15 best primers for dry skin will hydrate skin all day (and keep makeup in place)
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If your skin is on the dry side, you shouldn't underestimate the powers of quality primers for dry skin. After all, when it comes to smooth makeup application, skin prep is everything. Even if you already own one of the best moisturisers for dry skin, and are all caught-up on your face serums and toners, if you're not using a hydrating primer as a barrier between your skincare and makeup – you're missing out.
Not only will they make sure that your makeup doesn't budge or slide off during the day, but they will also take care of dry patches, flaking, creasing and peeling – AKA the four biggest makeup woes for anyone who has dry or dehydrated skin. A quality hydrating primer will form a supple, nourished and plump base for your makeup to stick to so as to ensure longer wear. And it certainly doesn't hurt that such formulas often boast a handful of skin-loving ingredients that will help brighten, moisturise and reduce the appearance of texture, fine lines and wrinkles.
Best primers for dry skin at a glance – our top picks:
- Best primer for dry skin overall: Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base
- Best primer for dry skin for sculpting: REFY Face Primer
- Best primer for dry skin for a dewy finish: Saie Glowy Super Gel
- Best primer for dry skin for long lasting makeup: Milk Makeup Hydro Grip
Best Amazon Prime Day deals on primers for dry skin:
- NYX Professional Makeup The Marshmellow Primer Set, WAS £19.38 NOW £15.20
- Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Primer for Face, WAS £27 NOW £19.60
- Rimmel Fix & Perfect Makeup Primer, WAS £7.99 NOW £4.75
- NYX Professional Makeup Plump Right Back Primer & Serum, WAS £15 NOW £9.99
As for primers in general, everyone from celebrity makeup artists to beauty editors and content creators can easily confirm that they can pretty much make or break your makeup look. Think about it: when you have that elite primer and foundation combo down, your makeup is bound to last longer and your base will look just as seamless and smooth at the end of the evening as it did the moment you applied it in the morning. So before you reach for your go-to foundation, don't forget to prep your face with a quality priming formula.
That said, many traditional primers of the past that you might still spot online aren't exactly suitable for all skin types, and the overly mattifying and moisture-stripping formulas certainly wouldn't do any favours for dry skin, sensitive skin or breakout-prone skin. In fact, some of said primers could've easily resulted in flaky patches and your makeup products separating from your base – not ideal.
But fear not, because much like most beauty products, today’s primer formulas have evolved enough to work for a variety of skin types. Some have been expertly formulated to feature nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, niacinamide, vitamin C, vitamin E and shea butter, making them far more suitable candidates than their predecessors.
Spot the difference.
What does a primer for dry skin do?
Innovative and skincare-led technology means that primers that have been formulated with dry skin in mind can deliver on a host of skincare benefits. For example, ingredients such as nourishing shea butter and hyaluronic acid can help the skin retain more moisture, making a good primer more than just another step in your makeup routine.
According to makeup and hair artist Alexis Day, “primers for dry skin types work by locking in moisture, and helping it stay nourished throughout the day so the makeup doesn't deteriorate. [They] will usually have moisture boosting ingredients like a hyaluronic acid, glycerin, as well as a flower or fruit oil in, to help keep the skin hydrated.”
“These support your skincare regime by keeping thirsty skin "fed" throughout the day rather than just feeding it during your morning moisturiser routine,” she adds.
Long story short, investing in a primer that’s specifically catered for your dry skin can be an absolute game changer. To help you navigate through the countless of trending options online, we've put together the ultimate roundup of primers that will ensure your makeup stays put without compromising on the moisturise in your skin.
Looking to stock up on more best-selling beauty products? Check out our edits for the best foundations, best setting sprays, best concealers, best skin tints and the best sunscreens for face.
For more makeup and skincare content from Glamour UK Beauty Commerce Writer Denise Primbet, follow her on Twitter @deniseprimbet and Instagram @deniseprimbet.
Scroll to view our edit of the best primers for dry skin that will keep your face nice and hydrated…
- 1/15
Best primer overall
Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base
Why we love it: A cult favourite for a reason, the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base doubles as a nourishing day cream. It’s the perfect primer for locking your makeup in place and keeping your skin nice and hydrated throughout the day. The key ingredients include squalane, hyaluronic acid and shea butter, giving your skin a major boost of hydration and creating a plumped up canvas for your makeup. Suitable for combination skin as well as oily skin.
Looking to save a pretty buck at the checkout? Checkout our Sephora discount codes when shopping for your primer.
- 2/15
Best sculpting primer
Why we love it: If you’re prone to having a little puffiness in the morning, reach for this Refy product. Unlike your average primer, the Refy Face Primer also functions as a "gua sha tool”. The smart roller applicator smooths and sculpts the face to depuff, massaging it in the process. The perfecting formula is developed with niacinamide, vitamin B5 and polymers to hydrate, minimise pores and hydrate the skin. For skin that glows and makeup that lasts all day.
- 3/15
Best primer for a dewy finish
Why we love it: For days when your skin is in need of a glowy pick me up, look no further than the Saie Glowy Super Gel. Wear alone or under makeup for a luminous boost. The gel formula is loaded with skin nourishing ingredients including papaya, squalene and vitamin C to protect, hydrate and brighten the skin. Say goodbye to dull skin.
