15 Best Primers for Textured Skin That Ensure an Even Makeup Base

Written by Sayantani Deb, Makeup & Beauty Writer
Updated on Mar 06, 2024
Primers for Textured Skin That Ensure an Even Makeup Base
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As someone who understands the struggle firsthand, I recognize the importance of finding products that not only enhance our natural beauty but also address the unique challenges posed by uneven skin texture. The magic wand in this makeup journey is primers. The best primers for textured skin can help reduce the appearance of enlarged pores, giving skin a more refined look. These unsung heroes have the power to create a smooth, flawless base, blurring out imperfections and ensuring that our makeup lasts all day.  

As indicated by our tests, they improve makeup longevity, preventing it from settling into creases or wearing off prematurely. For flaky or dry skin, primers can provide hydration and prevent makeup from clinging to dry patches. They can even out skin tone, allowing the foundation and concealer to provide better coverage, and can blur imperfections such as scars, acne marks, and texture irregularities, creating a flawless finish. 

Some primers control excess oil production, reducing shine in oily or combination skin. Others contain SPF, offering added protection against UV rays, crucial for skin health. Furthermore, some formulations also contain antioxidants and skincare ingredients that nourish and protect the skin over time.

Whether you're dealing with acne scars, enlarged pores, or uneven skin texture, we've got you covered. Join us as we uncover the best primers that will help you achieve a seamless and radiant complexion. Let's get started!

15 Best Primers for Textured Skin

This one of the best face primers is specially formulated to perfect your complexion, instantly smoothing lines and blurring the appearance of pores. Owing to its lightweight and silky texture, it effortlessly glides onto your skin, creating a smooth canvas for your makeup. It effectively covers up any imperfections, giving you a flawless finish that lasts all day long. It is designed to provide long-lasting makeup staying power, ensuring that your makeup looks freshly applied throughout the day.

Pros
  • Long-lasting formula
  • Moisturizing
  • Lightweight
Cons
  • Overpowering smell
  • Best Sulfate-free

    ANNA SUI Gel Foundation Primer

    ANNA SUI Gel Foundation Primer
  • Meet ANNA SUI Gel Foundation Primer, a game-changer for textured skin. This universal shade primer offers a blurring effect, minimizing pores and creating a flawless canvas. Experience the magic as it extends the life of your makeup while keeping your skin moisturized, making it ideal for those with dry skin concerns. Embrace the confidence of long-lasting makeup with a formula that's phthalate and sulfate-free. Elevate your beauty routine with a primer that caters specifically to textured skin, ensuring a smooth and radiant finish.

    Pros
    • Blurring effect
    • Minimizes pores
    • Universal shade
    • Long-lasting makeup
    • Moisturizes dry skin
    • Phthalate and sulfate-free
    Cons
    • Limited shade range
  • Best for Acne-prone Skin

    L'Oréal Paris Magic Perfecting Base Face Primer

    L'Oréal Paris Magic Perfecting Base Face Primer
  • With its lightweight and velvety-smooth formula, this texture-perfecting primer by L'Oréal creates the perfect canvas for your makeup, ensuring it stays in place all day long. This primer is designed to minimize the appearance of pores and fine lines, giving you a smooth and even complexion. Its unique texture helps to blur imperfections and mattify the skin, leaving you with a natural and seamless finish. And, considering that it is infused with special light-diffusing properties, the primer not only enhances the longevity of your makeup but also gives your skin a radiant and luminous glow. It helps to even out skin tone, resulting in a more refined and perfected look.

    Pros
    • Great for acne-prone skin
    • Silky formula
    • Climate pledge friendly
    Cons
    • Costly
  • Best for All Skin Types

    NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Marshmellow Smoothing Primer

    NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Marshmellow Smoothing Primer
  • This one of the best hydrating primers is formulated with a unique blend of natural ingredients that work together to create a smooth canvas for your makeup. The lightweight formula glides on effortlessly, minimizing the appearance of pores and fine lines, while also hydrating and nourishing the skin. With its 10-in-1 skin benefits, this primer truly stands out from the crowd.

