We know how unpredictable acne-prone skin can be. But skipping a primer can make it worse, especially if you love applying makeup. Instead, get the best primer for acne-prone skin that will protect and blur your pores and create a radiant base to enhance your makeup! And lucky for you, primers no longer just prime and protect but also moisturize, hydrate, and combat various skin problems (acne in your case!). 

Whether you have acne-prone, oily, or combination skin, we’ve got the 10 best primers to tackle all your skin problems and boost your natural complexion. Indulge in the feel-good coverage of these primers that won’t make you want to wash your face instantly! Lighter compared to silicone-heavy primers and packed with skin-loving ingredients, get ready to prime with the best. Let’s shop for your new makeup primer for acne-prone skin below!

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  Best Overall

  Tula Filter Primer Blurring & Moisturizing Primer - Luna

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A primer that also moisturizes, we’ll take it! This non-comedogenic primer by TULA SKINCARE blurs pores and pampers skin to create a radiant base with its infused glowy particles. Enriched with skin-friendly ingredients such as butterfly bush, chia seeds, licorice, and a blend of prebiotics and probiotic extracts, you’d wonder whether it’s a moisturizer or a primer! It promotes smoothness, corrects the look of uneven skin tone, reduces the appearance of dark spots, and nourishes the skin intensely. And the best part, it’s free from harmful chemicals such as gluten, dairy, sulfates, parabens, triclosan, mineral oil, fragrance, retinol, petrolatum, and other preservatives.

Quick Tip

To achieve a flawless finish while addressing your acne concerns, mix a drop of tea tree oil into this primer. Your skin will receive a blemish-fighting boost from it.

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Best for Ultra-Matte Look

RIMMEL LONDON STAY MATTE PRIMER

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Go ultra matte with RIMMEL LONDON’s STAY MATTE PRIMER. Controlling the unsightly grease and shine for up to 8 hours, it offers a base so soft and matte that you’ll enjoy applying your makeup. And it doesn’t stop there! It also minimizes the look of visible pores and nourishes your skin with its velvety smooth coverage. Use it with foundation or without to get that flawless “no makeup look”; this mattifying primer will not disappoint.

Quick Tip

Use this in conjunction with your foundation. Apply a pea-sized amount of this primer and wait for a few minutes before applying the foundation.

3

Best for Airbrushed Finish

Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Face Primer - Clear

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For that airbrushed “poreless” look, choose this lightweight primer from Elizabeth Mott, and you’ll thank us later. Its filter-like finish minimizes the look of visible pores and fine lines and also keeps your makeup intact all day! And if your skin turns greasy quickly, you’d love this well-balancing priming formula even more because of its sebum and shine-controlling content. Mattifying your skin optimally, it brightens your makeup and even corrects uneven skin tone to deliver that flawless glow you always wanted. 

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Best for Moisturizing

NYX PROFESSIONAL THE MARSHMELLOW SMOOTHING PRIMER

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The texture of this smoothing primer feels like a whipped marshmallow, literally! Formulated with marshmallow root extract, shea butter, vitamin E, and chlorella vulgaris extract, the water-based texture appears transparent on the skin, thus making it suitable for all skin types and tones. And unlike regular primers, NYX PROFESSIONAL THE MARSHMELLOW SMOOTHING PRIMER has 10 benefits for you! It hydrates, softens, soothes, and smooths lines, keeps makeup fresh, minimizes texture, corrects uneven skin tone, offers a soft-focus finish, and extends makeup wear for up to 16 hours! Buy this primer now.

5

Best Multi-purpose Formula

Dermablend Insta-Grip Jelly Primer Face Makeup

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This luxurious water-based primer works like a charm for acne-prone skin as it soothes those painful lesions and prevents further inflammation when they get in touch with makeup products. You can feel free to skip applying your daily moisturizer as the primer is rich in humectants such as glycerin and panthenol that boost hydration in your skin. Plus, the formula acts as a pore-tightening mask that not only blurs out the imperfections on your skin but also the boundaries between skincare and makeup. All in all, the product deserves a place in your makeup stash.

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e.l.f. BLEMISH CONTROL FACE PRIMER

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If you have active acne and blemishes, e.l.f. could be your savior in disguise! It has salicylic acid, tea tree oil, and vitamin E to prime, combat blemishes, and nourish your skin. Its sheer matte coverage blurs imperfections and makes your skin appear smooth, soft, and fresh instantly. The formula also contains extracts of rosemary, lemon, and thyme to protect and hydrate your skin.  A great option for irritated and oily skin, it’s free from harsh chemicals such as parabens, sulfates, triclosan, phthalates, hydroquinone, nonylphenol ethoxylates, and triclocarban.

