15 Best Makeup Primers To Buy In Australia In 2023
The best-selling product gives you the “perfect canvas” for foundation as well as stopping the face getting “too shiny or my makeup creasing”.
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There’s nothing worse than taking the time to apply foundation, only to have it crease or rub off just a few hours later.
When it comes to make up, you can have the best product in the world but if your base (ie, your skin) isn’t properly prepped it will seriously impact the finished product.
Ways to keep your skin in tip-top shape for makeup application include moisturising day and night, exfoliating at least once a week to get rid of dead skin and by using a primer.
Wearing a primer under your makeup can seriously up your face game, with the one product providing a range of benefits.
“Primer is essentially a base coat for your face. A good one can completely change how make-up looks on your skin,” Beauty Diary columnist and news.com.au’s lifestyle editor Rebekah Scanlan said.
“It evens out skin texture, keeps products in place to ensure and can prevent shine caused by sweat and excess oil.”
Here are our pick of the best primers out there based on products we’ve road-tested and customer reviews.
BEST PRIMERS: EDITOR’S PICK
Benefit The POREfessional Pore Primer, $60 at Adore Beauty
It may be all about the dewy makeup look these days but for us shiny-faced gals (aka me) a glowy face of product lacks staying power.
That’s why I need a primer that’s going to work hard to get my makeup to stay in place all day, all while not getting too dry or cakey in the process.
Benefit’s The POREfessional Pore Primer has been a cult product for years and for good reason: it keeps your makeup in place while banishing shine.
The tube may seem small but a little goes a long way, with the balm-like product spreading easily to give you the perfect canvas for your makeup.
Sure it has more of a matte finish but I love how this stopped me getting too shiny or my makeup creasing throughout the day.
It even resulted in my boyfriend complimenting my skin and asking whether I was wearing makeup when I came home (reader, I was wearing a lot), which what I always want to hear when I’m wearing makeup.
If you struggle with dry skin this may not be the product for you — I would suggest trying either The POREfessional Hydrate Pore Primer or The POREfessional Lite Pore Primer.
But this is by far my favourite primer on the list for truly delivering in smoothing out my skin for the perfect base, as well as offering serious staying power — it lasts all day.
NYX Professional Makeup The Marsh Mellow Primer, $20.97 at Amazon Australia
This primer has attracted a cult following thanks to TikTok where it has been praised for its “miracle” properties and giving skin a luminous finish.
It has a fluffy texture, smells like marshmallow and claims to have a whopping nine skin benefits in addition to keeping your makeup looking fresh.
The NYX primer promises to smooth, soothe, soften, extend makeup wear for up to 16 hours, even skin tone, hydrate, minimise texture, blue lines and adds a soft focus finish while drying transparent.
Amazon shoppers have described it as “one of the best primers I have ever used”, with one customer claiming that it “smooths my face like glass” – sign me up!
Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer, $100 at Sephora
Okay, so that price tag might make you shudder at first, but it hasn’t stopped millions of customers from becoming obsessed with this product.
Milk Makeup’s Hydro Grip Primer is one of Sephora’s best-selling primers and has also gone viral on TikTok, where users have raved about its ability to work “wonders on dry skin”.
What makes this primer worth the price? As legendary beauty YouTuber Susan Yara explains in a video: “The answer is really simple, this isn’t your typical primer, it’s more like skincare.”
Susan admits she is not usually a fan of primers, but this one gets the tick of approval from her for its “beautiful dewy glow” and because it “works in a completely different way” to typical primers.
“It’s actually silicone and oil free, and it uses ingredients that hydrate your skin … it has this really nice gel texture in it and you don’t need a lot of it, it’s like a hybrid of a gel moisturiser and a serum,” she said.
The end result is a “glassy” skin finish that lets makeup just glide on before locking it into place, Susan says.
Wonderglow Face Primer, $76 at Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury is a go-to brand for too many celebrities to name — and it’s not hard to see why when their Wonderglow Face Primer promises a literal beauty filter in a bottle.
With hyaluronic acid and rosehip oil to keep skin dewy and hydrated, this primer gives skin a “candlelit” appearance while smoothing out imperfections.
Fans of the Charlotte Tilbury primer who have written reviews say it is a “a staple in my makeup kit” and gives a “soft glow” to skin.
To apply, devotees recommend using just a few drops as a little goes a long way, and it can be worn both with and without foundation on top.
The Ordinary High-Adherence Silicone Primer, $10.60 at Adore Beauty
At just $10.60, this primer is a bargain and (like the rest of The Ordinary’s range) offers exceptional bang for buck.