    Moreover, it helps to blur imperfections, control shine, and extend the wear of your makeup, ensuring that your look stays fresh and flawless all day long. Additionally, it provides a subtle luminosity to the skin, giving you a radiant and healthy-looking complexion.

    Pros
    • Vegan
    • Suitable for all skin types
    • Hydrating formula
    Cons
    • Poor packaging
  • Best for Fine Line Treatment

    Benefit Cosmetics POREfessional Pro Balm Face Primer Pore Minimizer

    Benefit Cosmetics POREfessional Pro Balm Face Primer Pore Minimizer
  • Designed to revolutionize your makeup routine, this balmy primer for textured skin helps smooth out your skin for an even base. It is a silky, lightweight formula that glides effortlessly onto the skin, instantly blurring imperfections and creating a smooth canvas for makeup application. Plus, its unique pore-minimizing technology helps to reduce the visibility of pores, giving you a refined and airbrushed look. 

    With its oil-free formula, this primer is perfect for all skin types, including those with oily or combination skin. It not only ensures a long-lasting makeup application but also helps to control excess sebum, keeping your skin looking fresh and matte throughout the day.

    Pros
    • Lightweight
    • Great for treating fine lines
    • Suitable for all skin types
    Cons
    • Costly
  • Best Lightweight Texture

    Dermablend Insta-Grip Jelly Primer Face Makeup

    Dermablend Insta-Grip Jelly Primer Face Makeup
  • With its innovative formula, this one of the best pore-blurring primers by Dermablend provides a flawless base for your makeup while offering long-lasting wear for up to 24 hours. It is infused with skin-loving ingredients that nourish and keep your skin hydrated, leaving it feeling soft and supple. Its unique jelly-like texture glides effortlessly onto your skin, creating a smooth canvas that helps to minimize the appearance of pores. 

    This face primer is specially formulated to provide a strong grip, ensuring that your makeup stays in place throughout the day. It enhances the longevity of your foundation, concealer, and other face products, making them less likely to fade or smudge.

    Pros
    • Cruelty-free
    • Lightweight
    • Great absorption
    Cons
    • A bit sticky
  • Best Dewy, Glowing Finish

    e.l.f. Power Grip Primer + 4% Niacinamide, Gel-Based & Hydrating Face Primer

    e.l.f. Power Grip Primer + 4% Niacinamide, Gel-Based & Hydrating Face Primer
  • Designed to even out your skin tone and brighten your complexion, this primer ensures a flawless and long-lasting makeup application. With its innovative gel-based formula, this primer effortlessly glides onto your skin, creating a smooth canvas for your makeup. 

    What we love about it is that it is enriched with 4% niacinamide, a powerful ingredient known for its ability to improve the overall appearance of the skin. Hence, this primer not only provides a flawless base but also helps to improve the texture and clarity of your skin over time. It is formulated to grip your makeup, ensuring that it stays in place all day long.

    Pros
    • Vegan
    • Cruelty-free
    • Creates a dewy, radiant finish
    Cons
    • Hard to apply
  • Best Non-drying Formula

    Tatcha The Silk Canvas | Velvety Makeup Perfecting Primer

    Tatcha The Silk Canvas | Velvety Makeup Perfecting Primer
  • This primer for textured skin is designed to elevate your makeup routine to new heights. It is infused with a unique blend of high-quality ingredients such as hydrolyzed silk, squalene, botanical extracts, and glycerin, which work together to create a smooth and flawless canvas for your makeup application. Its lightweight and silky texture effortlessly glides onto the skin, blurring imperfections and minimizing the appearance of pores. 

    All in all, this primer not only enhances the longevity of your makeup but also provides a protective barrier between your skin and the harmful environmental factors that can cause damage.

    Pros
    • Smooth
    • Premium beauty product
    • Suitable for all skin types
    • Non-drying
    Cons
    • A bit heavy
  • Best Budget-friendly

    Urban Decay All Nighter Longwear Face Primer

    Urban Decay All Nighter Longwear Face Primer
  • Designed with a lightweight, long-lasting formula, this face primer is here to revolutionize the way your foundation stays in place. Its innovative formula locks your foundation in place, ensuring it stays put and resists fading, smudging, and melting. 

