Key ingredients: peptides, mimosa flower extract, ceramides | Who it’s good for: people looking to blur fine lines | Finish: satin
Best Glowy: Armani Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer
Why it’s worth it: Silky without sacrificing the soft stickiness key to an incredible makeup primer, Armani’s Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer checks all the boxes. The skin-care/makeup hybrid formula boosts radiance, moisturizes swiftly, and amps up the wear time of your favorite products. Pair it with Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation for a seriously glowy moment.
Tester feedback: “True to its name, this primer really does make my skin look more luminous. In my mid-30s, I’ve been dealing with both large pores and fine lines, so I love that this multitasking formula can handle both with ease,” says interim shopping director Deanna Pai. “It feels smooth (but not greasy) and leaves my skin looking airbrushed, especially when layered under foundation.”
Key ingredients: shea butter, rice bran, glycerin | Who it’s good for: everyone | Finish: glowy
Best Moisturizer: Merit Great Skin Priming Moisturizer
Why it’s worth it: Few things tickle Allure editors more than versatile formulas OR products, so when we got our innovation-loving hands on Merit’s Great Skin Priming Moisturizer, we were pumped. This cream is super lightweight, packed with hyaluronic acid to soothe and lock in hydration, allowing makeup to go on smoothly sans pilling. It’s non-comedogenic and fragrance-free, meaning it’s safe for people with sensitive skin.
Tester feedback: “I’ve been a fan of Merit’s take on skin care since they dropped their first serum in 2022, and the Great Skin Moisturizer is a worthy addition the brand’s truly great lineup of products,” says commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann. “I keep this priming moisturizer in my makeup bag and use it pretty much daily as a prep step. It adds a layer of silky hydration to my skin that plays great under makeup, but it also contains a biomimetic emulsifier that creates a blurred, suede-y finish that’s perfect for makeup free days.”
Key ingredients: glycerin, hyaluronic acid | Who it’s good for: people with sensitive skin, dry skin | Finish: blurring
Best With SPF: Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Primer SPF 50
Why it’s worth it: What’s better than a hydrating primer? A hydrating primer that contains SPF, of course. Charlotte Tilbury’s Invisible UV Flawless Primer has a little something for every skin type: vitamins C and E for brightening, hyaluronic acid for moisture, and a combination of UVA and UVB filters to protect skin from sun damage and pollutants. Since this formula reduces flashback, it’s a good pick for photo-forward events like weddings.
Tester feedback: “My biggest beauty flaw is that I constantly forget to apply sunscreen (a total skin sin, I know), but I don’t have to fret about that when I have Charlotte Tilbury’s Invisible UV Flawless Primer SPF 50 in my makeup bag,” says commerce writer Jennifer Hussein. “Not only does it provide sun protection, but it also grips my complexion products in place all day long while feeling totally weightless on my skin.”
