If you have a skin type that suffers a lot from acne, you have to be mindful of the type of primer you use. While several primers are in the market from different brands, your focus should only be on the Best Primers for Acne Prone Skin. In other words, due to the specificity of needs, some cosmetic brands design primers for acne-prone skin. Therefore, getting one of these products for your skin should be your focus. Note that primers are the first layer in your makeup routine. Whatever they contain will tell on your skin and determine if you’ll be nursing acne in the next few days.
The good news is that primers designed for acne-prone skin are not challenging to come by. Gone are the days when you’ll have to search for them like you were searching for gold. Instead, some of the newly developed products will not only prevent you from having acne breakouts, but they will also help to handle previous breakouts—give you perfectly smooth, fresh, and youthful-looking skin. Therefore, a modern-day primer perfect for acne-prone skin will contain a combination of oil-absorbing, blurring, and clarifying ingredients to help create a smooth and palatable base upon which makeup will sit.
To help reduce the stress of hunting for these types of primer by yourself, we created a list of the best primers explicitly designed for acne-prone skin. Continue reading to get a list of the products and know about each product and why they are the best you can find in today’s market.
| The best primers for acne prone skin | Why we love them |
|---|---|
| SHILLS Moisturizing Invisible Foundation Primer |
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| SheaMoisture Mattifying Primer |
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| Maybelline New York Face Studio Master Prime Primer |
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| e.l.f, Blemish Control Face Primer |
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| Rimmel Stay Matte Mattifying Primer |
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| Monica Ann Beauty Dual-Action Face Primer |
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| Cruelty-Free Matte Makeup Base Primer |
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We’ll get back to give you a detailed explanation about each product shortly. However, before then, let’s discuss the conditions a primer has to fulfill before we can consider it the best.
What Makes a Primer Good for Acne-prone Skin?
Before we talk about what makes a primer good for acne-prone skin, there are two facts you have to understand. They are;
Primers can cause Acne
If you have a primer designed for acne-prone skin, you will not need to worry anymore about acne breakouts, even if your other makeup items are not explicitly designed for acne-prone skin. However, using just any primer, for whatever reason you get them, is an attempt to put your skin into danger because primers come in direct contact with the skin.
Primer makes Acne Worse
A primer is supposed to serve as the foundation for your makeup and helps to make them last longer. It should also make your skin appear without blemishes and look smoother. Aside from these essential benefits, you should be able to look to your primer for acne treatment properties. However, if you ignore the contents of the primer you choose to buy, you’ll forfeit these benefits altogether. They will worsen the acne you had and break out others.
What then are the qualities of makeup primer that should be used on acne-prone skin?
Non-comedogenic
Primers with non-comedogenic properties will prevent your skin pores from getting clogged and, as a result, protect against acne breakouts. To confirm the comedogenicity of a product, check its label. Most product labels will tell you the non-comedogenic rating of the product. When it falls within the range of zero to two, you know it’s safe for use.
Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is the perfect treatment for hyperpigmentation and acne breakout. So, when a primer contains salicylic acid, you know you’re in for a double treat. First, it will work well to protect your acne-prone skin and also treat previous breakouts.
Oil-free
Oily skins are prone to acne. That is because oil creates excessive skin on your face, and it draws in makeup particles—causing your pore to clog. When pore clogs, they cause breakouts; that’s why you have to be particular about getting only oil-free primers.
Vitamins
A skin, generally, needs vitamins. However, acne-prone skin needs vitamin A and E in particular. Vitamin A will help to prevent fresh breakouts and speed up the healing of previous ones. On the other hand, Vitamin E is an antioxidant known to help fight significant skin issues that result from sun exposure. Other noteworthy ingredients your skin needs include Aloe Vera, Tea Tree oil, and Dimethicone.
Best Primers for Acne Prone Skin in 2024
SHILLS Moisturizing Invisible Foundation Primer
Do you need a primer product with a formula designed to help prepare your skin and create a soft and smooth surface? This Shills invisible primer is a product of such a category. It will help fight acne that is determined to find its way to the surface. It will also brighten up the skin and give it a natural glow. Its formula is lightweight, enhances the skin, blurs skin blemishes, and minimizes skin pores. It does not take a lot to use, and a little pump goes a long way. Some customers consider it to be the best primer they’ve ever used.
Pros:
- Soothes irritated skin
- Pore-minimizing formula
- Created with the highest quality of ingredients
- Leaves the face moisturized and ready
- Corrects and protects your skin pores
Cons:
- It’s face drying probably because it’s oil-free
- Matches only a few skin tone
SheaMoisture Mattifying Primer
This primer product from SheaMoisture helps to blur imperfections and hide pores with its lightweight formula. Gives a long-lasting face-makeup relationship and visibly smoother skin. In it, you have ingredients like organic Shea Butter, Fair Trade, Kaolin Clay, and Tea Tree Oil. You also have a blend of antioxidants and vitamins that will help to balance the skin’s pH and hydrate it accordingly. It is a smooth and silky mattifying primer for a perfect makeup application. You can also choose to wear it alone for a smooth and shine-free finish. The Tea Tree oil creates the needed balance while Kaolin Clay smoothes the skin to give the needed matte finish.