Make sure to check out our Cult Beauty discount codes, to save some money on your next primer purchase.
- 4/15
Best gripping primer for dry skin
Why we love it: If you find your makeup doesn’t last past lunchtime, the Milk Makeup Hydro Grip will have it staying put all day. The hard working, lightweight, non greasy gel like formula is not only created with aloe water, cherry blossom, hyaluronic acid and B vitamin for an instant hit of deep hydration, the star ingredient blue agave extract works to form an invisible layer over the skin that grips tight onto your makeup, and ensures it lasts up to 12 hours.
Don’t forget to check out how much you can save with our Sephora discount codes.
- 5/15
Best hydrating primer
Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer
Why we love it: A cult classic in the makeup world, everyone who is anyone in the makeup industry raves about the Laura Mercier Canvas Primers and this is their most hydrating formula of all. It contains marine hydra botanicals to replenish the skin and offer a boost of hydration upon application as well as improving the overall skin moisture level in just one week. It’s ticking a lot of boxes.
Fancy making a saving on primers? Check out our Boots discount codes.
- 6/15
Best primer with SPF
Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Poreless Primer
Why we love it: Can Charlotte Tilbury do any wrong when it comes to makeup? If you’re looking to blur imperfections and reduce the appearance of pores, shield your skin from sun damage, even skin tone, nourish and hydrate the skin, this is the primer for you. With the addition of the brand’s airbrush polymers, it will have you selfie ready 24/7 and a guarantee of no flashback.
Make sure to check out our Cult Beauty discount codes, to save some money on your next primer purchase.
- 7/15
Best blurring primer
Photo Finish by Smashbox Foundation Primer
Why we love it: A lot of smoothing and blurring primers can feel drying on the skin and highlight dry patches, but the Photo Finish by SmashBox Foundation Primer genius formula manages to overcome that problem. This vegan and cruelty-free velvety base works to minimise pores, smooth over imperfections, while working extra hard to hydrate the skin – for days when you need your makeup to last that extra mile.
And you can make a saving on your purchase with our Amazon discount codes.
- 8/15
Best smoothing primer
NYX Professional Makeup The Marshmellow Primer
Why we love it: There's a good reason why everyone on the internet is gushing about this primer and it has gone viral on TikTok. The 10 in 1 makeup primer is formulated with marshmallow root extract to not only extend makeup wear, it hydrates, soothes, evens tone, minimises texture, blurs lines, adds a soft focus for a flawless finish and keeps your makeup looking fresh all day. We could be here forever, with a list like that.
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- 9/15
Best affordable primer for dry skin
Why we love it: At under £10 this is the best value primer that actually delivers on its promises. Formulated with grape extract and vitamins A and C, this nourishing primer boosts the skin’s hydration level for a fresh, smooth, natural and hydrated finish to your makeup that lasts all day.
Check out our Amazon discount codes, to see how much you could save on your next primer purchase.
- 10/15
Best refreshing primer for dry skin
Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer
Why we love it: Don’t be deceived by its creamy texture. The Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer – while enriched with hydrating coconut water and refreshing probiotics for a radiant and supple base – doesn't skimp on its ability to hold down your makeup. If you’re after that dewy, fresh-faced look that lasts all day long and leaves your skin feeling fresher than ever, then look no further. Oh, and did we mention it's also free from parabens and silicones?
Save big on primers for dry skin, with our LookFantastic discount codes.
- 11/15
Best mattifying primer for dry skin
L'Oréal Paris Infallible Mattifying Priming Base
Why we love it: There is a primer for everyone! If you’re not a fan of the super-dewy look but you have dry skin, the L’Oreal Paris Infallible Mattifying Priming Base is coming through for you. This velvety gel primer aims to improve the longevity of your makeup, with a natural matte finish whilst caring for your skin and not leaving it parched.
- 12/15
Best lightweight primer for dry skin
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Hydrating Primer
Why we love it: When Fenty came out with their hydrating version of their beloved Pro Filt’r primer, there were waves of celebration among the dry skin community. We can’t explain the exact science, but somehow this formula manages to be a rich-yet-lightweight and effortlessly absorbs into the skin, leaving you with a smooth, hydrated and filter-like finish.
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- 13/15
Best premium primer for dry skin
Why we love it: Always on-hand with the most premium and luxurious products, this option from Dior does not disappoint. It promises 24 hours of wear and hydration – the first of its kind. The creamy, luminous formula glides over the skin to form a veil over the skin, so anything on top looks incredible. It’s your ticket to glorious skin.
- 14/15
Best skincare-infused primer
Tatcha The Liquid Silk Canvas Primer
Why we love it: Always with the premise of skincare first, Tatcha makeup is the perfect addition to your makeup routine for those extra skincare benefits. Formulated with their own unique super Hadasei-3 complex - a blend of green tea, algae, and akita rice - and a powerful blend of antioxidants, it works to hold large quantities of water in the skin.
- 15/15
Best nourishing primer for dry skin
Armani Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer
Why we love it: The Armani Luminous Silk family is the holy grail of base products in the beauty world – and its primer does not fall short of its family name. A unique oil-in-water formula, it's enriched with shea butter, glycerin and and crystal-encapsulated pigments that leave the skin with a fresh, pearlescent glow.
Save big on primers for dry skin, with our LookFantastic discount codes.
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