The 23 Best Primers for Dry Skin That'll Hydrate and Smooth Your Complexion

When it comes to applying a full face of makeup, a good primer is often overlooked. Nonetheless, it’s key to a gorgeous glow, as it delivers extra hydration and skin-smoothing benefits while blurring texture and offering staying power for your foundation. And if your complexion is particularly parched, you definitely won't want to skip it. "Primer is a great way to smooth enlarged pores that can still be present with drier skin types," explains high-profile makeup artist Robert Sesnek. "This also ensures a smoother application of foundation." 

But which formulas are best for thirsty skin types? "I would make sure to use a primer that is hydrating and has radiance to make the skin appear youthful, plumped, and glowy," says celebrity makeup artist and beauty expert Nydia Figueroa. We conducted hours of research on the greatest primers for prepping, smoothing, and quenching your dry, dehydrated skin. After evaluating dozens of brands on their active ingredients, as well as those that specifically target dry skin, and having a look at what the formulas are free-from, we narrowed down our list. We then consulted with our experts for recommendations to give you the best in show.

Our Top Picks

• Best Overall: Too Faced Plumping Primer Serum at Sephora
• Best Budget: Catrice Cosmetics Plump & Fresh Primer at Amazon
• Best Jelly: NYX Bare With Me Hydrating Jelly Primer at Amazon
• Best Splurge: ILIA True Skin Radiant Priming Serum at Sephora
• Best for Extended Wear: Laura Mercier Hydrating Primer at Sephora
• Best Stick: Beauty Bakerie The Butter HydraSilk Primer at Amazon
• Best Color-Correcting: Danessa Myricks Hydrating Lotion at Beautylish
• Best Hydrating: Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer at Sephora
• Best Blurring: Smashbox Oil-Free Foundation Primer at Sephora
• Best Mattifying: Fenty Beauty Pro Instant Retouch Primer at Sephora

Best Overall

Too Faced Plump & Prime Luxury Face Plumping Primer Serum

$48 at Sephora $48 at Ulta $45 at Macy's

Key Ingredients: Peptides, St John’s wort, hydrolyzed rice extract, vitamin C | Skin Type: Balanced, oily, dry, combination | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes

The Too Faced Plump & Prime takes a skincare-focused approach to makeup application. This serum-like tincture contains hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and peptides to deliver a plumping effect and create an ultra-smooth canvas. The notably lightweight, milky consistency absorbs exceptionally quickly. It tackles dryness and crepiness, improving your skin's natural texture before applying heavier products like foundation and concealer. We also appreciate that the pretty pink bottle features an airtight pump. This prevents oxidation by eliminating air exposure and contamination from your fingers.

Best Budget

Catrice Cosmetics The Hydrator Plump & Fresh Primer

$8 at Amazon $8 at catricecosmetics.com $8 at caretobeauty.com

Key Ingredients: Aloe vera | Skin Type: All | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This wallet-friendly option by Catrice is one of Sesnek's go-to primers. "Its light formula gives the skin a fresh, hydrated look with aloe vera," he tells Byrdie. The formula has a gel texture that offers a refreshing cooling sensation. Another major perk: It can be used on its own to give skin a naturally glowy finish—perfect for those days when you don’t plan on applying foundation or concealer.

Best Jelly

NYX Professional Makeup Bare With Me Hydrating Jelly Primer

$14 at Amazon $17 at Ulta $17 at Walgreens

Key Ingredients: Aloe, cucumber extract | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.4 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We're big fans of Bare With Me. This water-based primer provides up to eight hours of hydration, sets the skin with a sublime, glass-like finish, and effortlessly grips to your makeup. Cooling and hydrating ingredients like cucumber and aloe extracts are refreshing and a nice pick-me-up during application. For this reason, it’s a great formula option for use during the summer months.

