Behold: The Under-$20 Primers Makeup Artists and Editors Love

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(Image credit: @elojelloseropian)

Whether or not you're a primer stan comes down to personal preference and skin concerns. I know plenty of folks (even professional makeup artists) who hate them, but there are others out there who absolutely swear by a good primer. That said, if the only thing stopping you from experimenting with or investing in a primer is a limited spending quota, I have great news: Some of the best face primers out there can actually be found at the drugstore.

Celebrity makeup artist Elizabeth Seropian can back me up on this. She has a few drugstore primers that she absolutely swears provide the most flawless base for makeup application. For all Seropian's recs, tips on what to look for in a primer, and my own favorites, read on below.

What to Look for in a Primer

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(Image credit: @tobimakeup)

The best primers will always help create a base for your foundation to grip onto and will help it stay in place all day. You'll want to choose a primer based on your skin type. If you have oily skin, you may want to look for a formula that mattifies and controls shine. Those with acne-prone skin might benefit from a primer that includes acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid, but most importantly, your primer should be noncomedogenic, meaning it won't clog your pores. You can check any formula for pore-clogging ingredients using Acne Clinic NYC's ingredient checker. I should note that one or two ingredients labeled comedogenic in a formula won't automatically clog your pores (as celebrity esthetician Renée Rouleau has pointed out, it's all about the water-to-oil ratio), but it's a great tool to use that will help you become more aware of what's in your products and can help you identify any potential triggers.

Dry or mature skin types will want to look for primers with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, squalane, and glycerin. These super hydrators are honestly great for most skin types since they're noncomedogenic and won't irritate sensitive skin. I have sensitive, acne-prone skin myself, and I've found that primers with these hydrating ingredients, along with a noncomedogenic formula, work best for me. For makeup-artist recommendations and a few of my own favorite drugstore formulas, keep scrolling.

Best Overall: E.l.f. Cosmetics Poreless Putty Primer

Best for Large Pores: Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer

Best for Sensitive Skin: Flower Beauty Skin Smoothie Hydro Pop Primer

Best for Acne-Prone Skin: E.l.f. Cosmetics Acne-Fighting Putty Primer

Best for Oily Skin: Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Mattifying Primer

 Best for Dry Skin: Nyx Professional Makeup Electrolytes Plumping Primer Serum

Best for Mature Skin: La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50 Daily Anti-Aging Primer With Sunscreen

Best Illuminating: L'Oréal Infallible Pro Glow-Lock Illuminating Face Primer

Best for Redness: Rimmel Insta Flawless Color Correcting Primer in Green

Best for Brightening: Neutrogena Prep + Correct Brightening Primer

Best for Glass Skin: SheGlam Birthday Skin Primer

Up Next: The Best Primers for the Over-40 Set, According to Makeup Artists

Shawna Hudson
Associate Beauty Editor

Shawna Hudson has worked in editorial for over six years, with experience covering entertainment, fashion, culture, celebrities, and her favorite topic of all, beauty. She graduated from California State University, Fullerton, with a degree in journalism and has written for other publications such as Bustle, The Zoe Report, Byrdie, Elite Daily, Mane Addicts, and more. She is currently an associate beauty editor at Who What Wear and hopes to continue feeding her (completely out-of-control) beauty obsession as long as she can. Stay up to date on her latest finds on Instagram @shawnasimonee.