Pros:
- Hydrate and balance the skin for long-lasting makeup application
- The specialized formula helps remove excess oil
- Hide pores and blur imperfections
- Control shine for a soft matte finish
- Recommended for various skin types, including sensitive skin
Cons:
- It comes in a shade that blend into only a few skin tones
- Tends to give an orange color when dry
Maybelline New York Face Studio Master Prime Primer
Here is a primer product designed with active and water-soluble ingredients. Therefore, it blurs out imperfections, doesn’t cause breakouts, and is not difficult to remove even with water. This master prime primer from Maybelline will make your skin feel good, smooth and help your makeup stay almost all day. Its lightweight formula controls oil secretion and, therefore, doesn’t cause the pore to clog. You also have SPF protection in it that defends the skin against sun damage. It will work as a color corrector, and you can wear it alone.
Pros:
- Blurs away your skin concerns
- Helps to perfect your makeup look
- Lightweight formulas apply smoothly
- Suitable for all skin types, sensitive skin inclusive
- Don’t leave your skin feeling greasy, so your makeup lasts all day
Cons:
- Not waterproof
- You’ll need a lot of it to cover severe acne
e.l.f, Blemish Control Face Primer
e.l.f designed this product for blemish control, and for those already using it, it has become their secret weapon for a flawless face. Wondered what that woman you know has always used for her face to be that baby-like with a superb matte finish? It could be this blemish control primer from e.l.f. Now is the time to consider getting yours and celebrate the same result. It will allow your makeup only to do its job and not get stuck in your skin pores. With this product, you have an infinite chance at originality and unique opportunities. It’s a primer designed for everyone, including those with acne-prone skin.
Pros:
- Transforms your face into a perfectly smooth and flawless canvas
- Blend evenly on the face
- 100% vegan and cruelty-free
- Makes the best of beauty available to you
- Works without irritation to the skin
Cons:
- Some users complained about the smell
Rimmel Stay Matte Mattifying Primer
With Rimmel mattifying primer, the almost perfect look you’ve been desiring is finally here. This product will make your skin feel better in terms of smoothness and youthful-looking appearance. It also gives you flawless skin and makes your makeup last longer than it will typically do—that way, you can look your best for a majority of the day. It has a mixture of ingredients that are unique, ultra-lightweight, and unique. It will also minimize the appearance of skin pores, a sign of aging and mature skin. In addition, it stops the skin that oily skin tends to have. The primer has quickly become an everyday solution to the makeup routine.
Pros:
- Extremely versatile, skin-perfecting primer
- Can be used alone or to prolong makeup wear
- An ultra-lightweight formula never feels heavy or greasy
- Rimmel is not greasy or intimidating
- A small amount goes a long way
Cons:
- Last only for about eight hours
- Comes in a shade that blend into only a few skin tones
Monica Ann Beauty Dual-Action Face Primer
Boast of an oil-free, silky, and sweat-proof formula that benefits and nourishes the skin in so many ways. The manufacturer handpicked the ingredients and included some skincare essentials that will help you achieve a flawless and presentable appearance. If you’re particular about keeping the integrity of your natural look, this primer is the answer you need. It contains hyaluronic acid, the perfect ingredient for a tighter, more plump, and noticeable look. The ingredients also keep the skin hydrated and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. You’ll also find essential skin nutrients called vitamins C to help detoxify the skin, create a balanced and even skin tone.
Pros:
- Enjoy a smooth finish with this one-of-a-kind dual-action primer!
- Unique formula contains essential skincare ingredients
- Help improve the appearance of your natural skin
- Allowing effortless makeup application
- All-day staying power
Cons:
- The bottle filled up only to about half
- May require an additional makeup remover
Cruelty-Free Matte Makeup Base Primer
Just as the name implies, you’ll later get to say thanks for this primer product. It’s a real-life selfie filter. As a primer, it’s intended to go before your foundation for a smooth appearance; however, beyond this basic function of a primer, it will minimize the appearance of fine lines and pores. While it’s doing that, it works overtime to keep your makeup over time. In addition, its silky and oil-free formula will ensure that you don’t have an unnecessary shine and give your face a matte finish.
Pros:
- Well-balanced priming formula
- Produces a matte finish and minimizes the appearance of pores
- Keeping makeup in place ALL day
- Creates a smooth canvas for makeup application
- Sebum-controlling formula combats oiliness
Cons:
- It can make the skin feel tight
- Not waterproof
Conclusion
Now that we’ve provided a long list of the best primers for acne-prone skin, we believe we’ve made it relatively easy for you to find the product that best suits your budget and personal desire. Most of these suggested products come in a naturally formulated mix of ingredients. So only pick the one you find most suitable for you.