    Not only does this primer provide exceptional staying power, but it also works wonders for your skin. Infused with hydrating ingredients, it leaves your skin feeling nourished and smooth, creating a perfect canvas for flawless makeup application.

    Pros
    • Lightweight
    • Buildable
    • Buildable
    Cons
    • Not long-lasting
  • jane iredale Smooth Affair Facial Primer

    jane iredale Smooth Affair Facial Primer
  • Designed to minimize the appearance of pores and fine lines, this multi-purpose primer provides an illuminating glow, mattifying effect, and brightening properties. With its innovative formula, this facial primer creates a perfect canvas for makeup application, ensuring a long-lasting and flawless finish.

    Plus, it effortlessly glides onto the skin, instantly blurring the appearance of pores and fine lines, creating a refined and airbrushed look. Enriched with nourishing ingredients, this primer helps to hydrate and protect your skin from environmental stressors, promoting a healthy and radiant complexion.

    Pros
    • Suitable for oily skin
    • Ultra-hydrating
    • Lightweight
    Cons
    • Small size
  • Best Packaging

    Dermalogica Skinperfect Primer

    Dermalogica Skinperfect Primer
  • This advanced formula from Dermalogica is perfect for those looking to achieve a flawless makeup application while protecting their skin from harmful UV rays. With its broad-spectrum SPF 30, it shields your skin against both UVA and UVB rays, preventing premature aging and sun damage. And, this primer goes beyond traditional primers by offering additional skincare benefits. 

    Infused with potent botanical extracts, it actively works to improve your skin's texture, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The silky smooth texture glides effortlessly onto the skin, creating a perfect canvas for your foundation and ensuring that your makeup lasts all day.

    Pros
    • Long-lasting coverage
    • Great packaging
    • Vegan
    Cons
    • A bit costly
  • Monica Ann Beauty Dual-Action Face Primer

    Monica Ann Beauty Dual-Action Face Primer
  • Specially formulated with a blend of vitamin C and hyaluronic acid this hydrating primer by Monica Ann provides the perfect base for your makeup while nourishing the skin. With its dual-action formula, this primer works wonders to create a smooth and even canvas for your foundation. 

    Its lightweight texture glides effortlessly onto the skin, instantly minimizing the appearance of pores and fine lines, giving you a flawless, airbrushed finish. Plus, the translucent matte finish of this primer makes it suitable for any skin tone, ensuring that your makeup looks seamless and stays put all day long.

    Pros
    • Non-comedogenic
    • Great for any skin tone
    • Paraben-free
    Cons
    • A bit greasy
  • Best for Anti-aging Skin

    BODYOGRAPHY - Foundation Primer

    BODYOGRAPHY - Foundation Primer
  • Specially formulated with a blend of nourishing ingredients including jojoba and grapeseed oil, this salon-quality makeup primer supports your skin barrier with moisture. The infused combination of vitamin E and A in the formula helps to protect the skin from environmental stressors, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. And, its clear formula seamlessly blends into the skin, leaving behind a smooth and velvety finish.

    Designed to control shine and create the perfect canvas for makeup application, this foundation primer ensures your makeup stays in place all day long. Whether you're preparing for a special occasion or simply want to elevate your everyday makeup routine, it is your secret weapon for achieving a flawless and long-lasting look.

    Pros
    • Cruelty-free
    • Offers antioxidant protection
    • Great for anti-aging
    Cons
    • Poor packaging
  • Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield

    Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield
  • Enriched with advanced skincare technology, this one of the best primers for pores and wrinkles is backed by science to provide optimal results. It is a multitasking formula that blurs imperfections, primes the skin, and offers superior sun protection with an SPF 30. Its lightweight and silky texture glides effortlessly onto the skin, instantly creating a smooth canvas for makeup application. 

