10 Best Face Primers for Oily Skin in 2022 (Makeup Blogger-Reviewed)
Every girl with oily skin knows your T-zone is your worst enemy. In the morning, you can spend a good half an hour or so putting on your face only to find it shiny with excess oil and completely melted by the end of the day! Behind every long-lasting, flawless look, there’s a good primer. This holds doubly true for oily-skinned folks.
However, not just any primer will do for any type of skin. For our number one pick for best primer for oily skin, we loved Beccas's Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector. It can survive even the harshest of weather, evens your skin tone, and lasts for a long time. Check out our other top 10 and read on to figure out what kind of primer will keep your T-zone from getting shiny.
Quick List - Top Face Primers For Oily Skin
Becca
Resistant to Sweat and Humidity and Contains No Silicone, Alcohol, or Oil
Tatcha
Silky Primer Fortified with Botanical Extracts to Combat Aging
Chee is the owner of Megoosta Fashion, a small Asian-owned business that sells vintage fashion worldwide. What started as a humble blog has now turned into a business.
mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
How to Choose Face Primers For Oily Skin
Check the Ingredients List
For a Matte Finish, You Want Oil-Absorbing Components in an Oil-Free Primer
Dewy is a good look, but you don’t need a dewy primer. All those oils seeping out of your skin will give you that lovely glow. What you need is mattifying powerm, but what makes a primer mattifying?
Look for oil-absorbing components, such as niacinamide, talc, or kaolin clay. Various powders also work to control shine.
Though silicones are non-biodegradable, they're highly effective at controlling oil. They work by forming a rubber-like film over your face, smoothing out pores and creating a flawless base for building up your makeup. However, they can clog pores, trapping in bacteria and sweat. Weigh the benefits carefully when considering silicone-based products.
Oil-free primers are best. If you must, you can get one with oils in it, provided those oils are at the bottom of the ingredients list. You could also try a water-based primer, which is lightweight and lets your skin breathe. However, if you have an oil-based foundation (not recommended for oily skin), then you need a primer with the same base, because water and oil repel each other.
Primers that contain oil-absorbing powders (mica) are great because it mattifies your skin immediately and makes your pores look smaller. Skin feels smooth and fresh immediately—plus it helps to keep you shine-free for longer.
I like primers with natural extracts as opposed to chemicals because it is much safer. Lemon verbana extract or centella asiatica extract soothe and smooth the skin’s texture. Green tea extract balances the moisture in the skin.
Look for Ingredients like Salicylic Acid, Meant to Fight Acne and Enlarged Pores
Enlarged pores are another big problem. For this, look for a pore-minimizing primer, which can have ingredients like tea tree oil. It’s pretty much an elixir that clears your pores and kills bacteria, keeping your skin from swelling.
Silicon-based primers are actually great for minimizing pores, and most silicon-based primers would come with oil-controlling properties. Unfortunately, some people have an aversion to them because it requires thorough cleansing to completely remove the product to prevent clogging.
I like vitamins in my primers, which help to tone and brighten your complexion over time. For stronger whitening benefits, look out for arbutin, which is a popular ingredient used in masks for whitening and brightening.
Relieve Your Skin Problems, Don't Exacerbate Them
Some people say that since sun exposure dries out your skin, you should soak in as many rays as possible. Actually, it's the complete opposite! Whenever your skin dries out, it will produce extra oil later and end up overcompensating. So choose a primer with SPF.
Also, exposure to UV rays can enlarge your pores. The reasoning is that UV rays break down your skin and decrease collagen, the substance that gives your skin its elasticity. Once your skin stops firming up, your pores start opening up. SPF should be part of any healthy skincare routine.
Alternatively, you can go for primers with octinoxate (max 7.5%), such as in YSL All Hours Primer, or primers with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, as found in most Korean beauty primers. If a primer I’m using does not contain SPF in it, I always layer it with a primer that does contain SPF. That way, I can get all the benefits of oil control and sunscreen protection with my primers.
Correct Your Skin Tone With Colored Primers
Remember the color wheel and complementary colors? If not, here’s a refresher: complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel. When you combine them, they cancel each other out. And makeup companies have used this property to produce tinted primers that color-correct your skin.
If you have oily skin, it might also be a blotchy red, thanks to acne. In that case, the complementary color, green can help you. Yellow complements blue; therefore, if you have any blue veins or purple shadows, you can prep your face with a yellow-tinted primer.
Salmon and peachier shades work on brown pigmentation. If your skin is sallow, then a lavender primer is for you. Pink is all-around, brightening up skin tone and giving you a livelier complexion.
10 Best Face Primers For Oily Skin Ranking
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Becca Becca Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector | | Resistant to Sweat and Humidity and Contains No Silicone, Alcohol, or Oil | |
2 | Tatcha Tatcha Silk Canvas Protective Primer | | Silky Primer Fortified with Botanical Extracts to Combat Aging | |
3 | MAC MAC Prep + Prime Fix | | Spray-On Alternative to Gels and Creams | |
4 | Smashbox Smashbox Photo Finish Primer | | Peptides to Shield Your Skin from Pollutants | |
5 | LORAC LORAC POREfection Mattifying Face Primer | | Infused with Vitamins and Salicylic Acid to Fight Scarring and Acne | |
6 | Yves Saint Laurent Yves Saint Laurent All Hours Primer | | An SPF Primer with No Flashback and an Ability to Control Shine | |
7 | Hourglass Cosmetics Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer | | Dries Down to a Velvet Finish and Provides Solid UV Protection | |
8 | bareMinerals BareMinerals Prime Time Foundation Primer | | Feeds Your Skin with Antioxidants, Plant Extracts, and Vitamins | |
9 | Benefit Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Face Primer | | Absorbs into Your Skin and Creates a Non-Slip Base for Makeup | |
10 | E.L.F. E.L.F. Mineral Infused Face Primer | | Fills in your Wrinkles and Pores for a Smooth, Silky Finish |
Resistant to Sweat and Humidity and Contains No Silicone, Alcohol, or Oil
It dries extremely fast, so there’s a limited amount of time you have to work with it. Applied incorrectly, it can give you dry and patchy skin. For darker skin tones, Ever-Matte may leave a white cast, so keep that in mind.
