These Hydrating Primers for Mature Skin Can Help Blur Wrinkles and Minimize Pores

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So you’ve already got your daily makeup routine down with the best foundations, concealers, and mascaras—but if there’s one step that’s essential for a flawless makeup look (especially for those with mature skin!), it’s applying a good face primer. In fact, the best primers for mature skin can help transform your face into a smooth canvas for flawless, long-lasting makeup application.

“Face primers help your makeup stay on longer. Depending on the formulation, primers can help minimize the appearance of pores, control shine for oily skin types, and even add a boost of hydration,” explains Jamie Greenberg, celebrity makeup artist and founder of JamieMakeup. “They help to create an even base for foundation, ensuring the products go on smooth while enhancing the longevity of your makeup look.”

Meet the Experts: Jamie Greenberg, celebrity makeup artist and founder of JamieMakeup; Diane Madfes, M.D., F.A.A.D., a board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor of dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Because of these smoothing and hydrating effects, primers are an especially beneficial step for aging skin. “Mature skin loves primers as it fills in the cracks and fine wrinkles,” notes Diane Madfes, M.D., F.A.A.D., a board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor of dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. “Mature skin also needs extra hydration, [and] primers decrease transepidermal water loss”—meaning they help restore and maintain moisture in the skin barrier.

So, which primers are actually best for mature skin? We tapped experts to find out what exactly to look for in a face primer—and rounded up the very best picks that can help you create a smooth, radiant makeup look.

Spackle Skin Perfecting Primer

Designed specifically for mature skin, this best-selling pick from makeup pro Laura Geller pulls double duty as both a moisturizer and a primer. The lightweight, cream-to-gel formula helps prime skin for long-lasting makeup while also delivering a powerful boost of hydration, thanks to moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, jojoba seed oil, squalane, and aloe vera—in addition to soothing antioxidants like cammelia sinesis extract and centella asiatica.

What the Reviews Say: “Amazing for aging skin...I’ve been having a terrible time finding a foundation that doesn’t just settle into the wrinkles and make me look cakey and even older,” shared a 55-year-old shopper. “This made all the difference in the world. It’s smooth and creamy...It just glides on, feels great and now my foundation is smooth and floats on my skin.”

Poreless Face Primer

Looking for an affordable drugstore pick? Greenberg recommends this top-rated primer from e.l.f., which “helps target fine lines and has vitamin E and vitamin A to give the skin an enhanced glow,” she notes. It’s formulated to fill in pores and fine lines, offering a blurring texture and matte finish. And did we mention it’s under $10 and has over 43,000 five-star ratings on Amazon?

What the Reviews Say: “This primer went on beautifully, I didn’t have to use a lot of it to get coverage,” said one shopper. “It’s great for older skin, I’m 68 and it really seems to make a difference—my concealer and foundation went on much more smoothly, and I’ve noticed a lot less fine lines.”

Instant FIRMx No-Filter Primer

Dr. Madfes likes this primer for its “tightening” effects. It’s specifically designed to visibly firm and blur the appearance of fine lines, pores, and other skin imperfections, making it a great option for mature skin. The long-wearing formula contains a blend of skin-tightening silicates and seaweed extract, as well as 3% BarPull, which hydrates skin and helps reduce the appearance of aging—while Elastiflex IQ works to improve the look of smoothness and elasticity over time.

What the Reviews Say: “I’m amazed by this primer!! Within minutes after applying I can actually feel my skin firm up,” shared one shopper. “This primer helps correct the color of my skin, minimizes the appearance of my fine lines, and makes my pores much less noticeable.”

Pro Filt'r Hydrating Primer

This face primer from Fenty Beauty (a brand founded by Rihanna!) keeps skin moisturized all day, thanks to hydrating ingredients like grape seed oil and sodium hyaluronate, while also extending makeup wear. The lightweight formula is ideal for normal, dry, and combination skin types, and quickly absorbs into skin for a silky-smooth finish.

What the Reviews Say: “I have really dry skin, especially in the winter, and I’ve tried a looot of different primers that just never seemed to do much for my skin. I started with the trial size version of this, and let me tell you, I’m OBSESSED,” raved one shopper.“It’s incredibly hydrating and refreshing on my tired, dry skin. I notice immediately that my face looks brighter, softer, and more youthful.”