Best Splurge

ILIA True Skin Radiant Priming Serum

$52 at Sephora $52 at Nordstrom $52 at iliabeauty.com

Key Ingredients: Hibiscus extract, aloe, and beta-glucan  | Skin Type: All | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Considering how many benefits are packed in this pretty opaque bottle, it’s safe to say the Ilia True Skin Radiant Priming Serum is money well spent. A makeup-skin hybrid, the fragrance-free formula has a lightweight, serum-y consistency and contains ingredients like beta-glucan to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and hibiscus extract to help defend against free radicals. And with its dropper applicator, it even looks like a traditional serum bottle. It has a firming effect that smooths the skin, making pores a little less apparent and allowing a seamless makeup application. It also leaves a lit-from-within glow that enhances your favorite radiant-finish foundation. It’s worth mentioning that some reviewers claim the formula pills.

Best for Extended Wear

Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Hydrating Primer

$25 at Sephora $47 at Ulta $46 at Nordstrom

Key Ingredients: Olive extract, marine hydra botanicals, glycerin | Skin Type: Dry, combination | Size: 1.7 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No

When you know you'll be wearing makeup all day, reach for Laura Mercier Pure Canvas. The long-adored Pure Canvas product inspired an entire collection of primers that offer Hydrating, Blurring, Illuminating, Perfecting, and Protecting formulas. The hydrating version is perfect for all-day wear because it refreshes skin with hyaluronic acid and glycerin, fills fine lines, and makes your complexion feel comfortable underneath the foundation for several hours.

Best Stick

Beauty Bakerie The Butter HydraSilk Primer

$35 at Amazon $24 at Nordstrom

Key Ingredients: Goji berry extract | Skin Type: All | Size: 0.26 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Beauty Bakerie's The Butter is a great gateway if you haven't tried a stick primer yet. This hydrating makeup primer is supremely creamy yet lightweight and goes on smooth as, well, butter. The stick formulation is great for targeted application and offers more of a sheen than other primers, which is ideal for dry skin that can appear dull. Pro tip: For an even higher-shine highlight that’ll last all day, apply this to your cheekbones before dusting on your powder shimmer of choice.

Best Color-Correcting

Danessa Myricks Beauty Prism FX Hydrating Lotion

$28 at danessamyricksbeauty.com View on Beautylish.com

Key Ingredients: Squalene, vitamin E | Skin Type: Dry, hyperpigmented | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Available in three shades to accommodate those with peachy, gold, and warm undertones, this illuminating liquid elixir offers subtle color correction while delivering much-needed moisture to dry skin via squalene and vitamin E. Use before makeup for a lit-from-within glow or on its own for the ultimate dewy skin aesthetic. According to the brand, it can also be mixed with the Vision Cream Cover to create a multitasking base product with an illuminating finish.

Best Hydrating

Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer

$20 at Sephora View on Spacenk.com $20 at milkmakeup.com

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, aloe | Skin Type: Balanced, dry, combination | Size: 1.52 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If your thirsty skin needs all the hydration reinforcements it can get, you’ll want to start your makeup routine with the TikTok-famous Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Hydrating Makeup Primer. Made with known hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and aloe, it gives your skin that extra sip that’ll kick patchiness and flaking to the curb. While some hydrating primers can get a little sticky, the brand claims this one is simply grippy and will lock your look in place for up to 12 hours—so you don’t have to worry about your makeup fading or slipping and sliding all over your face. The gel texture allows for a smooth, easy-to-blend application and leaves a dewy, perfectly glowy finish behind.

Best Blurring

Smashbox The Original Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Oil-Free Foundation Primer

$42 at Sephora $42 at Ulta $42 at Dermstore

Key Ingredients: Vitamin A, vitamin E | Skin Type: All | Size: 1 ounce, 1.7 ounces, 0.27 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

From veteran primer brand Smashbox, this skin-smoother is formulated to minimize the appearance of fine lines and large pores. It goes on silky smooth, spreads easily, addresses uneven texture, and helps lock in your makeup. The velvety formula promises no slipping, just gripping. And, as the name implies, it leaves you with a photo finish, so it’s a must for a headshot day at the office (or even just to ensure your daily selfies are flawless).

