vera, beeswax, and soy protein, this thick moisturiser preps, primes, softens, smoothes, and hydrates the skin, making it one of best primers for make-up. Trusted by professional make-up artists and used by the likes of Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga, and Karlie Kloss, the moisturiser is truly a global favourite.Image: Instagram.com/myembryolisse

Lait-Crème Concentré Moisturiser, Embryolisse

If there’s truly a do-it-all product that leaves the skin feeling soft and supple, it’s this facial cream from French pharmacy brand Embryolisse. Loaded with nourishment-boosting ingredients like shea butter, aloe vera, beeswax, and soy protein, this thick moisturiserpreps, primes, softens, smoothes, and hydrates the skin, making it one of best primers for make-up. Trusted by professional make-up artists and used by the likes of Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga, and Karlie Kloss, the moisturiser is truly a global favourite.

Image: Instagram.com/myembryolisse

Pro Filt’R Hydrating Primer, Fenty BeautyRihanna touts this primer from her beauty line Fenty Beauty as the key to achieving long-lasting make-up like her. Infused with a moisturising complex of ingredients such as glycerin, vitamin E, sodium hyaluronate, and grape seed oil, the singer claims to have developed this product for those with dry, dehydrated skin. The gel-and-cream hybrid texture leaves a silken finish on the skin.Image: Instagram.com/fentybeauty

Pro Filt’R Hydrating Primer, Fenty Beauty

Rihanna touts this primer from her beauty line Fenty Beauty as the key to achieving long-lasting make-up like her. Infused with a moisturising complex of ingredients such as glycerin, vitamin E, sodium hyaluronate, and grape seed oil, the singer claims to have developed this product for those with dry, dehydrated skin. The gel-and-cream hybrid texture leaves a silken finish on the skin.

Image: Instagram.com/fentybeauty

Photo Finish Resurface Smooth + Renew Primer, SmashboxIf you think Smashbox’s OG Photo Finish primer is one of the best primers for make-up, you’ve probably not checked their range of skin-ified make-up primers. If the texture on your complexion is the biggest hurdle in achieving a seamless finish, try using this silky-textured primer that features 3.5 per cent glycolic acid, along with other skin-benefitting agents like witch hazel extract, squalane, niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate, panthenol, and caffeine, to smooth, tone, and hydrate your skin. Additionally, the primer assists with puffiness and fatigue too.Image: Instagram.com/smashbox

Photo Finish Resurface Smooth + Renew Primer, Smashbox

If you think Smashbox’s OG Photo Finish primer is one of the best primers for make-up, you’ve probably not checked their range of skin-ified make-up primers. If the texture on your complexion is the biggest hurdle in achieving a seamless finish, try using this silky-textured primer that features 3.5 per cent glycolic acid, along with other skin-benefitting agents like witch hazel extract, squalane, niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate, panthenol, and caffeine, to smooth, tone, and hydrate your skin. Additionally, the primer assists with puffiness and fatigue too.

Image: Instagram.com/smashbox

N°1 De Chanel Skin Enhancer, ChanelAlmost like a liquid strobing cream, this primer from Chanel performs multiple functions at once. Available in three shades—champagne pink, rose gold, and golden—this lightweight liquid delivers both radiance and hydration, owing to its formulation that is supercharged with sodium hyaluronate, vitamin E, jojoba esters, Red Camellia extract, and Camellia seed oil.Image: Instagram.com/thebeautylookbook

N°1 De Chanel Skin Enhancer, Chanel

Almost like a liquid strobing cream, this primer from Chanel performs multiple functions at once. Available in three shades—champagne pink, rose gold, and golden—this lightweight liquid delivers both radiance and hydration, owing to its formulation that is supercharged with sodium hyaluronate, vitamin E, jojoba esters, Red Camellia extract, and Camellia seed oil.

Image: Instagram.com/thebeautylookbook

Also Read: 8 make-up primers you can rely on through the humid weather

Also Read: 5 make-up artists share their hacks to make foundation application a breeze

Also Read: 8 make-up—skincare hybrids that’ll make you look glowier now, and over time

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