Dealing with dry skin is a catch-22 situation- you try to hide redness and patches as much as you can. And you put multiple layers of foundations, creams, and whatnot to cover those skin imperfections. But instead of hiding them, your pretty expensive makeup products sometimes backfire and highlight your skin issues more than previously. Here's why you should stick to the right skincare products like the best drugstore primers for dry skin that effectively blur your imperfections without irritation.

Our contributor Dr. Anna Chacon, a board certified dermatologist, shares facts about the versatility of primers, saying, “Primers are suitable for those with oily and acne-prone skin. In fact, there are specific primers designed to control oil, reduce shine, and prevent breakouts. They can also help to minimize the appearance of pores and create a smooth base for makeup application. However, it's important to choose a non-comedogenic primer that won't clog pores.”

These game-changers, from eyeshadow primers to face primers, are your ally as they prep and prime your skin to hold makeup that is yet to follow. They fade those stubborn scars, pesky pimples, and blemishes without flaking or caking. Not just that, they are excellent elixirs fused with hydrating agents to quench your skin's thirst.

While many of us think, primers can be skipped during the winter season, it is not at all the case. Our contributor Dr. Chacon shares, “It is necessary to add primers even during the winter months. Primers not only help makeup last longer but also create a smooth base for makeup application. In winter, they can provide an extra layer of protection against dry and harsh weather conditions, preventing skin from becoming dry and flaky.”

According to Alexandra Petrou, Founder Of Alexa Skin, “Primers are great to use before makeup, they help keep it in place and it allows makeup products to be applied more smoothly. The skin can sometimes become dry in the winter, so adding in a hydrating primer can nourish and plump the skin ready for makeup application.”

Based on our observations, dehydrated skin can be the root cause of most of your skin woes. But thanks to these cutting-edge primers that not only fade your spots or pores but ensure a hydrated, glowing look throughout the day. Here we've enlisted the best 15 primers for dry skin so you can confidently cherish your skin and allure your beauty.

• 1
  Best Overall

  Maybelline New York Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer Makeup

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Say goodbye to pores with the Maybelline Pore Eraser. The lightweight, blendable formula goes on like butter and creates a smooth canvas to put on makeup and make your favorite looks. With medium and sheer coverage, the liquid gives your skin a perfect matte finish and zero pores. It's suitable for all skin types and helps you have hydrated, clear, soft, and baby-like skin. Also, you can wear this alone if you prefer light and low-maintenance looks. 

Coverage: Sheer to medium

Skin type: All

2

Hydrating Booster

e.l.f. Hydrating Face Primer

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This rich creamy formula by e.l.f. is a game-changer. It can transform your face into a smooth, hydrated canvas that is ready to hold makeup. Enriched with multivitamins (A, C, and E) and grape extracts, this weightless primer nourishes and moisturizes your skin to boost radiance (1). Not just on acne-prone skin, this product also works well on combination and oily skin. Drawing from our experience, you can pair it with your favorite concealer or foundation if you’re obsessed with a satin-like finish. 

Coverage: Light

Skin type: All

3

Long-lasting

Milani Make It Last 3-in-1 Setting Spray

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Give your dry skin a splash of hydrating elixir with the Milani spray primer. With up to 16 hours of wearing time, this makeup primer for dry skin hides your spots, blemishes, and other skin imperfections without smudging or budging. This promises you illuminating and healthy skin by cooling, refreshing, and hydrating your dead skin layers. Spray it under or over your makeup to set your look and dazzle all day. It's an easy-to-use formula- keep the bottle 8-10 inches away from your face and spray in a zig-zag motion for full skin coverage. 

Coverage: Sheer

Skin type: Dry

4

Lightweight

Rimmel Stay Matte Mattifying Primer

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Thanks to Rimmel's liquid primer that offers you velvety smooth skin at home. The 30ml cute, purple-white tube is so affordable that you don't have to rob a bank to fetch your desired makeup looks. The ultra-unique formula is non-greasy and doesn't let your skin feel oily and sticky. Additionally, it corrects your skin faults, especially clogged and large pores, and minimizes them. What's interesting is it makes your skin look glossy for longer hours and lets you shine all day. 