    Being formulated with nourishing ingredients, it replenishes moisture levels, leaving your skin plump, soft, and radiant. Hence, with this primer, you don’t have to worry about your base makeup settling into dry patches or looking cakey throughout the day.

    Pros
    • Non-comedogenic
    • Does not clog pores
    • Great for all skin types
    Cons
    • Pricey
  • HALEYS Re-fine Soft Matte Poreless Primer

    HALEYS Re-fine Soft Matte Poreless Primer
  • With its revolutionary formula, it grips your makeup, ensuring that it stays in place throughout the day. Not only does this primer keep your makeup intact, but it also works wonders on your skin. The silky smooth texture of the primer effortlessly glides onto your skin, instantly blurring imperfections and filling in pores and fine lines. You'll be left with a smooth canvas that's ready for flawless foundation application. Whether you're heading to the office or a night out on the town, this one of the best primers for long-lasting makeup will keep your look fresh and flawless.

    Pros
    • Cruelty-free
    • Fragrance-free
    • Suitable for all skin types
    Cons
    • A bit oily

    Now that you’ve seen our product recommendations for the best primers for textured skin, let us see the following buying guide and steps to use to shop wisely and make the best of the product.

    How to Choose the Best Primer for Textured Skin?

    Here are some factors to consider when you choose the best primer for your textured skin:

    Understanding Textured Skin: Before we dive into the world of primers, it's essential to understand what textured skin is. Textured skin refers to skin that has uneven surfaces, such as bumps, rough patches, or enlarged pores. These imperfections can be caused by various factors, including acne, acne scars, enlarged pores, lesions, milia spots, age-related factors, or genetics. The key to achieving a smooth complexion lies in finding a primer that can address these specific concerns.

    Look for Pore-Minimizing Ingredients: One of the main concerns for individuals with textured skin is the appearance of enlarged pores. To combat this issue, look for a primer that contains pore-minimizing ingredients such as niacinamide. These ingredients work to unclog pores, reduce their appearance, and create a smoother canvas for your makeup application.

    Consider a Mattifying Primer: If you have oily skin in addition to textured skin, a mattifying primer can be your best friend. These primers are designed to control excess oil production, which can often exacerbate the appearance of textured skin. Look for primers that are oil-free and have a mattifying effect to keep your skin looking fresh and shine-free throughout the day.

    Opt for Silicone-Based Primers: Silicone-based primers are known for their ability to fill fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven texture, making them an excellent choice for textured skin. The silicone creates a smooth barrier on the skin's surface, blurring imperfections and creating a flawless base for your foundation. However, if you have sensitive skin, it's important to do a patch test before using a silicone-based primer to ensure it doesn't cause any adverse reactions.

    Seek Hydrating Formulas: While mattifying primers are great for controlling oil, they may not be the best option for those with dry or combination skin. If you fall into this category, opt for a hydrating primer that can provide moisture to your skin while also smoothing out texture. Look for ingredients like panthenol, lactic acid, aloe vera, vitamin E, hydrolyzed collagen, or glycerin, which are known for their hydrating properties.

    SPF Protection: Sun protection is essential for all skin types, including textured skin. Look for a primer that has a broad-spectrum SPF to shield your skin from harmful UV rays. Not only will this protect your skin from sun damage, but it will also prevent further aging and texture issues caused by sun exposure.

    By considering these factors and being mindful of your skin's needs, you'll be well on your way to achieving a smooth and flawless makeup application.

    How to Cover Up Textured Skin With A Primer?

    Before applying any makeup products, it's essential to start with a clean and moisturized face. Cleanse your skin using a gentle cleanser to remove any dirt or excess oil. Follow it up with a moisturizer suitable for your skin type to hydrate and prep your skin for makeup.

    Step 1: Take a pea-sized amount of primer onto your fingertips or a makeup brush. Start by applying the primer to the areas where you have textured skin, such as the forehead, nose, cheeks, or chin. Gently massage the primer into your skin using upward motions, ensuring an even application.

    Step 2: Allow the primer to settle on your skin for a few minutes before moving on to the next step. This will give it enough time to create a smooth base and fill in any fine lines or enlarged pores.