The primer uses advanced adaptive silicones to create a matte, hydrating and blurring base that can be worn under makeup or on its own to create a flawless skin look.
It gets the tick of approval from Adore Beauty customers who said it was both “affordable and effective”.
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Blur Primer, $78 at THE ICONIC
This YSL primer is on the expensive side but gets rave reviews from beauty devotees who say it gives you a “nice glow” and is also “so gentle on skin”.
The illuminating blur primer is also non-comedogenic, making it suitable for all skin types.
Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base, $92 at Myer
In my opinion Bobbi Brown is one of the most underrated makeup brands out there, with its primer the best of many stellar products.
Face Base works as both a primer and a moisturiser, with its oil-free formula containing shea butter as well as vitamins B, C and E.
Fans of the Bobbi Brown product say it is “never heavy” and a “go-to first step for flawless foundation application”.
Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Primer, $59 at Adore Beauty
This gentle primer from Napoleon Perdis is all about hydration – it contains camomile, yarrow extract and vitamin E.
It comes recommended by 90 per cent of Adore Beauty customers who bought it, applauding its “lightweight” formula.
“There is a reason this primer has been around for years – it’s the original and best,” one shopper said in a Napoleon Perdis product.
“Smells great, applies flawlessly and gives a beautiful natural finish.”
NYX Professional Makeup Glitter Primer, $19.96 at Amazon Australia
This NYX primer has almost 9000 five star reviews on Amazon where it has been praised for its serious staying power.
As the name suggests the product is designed for use under heavy makeup like glitter, with shoppers labelling it “brilliant”.
“This is a game changer, keeps my shimmer or glitter eyeshadow put,” one satisfied customer said. “This will be my repeat purchase from now on.”
Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Face Primer, $55 at Sephora
If you’re looking for a primer that’s going to brighten skin then look no further – this one from Ole Henriksen is part of the Danish skin guru’s famous Banana Bright range.
It contains banana powder-inspired pigments to boost radiance, vitamin C to target signs of ageing and vitamin E to nourish skin.
Tarte Timeless Smoothing Primer, $56 at Sephora
This Tarte primer is part of Sephora’s clean beauty range and is both paraben and sulfate-free.
It’s been praised by beauty devotees for its ability to smooth pores, with one person even labelling it “photoshop in a primer”.
Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré Moisturiser 75ml, $46 at Adore Beauty
This cult French beauty product is known as the “24 hour miracle cream” as it works as a moisturiser, primer, cleanser and mask.
It’s perfect as a primer for dehydrated or dry skin, containing shea butter and vitamin A-rich beeswax to act as a barrier against the elements.
Dermalogica Age Smart Skinperfect Primer SPF30, $83.80 at Adore Beauty
This primer gets top points for also being SPF30+ and is designed for use under makeup or to wear on its own.
94 per cent of Adore Beauty customers who bought the Dermalogica primer recommend it, praising its “velvety” finish and giving “airbrushed-looking skin”.
Clinique Superprimer Face Primer, $60 at Myer
This Clinique primer is all about targeting redness – its oil-free formula aims to colour correct skin before makeup application.
While users praise it for leaving their skin feeling silky smooth, some warn that it won’t completely get rid of redness and will only reduce the appearance.
Max Factor Miracle Prep Primer, $18.57 at Amazon Australia
This primer contains hyaluronic acid meaning it will keep skin hydrated as well as prepping it for makeup by creating a smooth, luminous base.
Fans say it is perfect for oily skin types as its non-sticky formula helps target shine.
HOW SHOULD YOU APPLY PRIMER?
You should apply primer after your skincare and before you apply foundation, making sure to chose a primer that sits well with your other products.
“Sunscreen should be the last step in your skincare routine,” Scanlan said.
“Apply your chosen primer (there are different varieties to choose from including mists, balms and serums) once your SPF has settled.
“If you suffer with pilling, you could try using a SPF that doubles as a primer such as Ultra Violette or Naked Sundays.”
CAN YOU WEAR PRIMER WITHOUT MAKEUP?
While primers are designed to enhance your makeup, there’s nothing stopping you from wearing it on its own.
“You absolutely can wear it by itself, on top of your sunscreen of course,” Scanlan said.
“Primer is an evolving category and we‘re seeing more tinted and glowy versions emerge that make skin look their best without the need for heavier products like foundation and concealer.”
Wondering what to buy for the beauty lover in your life? For more inspiration check out the beauty and gifting sections at THE ICONIC, Sephora and Myer.
If you’re after a beauty bargain don’t forget to visit news.com.au Coupons before you check out, to find great deals on brands from Myer to THE ICONIC.
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