Coverage: Light

Skin type: All

5

Anti-aging

Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Face Primer

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This elegant and classic face primer for dry skin by Elizabeth Mott is the key to achieving the subtle and glowing complexion you always crave. The waterproof formula effectively combats oiliness and balances your skin tone for a buttery natural finish. Besides diminishing your pores, it covers all those annoying aging signs that ruin your true beauty. Further, it prepares your face to carry the makeup tight without slipping and caking while revealing your natural glow. 

Coverage: Sheer

Skin type: All

Quick Tip

If you have dry skin, using a hydrating primer can help provide a moisture boost and create a smooth base for your foundation to cling on.

6

Silky Formula

NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Studio Perfect Primer

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The Studio Perfect Primer by NYX Professional Makeup elevates your charm and blesses you with sheer beauty. This silky cream-like formula is the ultimate solution to your skincare concerns. It softens fine lines, minimizes pores and corrects uneven skin tone. This is one of the best drugstore primers for dry skin that suits all skin types and levels skin for makeup holding for up to several hours. Available in two more color-correcting options; lavender and green, this primer is best suited for women of all ages.

Coverage: Sheer

Skin type: All

7

Natural Energizing Booster

TOUCH IN SOL No Pore Blem Primer

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Infused with the goodness of green tea and collagen, the primer adds life to your dull and saggy skin (2), (3). These active ingredients hydrate and energize your skin. Available in a gel format, the primer reduces pore size, wrinkles, and fine lines to ensure soft, supple skin for a timeless look. Also, it prevents moisture loss, regulates oil excretion, and controls sebum production while strengthening the skin's natural barrier. As per our expertise, this non-sticky foundation primer is an ideal piece to have professional makeup without visiting a salon every weekend. 

Coverage: Full

Skin type: All

8

Most Affordable

wet n wild Photo Focus Primer Water

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Wet n Wild primer is the most affordable pick on our list. The blend is infused with vitamins, minerals, and botanicals like roses. This hydrating primer for dry skin gives an instant boost of hydration and awakens your dead skin. It's a 3-in-1 primer water that preps, sets, and refreshes your skin to keep the makeup in place. The brand believes in innovation and has been reinventing and producing high-performance beauty essentials for decades that can fit into our tight budgets. 

Coverage: Light

Skin type: All

9

Best for Shatterproof Looks

LAURA GELLER NEW YORK Spackle Skin Perfecting Primer

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When it comes to dry skin, primers containing hydrating agents come in handy. The LAURA GELLER Perfecting Primer features hydrating boosters like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and anti-oxidant botanicals which assist in nourishing and replenishing skin for a suppler and brighter complexion (4), (5). These ingredients reduce water loss and maintain the skin's natural moisture balance. Furthermore, the blend makes the perfect makeup base for long-lasting and shatterproof looks. As indicated by our tests, the product provides better results if left for a minute to dry before applying makeup. 

Coverage: Light

Skin type: All

10

3-in-1 Skincare Treatment

Benefit Cosmetics POREfessional Pro Balm Face Primer Pore Minimizer

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The POREfessional Pro Balm quickly vanishes pores and fine lines leaving your skin as clean as crystal. It's a lightweight and translucent cream that packs the power of vitamin E to protect the skin from environmental stresses. Interestingly, its single layer on the skin acts as a shield and resists damage due to free radicals. Overall it's no less than a complete skincare regimen that offers three benefits in one- fine line treatment, smoothening, and pore minimizing.

Coverage: Light

Skin type: All

11

TULA Skin Care Face Filter Blurring and Moisturizing Primer

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A small dollop of TULA skincare primer is enough for a hydrated, glowy "filter" like finish. The cream combines probiotics and botanicals like chia seeds and licorice roots to bless you with a balanced and even skin. Also, these ingredients nourish and condition your skin within the deep. The non-tinted formula creates blurring effects and increases radiance. Our investigation demonstrated that the product is clean and free from any pathogens to ensure its safety. 