Filtered Effects™ Blurring Primer

For oily skin, Dr. Madfes recommends this blurring primer from Thrive Causemetics. It features the brand’s Color Grip Technology, which bonds to makeup and controls oil for long-lasting makeup application and a blurred, soft-focus look. Packed with nourishing ingredients like celery seed extract and MCT oil, the non-irritating formula is also dermatologist-tested and allergy-tested—it’s even safe to use around the eye area.

What the Reviews Say: “Oily skin, large-pored friends, rejoice! This primer is it,” raved one shopper. “I have very oily skin and fairly large pores, and have tried them all...This primer (for me) has been more effective than any other. It provides long lasting oil control. I went from oil blotting every few hours to just a couple times a day. It also improves the appearance of skin and minimizes pores. Love it!”

4-in-1 Correcting Primer

This primer is a “go-to” pick for Greenberg, who notes that it’s great for all skin types. “This water-based primer is the ultimate hydration rescuer and is packed with probiotics to enhance skin health with each use,” she says. “The lightweight formula applies smoothly on the skin and is super breathable. I would recommend using this for targeting wrinkles and pores as this has a blend of green, blue, and white blurring properties.”

What the Reviews Say: Shoppers say that it’s especially great for reducing redness in skin. “I have struggled with redness on my cheeks and nose for the past 10 years...I am so pleased with the effectiveness of this product. It is lightweight and feels wonderful on the skin. Highly recommended!” one reviewer wrote.

POREfessional Pro Balm Face Primer

If you’re looking for a primer that blurs your pores, Dr. Madfes recommends this best-selling pick from Benefit Cosmetics. Coming in the form of a lightweight, translucent balm, it’s specifically designed to minimize the appearance of pores and fine lines for softer, smoother skin, while helping makeup apply evenly and stay put. The formula also contains a vitamin E derivative, which helps protect skin from free radicals.

What the Reviews Say: “This is the best primer I’ve ever used for minimizing pores. The formula goes on smoothly and fills in pores seamlessly,” said an Amazon customer. “The slight hint of color seems to help camouflage other slight imperfections as well which helps to give my overall complexion a more even appearance.”

Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40

Recommended by Dr. Madfes, this best-selling face sunscreen from Supergoop (it has over 15,000 ratings on Amazon!) also doubles as a makeup primer, making it a convenient two-in-one pick. Unlike many other sunscreens, it glides on smoothly and is invisible on skin with zero white cast. The weightless, oil-free formula also controls shine and grips makeup with a velvety finish.

What the Reviews Say: “This stuff is fantastic! I love how lightweight it is and how smoothly it blends onto your skin. It has an SPF of 40 which is higher than your average primer,” said one shopper. “I also love how perfect my makeup blends over the primer, giving my a much more natural look...Highly recommend!”

The Liquid Silk Canvas

Tatcha’s Liquid Silk Canvas primer boasts a weightless, lightweight formula that quickly absorbs into skinIt’s infused with thin layers of silk to help reduce the appearance of pores and fine lines, as well as a special blend of botanical extracts that help to prevent clogged pores and breakouts.

What the Reviews Say: Reviewers rave that this primer feels “super lightweight” and “silky.” “This is an absolute must have for oily skin!” said one Sephora customer. “It makes your makeup and skin look flawless. It keeps my skin matte all day long, even through hot, long days at work. It also makes my makeup last all day as well.”

Silc transparent 2.0 Tinted Sunscreen

“For combination, I actually use NEOVA’s Silc transparent 2.0 because UV protection is important too—especially for aging skin!” says Greenberg. “It has a universal tinted formula with SPF 40 that layers perfectly under makeup.” Thanks to this skin-perfecting transparent finish that evens out skin tone, this tinted sunscreen works great as an under-makeup primer (though it can also be worn alone). The oil-free and fragrance-free formula is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

What the Reviews Say: “Finding a mineral sunscreen with no white cast and that doesn’t pill under makeup is pretty much impossible. However, this is the one,” wrote an Amazon reviewer. “It has a very light tint so there’s no white cast, but it’s not dark enough to resemble makeup. And the consistency is great for wearing under makeup...Highly recommend.”

Wonderglow Instant Soft-Focus Beauty Flash Primer

Dr. Madfes recommends this primer from Charlotte Tilbury, noting that it’s “easy all around” and “non-irritating.” Designed to transform the look of dull, dry skin, it’s formulated with hydrating hyaluronic acid and a combination of peptides (which support the production of collagen), as well as light-reflecting microspheres for a blurred, luminous effect.