Some reviewers reported that you should make sure to follow the instruction and pat the product on for best results! They also loved how you can get a lot of coverage out of a small amount of the product.
Silky Primer Fortified with Botanical Extracts to Combat Aging
It’s great at covering pores and acne, as well as controlling oil production. Silk Canvas works well with aging skin and is both non-comedogenic and non-irritating. Instead of a squeeze tube, Tatcha provides you with a small spatula to scrape and measure out how much primer you need–not great if you’re on the go.
But reviewers loved how a little goes a long way. The product felt smooth and made a visible difference when applying makeup afterward.
Spray-On Alternative to Gels and Creams
Long-wearing and oil-controlling, it creates an extremely durable layer to protect your makeup. After spraying, it takes away the powdery look, smoothing out the entire face. For those who like variety, this primer gives you four scents to choose from: original, lavender, coconut and rose.
Reviewers reported it to be sticky to the touch. Others loved it for its dewy aftereffect and fresh feel.
Peptides to Shield Your Skin from Pollutants
It’s infused with antioxidants, vitamin A, and vitamin E, nourishing your skin while you take on the day. As well as being cruelty-free, this primer is free of fragrance and talc. Smashbox proudly advertises Photo Finish as a vegan primer.
For some reviewers, the primer felt greasy upon application and even made others break out. It is a silicone-based primer, so if you don’t like how gel feels against your skin, it's best to choose something else. However, most reviews loved how effective the product was at blurring their skin imperfections out and how makeup goes on smoothly over it.
Infused with Vitamins and Salicylic Acid to Fight Scarring and Acne
It glides on easily–and after it’s settled, it’s like your pores never even existed. It also helps with fine lines and other signs of aging. It does contain silicone, used to lubricate the primer and smooth out your skin.
People with sensitive skin felt that this caused them to break out. However, reviewers with oily skin swore by this product and reported shine-free skin after a full 8 hour day.
Yves Saint LaurentYves Saint Laurent All Hours Primer
An SPF Primer with No Flashback and an Ability to Control Shine
If, however, you have sensitive skin or you tend towards natural ingredients, this primer may not be enough for you. In addition to octinoxate, YSL contains alcohol and silicone. But, at the end of the day, your face is noticeably less shiny.
Reviewers warn that the consistency of the product is very runny - be careful when pouring it. Most reviewers loved how it is so lightweight and works well at mattifying.
Dries Down to a Velvet Finish and Provides Solid UV Protection
It does, however, contain silicone, as well as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide–the latter two of which are common and effective UV filters. The primer might not match well with mature skin, as it can settle into lines instead of smooth them out.
One reviewer warns that it might cause an unwanted sheen on darker skin tones. It's silky smooth texture and non-greasy feel was a hit with most reviewers.
bareMineralsBareMinerals Prime Time Foundation Primer
Feeds Your Skin with Antioxidants, Plant Extracts, and Vitamins
The primer settles into a satin finish, smoothing out rough patches, uneven textures, and large pores. Another bonus is that it’s preservative-free.
Reviewers warn that if not applied properly, the primer or foundation put over it can clump together into balls. But they loved that it felt light and smooth on the skin and it even helped one reviewer's makeup stop creasing.
Absorbs into Your Skin and Creates a Non-Slip Base for Makeup
It grips on to your makeup and keeps it from sliding around. Use this to keep your T-zone matte while minimizing the appearance of pores. The standard size is smaller than your usual primer, and it’s easy to throw into your purse and take on the go.
Just know that if you apply the primer to areas that are neither oily nor porous–reviewers say that it can dry out the skin and make it look patchy. However, most reviewers felt it made their pores disappear and helps foundation stick.
Fills in your Wrinkles and Pores for a Smooth, Silky Finish
You can get the primer clear or in one of three color-correcting shades. As an additional benefit, they're vegan and also created cruelty-free.
Some reviewers were not a fan of the packaging - the amount of product in the bottle was masked by a larger outer shell. However, even those unsatisfied with the bottle loved that the primer was highly effective despite the budget price.
More Specialized Products for Your Skin Type
Controlling your oily skin can be challenging. It can also be a hassle when you feel your face getting greasy throughout the day. But don't worry–we've got plenty of other suggestions for products perfect for making your skin feel light and refreshed!
Buying Guide Reviewed by Makeup and Fashion Blogger Megoosta Fashion
This expert reviewed the contents of the buying guide for accuracy and provided factual corrections when necessary, as well as extra tips and advice. They did not participate in the product selection process, nor are they affiliated with any of our choices unless explicitly stated so.
Top 5 Face Primers For Oily Skin
No. 1: Becca｜Becca Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector
No. 2: Tatcha｜Tatcha Silk Canvas Protective Primer
No. 3: MAC｜MAC Prep + Prime Fix
No. 4: Smashbox｜Smashbox Photo Finish Primer
No. 5: LORAC｜LORAC POREfection Mattifying Face Primer
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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