Best Mattifying

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer

View on Sephora $20 at Sephora $36 at Ulta

Key Ingredients: Silicone, glycerin | Skin Type: Balanced, dry, combination, oily | Size: 1.08 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Of course, not everyone with dry skin wants that glassy, hyper-moisturized appearance. With this in mind, the best mattifying option is Fenty Beauty's Pro Filt'r, an oil-free formula that blurs blemishes, evens tone and texture, and absorbs shine without an uncomfortably tight feeling. So while it’s not the most hydrating option on the list, it also won’t leave your skin desperate for a drink. Because it’s a silicone-based primer, you’ll want to make sure to layer a silicone-based foundation on top to prevent any pilling.

Best Priming Moisturizer

Glossier Priming Moisturizer Rich

$35 at Sephora $35 at glossier.com

Key Ingredients: Babassu oil, Buddleja officinalis flower extract, ceramide 3, ceramide 6, glycerin | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.7 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Containing glycerin, ceramides, and fatty acids, Glossier's delectably rich Priming Moisturizer pulls out all the stops for dry skin. This is a great pick for a five-minute AM skincare routine because you don’t have to worry about moisturizing before priming, even if you do have dry skin. The fragrance-free formula (which is great for sensitive skin!) absorbs quickly, creating a youthful-looking dew that will have you staring at yourself in the mirror—you might not even want to apply foundation after. Bonus: You can use it as your night cream, too, saving you space (and money).

Best K-Beauty

Etude House Glow On Moistful Base

View on Etude.com

Key Ingredients: 8 types of hyaluronic acid | Skin Type: All | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: No

For K-beauty fans, we suggest Glow On by Etude House. This all-in-one base offers ample hydration while reflecting light and prepping even the driest complexions for makeup. The brand emphasizes its volumizing capability for a plump, youthful sheen. Layer it on after makeup as well for a strobing effect.

Best for Sensitive Skin

First Aid Beauty Hello Fab Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturizer

$31 at Amazon $32 at Sephora $32 at Ulta

Key Ingredients: Coconut water, quinoa protein, mineral blend, micro-pearls | Skin Type: Dry, balanced | Size: 1.7 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you're dealing with dry, sensitive skin, your best bet is this priming moisturizer from First Aid Beauty. Made with ingredients like coconut water and micro-pearls, the two-in-one formula hydrates, nourishes, and protects reactive skin while providing a smooth, radiant canvas for makeup. Reviewers claim it feels light on the skin and creates a fresh, healthy-looking glow that sticks around.

Best All-in-One

PÜR 4-in-1 Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20

$36 at Amazon $36 at Ulta $25 at skinstore.com

Key Ingredients: Sodium hyaluronate, ceretin complex, chamomile, shea butter, aloe, vitamin E | Size: 1.7 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you're short on time, Figueroa recommends Pür 4-in-1, which acts as a moisturizer, primer, foundation, and sunscreen. "When I want to achieve beautiful, natural coverage, this is the product I reach for," she tells Byrdie. A nice way to add coverage and give a more polished look is to dust on some translucent powder or a mineral foundation—just two complexion products, and you can be out the door on a busy morning.

Best Silicone

The Ordinary High-Adherence Silicone Primer

View on Theordinary.com

Key Ingredients: Advanced adaptive silicones | Skin Type: All | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Silicone in a primer can make for one of the smoothest-feeling formulas. When you start with an even canvas—that’s brought to you by silicone—you don’t have to worry as much about makeup settling into fine lines; it actually helps to fill them and creates a smoother appearance. This is also helpful in minimizing the appearance of acne scars or current blemishes. Lastly, silicone will grip the makeup you apply over top, allowing for all-day wear. As mentioned above, if you’re using a silicone-based primer, you’ll want to top it off with a silicone-based foundation to reduce the chances of makeup pilling. This formula from The Ordinary is budget-friendly, offers pore-blurring benefits, creates a matte finish, and prolongs the wear of your makeup.