What the Reviews Say: Shoppers say the primer adds a “beautiful glow” to dry skin without making it look greasy or shiny. “It makes my skin look gorgeous! My skin is oily some days and dry on other days, and this works no matter how my skin is feeling,” wrote one reviewer. “It gives my face a soft, luminous, almost candle-lit glow and smoothes out texture and balances uneven tone.”

Line BlurFector™ Instant Wrinkle Blurring Primer

True to its name, StriVectin’s Instant Wrinkle Blurring Primer effectively blurs and smooths the look of wrinkles with the help of ingredients like optical microspheres. Suitable for all skin types, the breathable, lightweight formula also helps keep makeup from filling into creases, while improving skin texture and extending makeup wear.

What the Reviews Say: “I love this primer! I just turned 50 and have some fine lines and the dreaded 11 between my eyes on my forehead,” said one reviewer. “This is not only a great primer, it is also a filler. My makeup goes on very smoothly and it instantly blurs my wrinkles. Love it!”

Yummy Skin Glow Serum

If you’re looking for a makeup primer that comes in the form of a lightweight, silky serum, this pick from Danessa Myricks Beauty will do the trick. This priming serum-oil hybrid hydrates, preps, and protects skin with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalane oil, which deliver long-lasting hydration; vitamin C, which brightens dull skin; and niacinamide, which helps reduce the appearance of pores. Additionally, fruit extracts work to protect skin from environmental stressors.

What the Reviews Say: “I’ve been using this glowy serum primer and love it. I have oily, textured aging skin. It has a light feeling with just enough tack to be a great primer,” said one reviewer. “It makes my skin finish look radiant and glowy, but WITHOUT the pores and texture...Highly recommend!”

Anti-Aging Eyeshadow Primer Potion

Do you always struggle with your eyeshadow creasing or wearing off? Enter: This eyeshadow primer from Urban Decay. Designed to prep eyelids for shadow and eyeliner, the creamy formula is packed with anti-aging skincare ingredients to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, leaving your eyelids looking smoother and crease-free.

What the Reviews Say: “I’m 47 years of age and have always had problems with my eyeshadow creasing, smudging, or just plain wearing off,” shared one Amazon user. “I’m so impressed by this primer that I’m mad I didn’t find it sooner...This is a must try and I promise you’ll fall in love with it and your favorite eyeshadow with NO creasing and NO smudging whatsoever!”

How to choose the best primers for mature skin

✔️ Choose hydrating ingredients. When it comes to ingredients in a primer, “hydration is key,” says Greenberg. “As the skin ages, the collagen production slows down—making the skin become more dry over time,” she explains. That’s why both Greenberg and Dr. Madfes recommend opting for primers that contain hyaluronic acid, a powerful hydrator that can boost moisture and also help smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Niacinamide and vitamin E are also great “for smoothing texture and giving the skin a nice radiant glow,” adds Greenberg.

✔️ Consider your skin type. You’ll want to choose a formula that’s suitable for your specific skin type. If you have dry skin, for instance, you’ll want to look for formulas that are packed with hydrating ingredients. On the other hand, if you have skin that tends to be more oily, opt for formulas that are designed to help control shine. For sensitive skin, you should look for non-irritating formulas that won’t irritate your skin.

✔️ Look for ease of application. Dr. Madfes advises looking for primers that easily slide over the skin. Ideally, a good primer should have a lightweight formula that applies smoothly and quickly absorbs into your skin, creating a nice, even base for makeup application.

Do you put moisturizer on before or after primer?

Ideally, you should put on moisturizer before your primer. To ensure a smooth, long-lasting look, you should complete your skincare routine first—including cleansing, moisturizing, and putting on sunscreen. Make sure that these skincare products absorb fully into your skin, before reaching for your primer. Similarly, let your primer set for a minute after applying—then you’re ready to put on your foundation and other makeup.

How we chose the best primers for mature skin

We consulted Jamie Greenberg, celebrity makeup artist and founder of JamieMakeup, and Diane Madfes, M.D., F.A.A.D., a board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor of dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Additionally, we conducted our own research and sifted through hundreds of online reviews to find the best primers for mature skin.

Why trust us

For more than 70 years, Prevention has been a leading provider of trustworthy health information, empowering readers with practical strategies to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our editors interview medical experts to help guide our health-focused product selections. Additionally, Prevention also examines hundreds of reviews—and often conducts personal testing done by our staff—to help you make informed decisions.

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