Coverage: Medium to full

Skin type: All

12

Revlon PhotoReady Prime Plus

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This chic pump bottle by Revlon is a 2-in-1 makeup primer that creates gleaming hydrating skin effects within a snap. It's a perfect wear that tightly grips makeup for a polished appearance. Enriched with vitamin B5, hyaluronic acid, and pumpkin seed extracts, the blend quickly fills and blurs lines. You would be surprised to know that the primer shows visible results within 4 weeks with continuous application. For those who always dream of celeb-like skin, this primer is all they need to flip the dream into reality. 

Coverage: Full

Skin type: Normal

13

COVERGIRL Trublend Base Business Face Primer

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The best drugstore face primer for dry skin can effortlessly manage redness and many other dryness-associated skin issues. This one by COVERGIRL is a lightweight cream that neutralizes redness and adds a bit of shimmer to your skin. It makes your face bright- free from red patches and dullness. Not only that the product levels your uneven skin tone for a smooth, even finish. It blurs flaws to make a ready-to-go makeup base.Take a pea-sized amount, apply it to your skin, and create balanced styles. And that's it- you don't need to be a pro makeup artist to use it effectively.

Coverage: Light

Skin type: All

14

Mally Beauty Poreless Face Defender Blurring Primer

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Get full control of your looks with the Mally Beauty Blurring Primer. Unlike those dusty powders that easily make your skin cakey, this one is a high-tech alternative you can wear alone or with your makeup with zero cakiness. It's a super sheer weightless formula that instantly fades the appearance of pores and fine lines keeping your shine at the front. We determined through our tests that the product can also be used on lip lines to hide folds or wrinkles. 

Coverage: Lightweight and sheer

Skin type: All

15

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Glow Booster Primer & Serum

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This Neutrogena's 30ml bottle is a 2-in-1 formula- you can use it as a serum or primer. Infused with pure hyaluronic acid, the serum cum primer leaves your skin hydrated and glowing. Wear this serum to prep your skin and craft a smooth surface for easy application. Besides, it can also be applied alone as a hydrating serum for an energized glow. Overall it's a versatile product that goes well and shows positive effects whether used alone or in combination. 

Coverage: Medium to full

Skin type: All

Without an optimum drugstore primer, your makeup is incomplete. So we have provided you with our recommendations for the best drugstore primers for dry skin. We hope you find these helpful. Now bring your eyes to our buying guide and know how to pick one.

Here are some factors to know before adding a primer to your shopping cart; 

• Ingredients 

Ideal primers for dry skin are hypoallergenic and perform their functions with no or minimal irritation. Such primers are loaded with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide, and natural botanicals like rose, aloe vera, licorice root extracts, etc. Also, they are free from oils, harsh chemicals, parabens, etc. 

• Color Correction Advantages 

Choose a primer that corrects skin coloration and tone without causing redness. It must effectively hide your skin faults. But ensure it's mild and gentle on the skin. 

• Base

Check the base of the drugstore primer you are planning to invest in. Steer clear of greasy and oil-based primers as they can clog your pores, leading to breakouts. Instead, get your hands on silicone-based primers that provide a natural-looking finish. 

• Testimonials 

Read through customer testimonials to collect more details about particular primers. This can help you choose your fav one based on your skincare needs.

Here are easy and simple ways to apply primer on dry skin - 

 

Step 1: Cleanse your face using a gentle face wash. 

Step 2: Apply a toner, and then moisturize your face using a hydrating cream. 

Step 3: Take a pea-sized amount of primer and apply it over your entire face. 

Step 4: Let it dry and get completely absorbed into your skin.

Step 5: Apply your concealer and foundation to attain an even-toned complexion.

Contributor: Dr. Anna Chacon, Dermatologist - MyPsoriasisTeam