Best for Acne-Prone Skin

Jori Acne Oil Control Primer

$70 at Amazon View on Joriskincare.com

Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, niacinamide | Skin Type: Combination, normal, oily | Dosage: A pea-sized amount | Size: 1.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This skincare-meets-makeup hybrid was formulated by a dermatologist who specializes in acne, and it was specifically crafted with adult hormonal breakouts in mind. The star ingredient is the max level 2% salicylic acid, which is an oil-soluble BHA (beta hydroxy acid) that is known for penetrating deep within the pores to dislodge acne-causing oil and dirt. Because of the potent ingredient, you don’t need much product to mitigate acne, so a pea-sized amount daily will do. If you have areas of very dry skin that you’re not too concerned about regarding acne flare-ups, you can use this as a spot treatment, but it is meant for all-over use if your skin can tolerate it. In addition to salicylic acid, there’s a mix of hormone and bacteria-balancing botanicals and niacinamide, which is known for its dark spot, redness, and blemish-reducing powers.

Best for Large Pores

Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Hydrate Primer

$15 at Sephora View on Ulta $25 at QVC

Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, hyaluronic acid, shea butter | Skin Type: Dry skin, combination, balanced skin | Size: .75 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

You probably already know that there’s no real way to “shrink” pores, but you can minimize their appearance—and that’s exactly what this primer does. It’s formulated sans waxes or oils, which can sometimes seep into pores and actually have the opposite effect, making them look bigger. Instead, you’re left with a soft-focus effect that expertly blurs pores. Another added bonus is that this formula packs known hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and shea butter, so your skin will still have a natural, healthy. Be sure to work quickly—once the formula sets (which happens fast), it can be difficult to spread and blend.

Best with SPF

Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Primer SPF 50

$55 at Sephora $55 at Nordstrom View on Charlottetilbury.com

Key Ingredients: Octocrylene, hyaluronic acid, vitamins C and E | Skin Type: All | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Save a step in your routine with this sunscreen that doubles as a primer. Not only does it meet derms’ recommendation for daily SPF 30, but it exceeds it with an impressive SPF 50—more than is usually found in cosmetic products. One reason that formulating with sunscreen can be an issue is the white cast that’s left behind, especially the higher you get with the sun protection factor, but this silky formula has the slightest peach tone that neutralizes any whiteness, and it blends right into skin. And being that this was crafted by superstar makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury, you know it will perform well under makeup–the formula’s airbrush polymers are responsible for the smoothing effect you get. 

Remember: To get the full SPF benefits, you need to use one-quarter teaspoon for your face and neck. This can make this formula more expensive per use to be sure you get full coverage. That’s why it’s a good idea to apply (at least) an SPF 30 as the last step in your skincare routine before moving on to a primer.

Best Primer Balm

e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer

$10 at Amazon $10 at Ulta $10 at Target

Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, squalene, glycerin| Skin Type: Oily, dry, and combination | Size: .74 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

e.l.f. Cosmetics actually offers five different putty primers, but the Poreless Putty Primer is the original and a longtime fan favorite, becoming a viral best-seller for its impeccable makeup-gripping ability. If you’re on BeautyTok, there’s a good chance you’ve seen this velvety balm in action. The silicone-based formula effortlessly blurs pores, leaving you with a super smooth canvas for foundation application. Although it comes in a jar, which can be unhygienic, they also offer a tool (sold separately) specific for this product that allows you to scoop out what you need without using your fingers. However, the brand suggests applying this primer with your clean fingers—and we can vouch that this is the best move. Using your fingers as an application tool helps warm up and melt the putty, making blending evenly over your face easier.

Best Redness Reducer

L’Oréal Paris Prime Labs 24H Redness Eraser Primer

$17 at Ulta $13 at Target $13 at Walmart

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide | Skin Type: All | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Red spots and blotchiness keeping you down? This tinted primer is the one for you. The green pigments neutralize red tones upon application, leaving you with an even-toned complexion ready for your base. It’s also laced with 4% niacinamide to correct overall tone with continued use. Its 24-hour wear claim promises to keep your makeup intact and your redness at bay. This shade is meant for light to medium tones, while the brand’s Dullness Eraser is indicated for medium to deeper shades.

