Sephora is to beauty junkies what a toy store is to kids– the happiest place in the world. It’s a magical land where you can play with perfumes, powders, and pigments, oh my! But, if you’re not a huge beauty junkie (or simply aren’t that familiar with the makeup store) then unfortunately it can be an overwhelming place. Instead of seeing hearts in your eyes, you’ll wish you saved that get out of jail free card. Whether you’re a beauty junkie or not, a makeup pro or not, here is a guide to makeup primers at Sephora that target specific needs!
Why do you need primer, you ask?
Primer is an essential step that many people overlook! Think about it like painting a house. What do you do to the walls before applying the paint? You prime it so the paint really adheres to the wall and looks the best it possibly can. The great thing about Sephora is that they have an array of primers that will not only help your makeup glide on better and last longer, but they help correct any underlying issues you want to pin point (i.e. oily skin, larger pores, etc).

Makeup Primers for Every Skin Type + Issue
For oily skin stick to something mattifying and silicone based.
- Bare Minerals Prime Time
- Make Up For Ever Mattifying
- Smashbox Photo Finish
- Hourglass Veil Mineral
- Givenchy Mister Mat
For dry skin look for something that contains oils and other moisturizing ingredients.
- Marc Jacobs Undercover Perfecting Coconut Face Primer
- Too Faced Hangover RX
- Laura Mercier Hydrating Primer
- Kat Von D Lock-It Featherweight Primer
- Make Up For Ever Hydrating Primer
- Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Primer
- Make Up For Ever Nourishing Primer
- Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil
For large pores look for products that use the words “blurring” and contain silicone so look for the word “silica” in the ingredient list.
- Benefit Porefessional
- Dr. Brandt Pores No More
- YSL Touche Eclat Blur Primer
- Make Up For Ever Smoothing Primer
- Smashbox Photo Finish Pore Minimizing Primer
- The Estée Edit Pore Vanishing Stick
- Too Faced Primed and Powerless
For color correcting pick shades on the color wheel that oppose the color you’re trying to neutralize. If you are unsure I have a guide to color correcting!
- Make Up For Ever Radiant Primers
- Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correcting Primers
- Lancome Miracle Cushion CC Color Correcting Primer
- Stila One Step Correct
For dewy skin you want a primer that reflects light.
- Dior Glow Maximizer
- Becca Backlight Priming Filter
- Burberry Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Base
- The Estée Edit Beam Team Hydrate + Glow
- Sephora Collection Afterglow Primer + Luminizer
- Laura Mercier Radiance Primer
For blemish prone skin you want to choose something that contains some type of treatment for the skin– usually salicylic acid, tea tree oil, and sometimes glycol acid.
- Cover FX Mattifying Anti-Acne Primer (also good for oily skin)
- Cover FX Blemish Treatment Primer (for spot treating blemishes, creating a barrier between acne and foundation)
- Bare Minerals Skin Rev-er Upper
- Bare Minerals Blemish Remedy Prep Gel
For mature skin you want to choose something that does a mixture of stuff like smoothes, hydrates and contains ingredients like vitamins, peptides, and different acids to name a few.
- Cover FX Anti-Aging Primer
- Peter Thomas Roth Pore Putty and Wrinkle Reducer
- Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecing Touch
- Algenist Pore Correcting Anti-Aging Primer
- Hourglass No 28 Primer Serum
Of course these aren’t all the primers that are available at Sephora, but I thought this little guide would be a good place to start!
What is your favorite primer or primers? Let me know in the comments below!
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