21 best primers for all skin types

For as long as they've been around, primers have always fallen into the “should we, shouldn't we” category of our beauty routines. After all, if we're going to add another step to an already-lengthy, we want to be certain that it's worth the effort. Today, we're hear to tell you that using one of the best primers is worth every ounce of effort.

All good things in life require a certain amount of preparation, and makeup application is no different; priming our faces with face primer before we apply our foundation can give us a much smoother and more seamless canvas to work with. It can also help reduce both redness and the appearance of pores and blemishes while extending the wear of our makeup. Basically: a no-brainer.

In a rush? The best primers at a glance:

1. Best overall: Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Poreless Primer, £40, Sephora
2. Best with SPF protection: Super Healthy Skin™ FeatherLight UVA/UVB SPF 50 Sunscreen + Primer, £13.50, Beauty Pie
3. Best for a dewy base: Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer, £30, LookFantastic
4. Best gripping primer: Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer, £31, Cult Beauty
5. Best illuminating primer: e.l.f. Cosmetics Illuminating Face Primer, £9, Amazon
6. Best for blurring: Wonderfilter™ Velvet Finish Primer, £12.50, Beauty Pie

Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Poreless Primer

£40 at Sephora

Super Healthy Skin™ FeatherLight UVA/UVB SPF 50 Sunscreen + Primer

£13.50 at Beauty Pie

Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer

£30 at LookFantastic

Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer

£31 at Cult Beauty

e.l.f. Cosmetics Illuminating Face Primer

£9 at Amazon

Wonderfilter™ Velvet Finish Primer

£12.50 at Beauty Pie

"Primers are essential for long-lasting and flawless makeup," says leading makeup artist Lan Nguyen-Grealis. "The idea of a primer is to give a base for the actual makeup to grab and sit on.

At the same time, primers aren't a one-size-fits-all. The primer that works best for you may be different from the one your mate swears by, depending on your skin type. Laura Mercier's Pure Canvas Primer is a prime (sorry) example. This bestselling product comes in five different versions – blurring, perfecting, protecting, illuminating and hydrating – to accommodate an array of different skin requirements and concerns. "Blurring primers will minimise the appearance of lines and pores so you have the illusion of perfect skin or you can pick enhancing primers such as ones that add illumination," explains Lan.

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And with loads of us ditching full faces for a lightweight foundation, you could even find that your primer offers you with the confidence and face-perfecting action you need to skip foundation altogether. Your primer can do a lot of the heavy-lifting, meaning you only need to touch-up with a teensy bit of concealer on top (if even). When it comes to applications, you have plenty of options. You can apply it all over, so your entire face can reap the benefits. Otherwise, you can choose to apply it sparingly and tactically, sticking to place where you need it, including areas with more visible pores, texture or oiliness.

But considering the amount of choice out there, it can be challenging to find which primer works best for you and your skin. To help you come to a decision, we've put together a full edit of all the best primers out there, including options that take into account your personal needs, preferences and budget, as well as your skin type and skin tone. Enjoy.

Feeling inspired to upgrade your makeup routine? Check out our guides on the best foundations, best bronzers, best concealers, best cream blushes and best liquid blushes. We can also help you restock you makeup bag with guides for the best lipstick, best highlighter, best eyebrow product and best mascaras. For from Glamour UK Commerce Writer Denise Primbet, follow her on Twitter @deniseprimbet and Instagram @deniseprimbet.

Ahead, find out which of the best primers suits your skin best.