    Step 3: Once the primer has fully settled, it's time to apply your foundation. Choose a lightweight, buildable foundation that matches your skin tone and apply it using a makeup sponge or brush. Start from the center of your face and blend it outwards, focusing on the areas with textured skin.

    Step 4: To ensure that your makeup stays in place all day, set your foundation with a translucent powder. This will help to mattify your skin and minimize any shine. Use a fluffy brush to lightly dust the powder over your entire face, paying extra attention to the textured areas.

    Step 5: Complete your makeup look by adding any additional products like blush, or bronzer. Remember to blend these products seamlessly into your foundation to maintain a smooth skin appearance.

    Finding the best primer for textured skin can make a world of difference in achieving a smooth and flawless complexion. By selecting a primer that addresses textured skin concerns, you can create a solid foundation for your makeup application. Whether you're looking to minimize the appearance of pores, blur uneven skin tone, or fill in fine lines and wrinkles, there are several great options available. From silicone-based primers to pore-minimizing formulas, the best primers for textured skin can help you achieve a more even and refined base for your makeup. Experiment with different products and techniques to find the one that works best for you, and get ready to enjoy a radiant and flawless complexion.

    FAQ's

    Can a primer help textured skin?
    A primer can indeed help improve the appearance of textured skin. By filling in fine lines, blurring imperfections, and providing a smooth base for foundation, a primer can create a more even and flawless skin texture. Additionally, certain primers specifically designed for textured skin can help to minimize the appearance of pores and create a smoother canvas.
    How do you apply primer to textured skin?
    Begin by preparing your skin with a gentle exfoliation to remove any dry or flaky patches. Next, choose a primer specifically designed for textured skin, as it will help to fill in and minimize pores and unevenness. Apply the primer in small, targeted areas using a brush or your fingertips, focusing on areas with the most texture. Allow the primer to set for a few minutes before applying your foundation or other makeup products.
    Can I use moisturizer instead of a primer?
    Moisturizers primarily provide hydration and nourishment to the skin, while primers are specifically designed to create a smooth base for makeup application and prolong its wear. While moisturizer can provide a temporary smoothing effect, it may not have the same long-lasting effect as a primer. Therefore, it is recommended to use a primer to enhance the longevity and appearance of your makeup, in addition to applying a moisturizer for optimal skin hydration.
    Can I apply foundation on my face without using a primer first?
    While it is possible to apply foundation on your face without using a primer first, using a primer can offer several benefits. Primers help to create a smooth canvas for foundation application, extend the longevity of your makeup, and provide a base for better color payoff. Additionally, primers can help to control oil and minimize the appearance of pores, resulting in a more flawless finish.
    Does primer reduce texture?
    The use of primer can indeed help reduce texture on the skin. By creating a smooth and even base, primer fills in fine lines, pores, and other imperfections, resulting in a more flawless complexion. Additionally, some primers contain ingredients that provide hydration, which can further improve the texture of the skin.

    Why Trust Pinkvilla

    Sayantani was aware that textured skin can be a confidence-denting issue, and that finding the right primer is crucial for a smooth makeup application. She wanted to simplify this process for others facing similar challenges. She researched and personally tested numerous primers, considering factors like pore-minimizing abilities, long-lasting results, and compatibility with textured skin. By sharing her reviews, she aimed to empower her readers with textured skin to confidently choose a primer that enhances their makeup, ultimately boosting their self-esteem and overall skincare routine.

    Our product experts study the specifications of every product we suggest and try them out to bring what’s proven to be worthy of your money, time, and energy. We also have subject matter experts from various fields like Fashion, Skincare, Haircare, Home Decor, and Health & Fitness onboard to make sure our suggestions are credible and trustworthy. You can trust Select to be your faithful shopping guide for all the right reasons!

    Author BIO
    reviewer
    Sayantani Deb
    Makeup & Beauty Writer

    Sayantani is a certified hair and makeup professional turned writer with 2+ years of experience in the same genre. Ap More