7

REVLON PhotoReady Prime Plus Makeup + Skincare Primer

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Infused with skin-loving ingredients, REVLON PhotoReady Primer truly cares for your skin and makeup. Go for this one, especially if you have oily skin and enlarged pores. It contains spherical beads to create a soft-focus effect on the skin, artichoke extracts to shrink the appearance of the pores, salicylic acid, and other AHAs to combat acne. From instantly mattifying skin to blurring pores, fine lines, and other imperfections, it also controls sebum to offer a flawless, seamless, and photo-ready complexion. Even better, it’s free from harmful chemicals such as parabens, phthalates, artificial dyes, and sulfates.

8

COVER FX Gripping Primer

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COVER FX Gripping Primer has an anti-aging and makeup-gripping formula to deliver an all-day fresh and smooth look. It grips color pigments and keeps makeup intact for prolonged hours, even during humid weather. Its formula contains a micro-algae extract rich in amino acids and vitamins to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles. It also contains kelp extract for instantly smoothing and firming skin and a plankton-derived polymer complex to offer a younger-looking appearance. Besides, it's clean and free from harsh chemicals such as mineral oil, talc, paraben, gluten, sulfates, phthalates, and fragrance.

9

touch in Sol NO POREBLEM PRIMER

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If you’re a fan of “au naturale” looks, this dewy and pore-blurring primer is a BIG yes for you. Reducing the look of your enlarged pores, uneven texture, and wrinkles, it delivers a finish so flawless that you’ll wonder if it is tinted at all. Formulated with skin-loving ingredients, it has green tea extracts for energizing and protecting the skin and collagen for maintaining moisture and providing a dewy glow. Also, it is chemical-free and contains no bad stuff such as parabens, talc, mineral oils, acrylamide, and animal ingredients.

10

The Ordinary High-Adherence Silicone Primer

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Whether you have oily, combination, or acne-prone skin, choose this primer from The Ordinary for its all-skin-suitable formula. It has advanced adaptive silicones to blur the look of visible pores and other imperfections with its clear and ultra-smooth texture. It also mattifies your skin and creates a seamless canvas for your makeup to stay on for a long time. Although named “The Ordinary”, you can expect an “extra” ordinary glow with this one!

11

bareMinerals COMBO CONTROL MILKY FACE PRIMER

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Take control of your oily t-zone with this chemical-free bliss! bareMinerals COMBO CONTROL MILKY FACE PRIMER has a milky texture that turns powdery on application to absorb all the excess oil and maintain the moisture balance of your skin. This only means a non-greasy and long-lasting glow! It also minimizes pores and controls the unflattering shine and stickiness. Besides, it is super-safe and clean as it is free from harsh ingredients such as parabens, sulfates, fragrances, oils, SLS, gluten, and tree nuts.

There you go! Your pores are safe with these 11 best primers for acne-prone skin. First timer? Our experts can help. Below are tips for choosing the best primer for acne-prone skin for your skin.

• Ingredients:

Know the ingredients before you apply any product to your skin! Especially for acne-prone skin, a primer should be non-comedogenic and chemical-free to prevent pore clogging and skin irritation. Ingredients such as coconut oil, soybean oil, talc, petrolatum, and more can clog pores, whereas shea butter, green tea, and tea tree oil are non-comedogenic and best for acne-prone skin.

• Texture:

If you have dry and acne-prone skin, choose a creamy texture, as it would deliver moisturizing and priming benefits. But, if you have oily or combination skin, water-based and gel primers are ideal for your skin.

• Blurring Effect:

Primers provide different types of coverage or blurring effects, so choose accordingly. If you have slightly visible pores and blemishes, sheer to medium coverage should suffice. However, if you have enlarged pores, fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots, you must opt for full coverage or maximum blurring effect. You can also choose tinted primers to get the desired result.

• Finishing Look:

It’s no hidden secret that matte is a common favorite as it delivers an ideal base for makeup to glide on smoothly. But if your skin is on the drier side, you can opt for a soft or dewy finish to get that hydrating and glowing complexion.

Also, please note! If your skin is sensitive or allergy-prone, you must consult your dermatologist before using the primers listed above. If not, choosing the best primer for acne-prone skin from our list should be easy-peasy. Wear your favorite makeup look without worrying about clogging pores! From being protective barriers to now moisturizing and fighting acne, these primers are a must-have to get that flawless glow without worrying about breakouts. Go get yours today!

Pro Tip

Apply a mattifying primer before makeup. It smoothes, minimizes pores, and helps makeup last. Choose oil-free formulas for a flawless, non-comedogenic finish.