Best for a Radiant Finish

Giorgio Armani LUMINOUS SILK HYDRATING PRIMER

$46 at Sephora View on Giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com

Key Ingredients: Shea butter, rich bran, glycerin | Skin Type: Balanced, dry, combination, oily  | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: No

This silky primer preps skin with a light-catching, radiant finish that enhances the luminosity and wear of the brand’s iconic Luminous Silk Foundation. But the light-catching glow you get from the primer alone is so good that you might not even feel like applying makeup after. Infused with hydrating ingredients like shea butter and glycerin, it perks skin up with lightweight moisture and is easily applied with clean fingers, a brush, or a makeup sponge. If you’re looking for a primer that really secures your makeup for hours and hours, this might not be it—many reviewers note the formula isn’t particularly long-lasting.

Best for Acne Scars

Topicals Sealed Active Scar Filling Primer

$34 at Amazon $34 at Sephora View on Mytopicals.com

Key Ingredients: Medical-grade silicone, biomimetic peptide, retinol | Skin Type: Balanced, dry, combination, oily | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Looking for a primer that smooths and reduces the appearance of acne scars? Topicals’ Sealed Active Scar Primer is designed to fill them in and blur pores, leaving skin looking and feeling smoother and prepped for makeup—but you can use this product without makeup. With the addition of the skin-aging powerhouse retinol, an ingredient that promotes cellular turnover, it even works to smooth skin over time—but the brand mentions this is a benefit of daily use. However, retinol can irritate some, so it’s a good idea to get your dermatologist’s sign-off before adding it to your skincare routine. Though it has a gel consistency, some reviewers mention it applies a little thick, which could be a turnoff.

Best for Boosting Radiance

Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Primer

$40 at Sephora $40 at Ulta $32 at ecosmetics.com

Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin E, banana powder-inspired pigments | Skin Type: Balanced, dry, combination, oily  | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Inspired by the unmatched radiance-boosting benefits of banana powder, this primer from Ole Henriksen gives skin an immediate glow while extending the wear of makeup. If your skin tint or foundation isn’t cutting it in the glow department, we recommend layering on this creamy, easy-to-blend, skin-smoothing formula. It’s also enhanced with ingredients to offer some skincare benefits, like vitamin C to address signs of skin aging and antioxidant-rich vitamin E. This product is made with fragrance, which some skin types may be sensitive to, but many reviewers actually rave over the light citrusy scent.

What to Look for When Buying Primer for Dry Skin

• Moisturizing ingredients: Those with dry skin should look for moisturizing ingredients, including humectants such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides. You'll also find priming moisturizers containing natural butters and plant-based oils, like jojoba, almond, sunflower, olive, avocado, or squalane. In addition to providing much-needed hydration, Sesnek says, "Moisturizing primer can also illuminate the skin by adding additional radiance."
• Plumping ingredients: "One of my favorite reasons to [use] a moisturizing primer is because it can add anti-aging benefits to the skin with ingredients that create a plumping effect," notes Sesnek. Ingredients that plump the skin include glycerin, hyaluronic acid, peptides, aloe vera, allantoin, vitamin C, vitamin E, niacinamide, and algae.
• Finish: As with foundation and concealer, makeup primers have various finishes. The most common is natural, which is typically light and breathable, not shiny but also not matte. Then there are glossy, dewy, and glass-like finishes, which can be great for dry skin, as they offer a moisturized appearance. You'll also find mattifying primers, which leave a shine-free finish.

Why Trust Byrdie

Lisa DeSantis is a beauty journalist with ten years of experience in the industry. She is a self-proclaimed "guinea pig" when it comes to testing beauty products and treatments, which has helped her determine the best of the best. Not to mention she has sat in enough makeup artists' chairs to know what passes the test for the pros. From the above, she has personally tried Catrice, Laura Mercier, Smashbox, Fenty Beauty, Glossier, First Aid Beauty, The Ordinary, Jori, Benefit, Charlotte Tilbury, and L'Oréal. 

Victoria Moorhouse is an editor, writer, and content strategist with over a decade of experience reporting on the beauty industry. She’s held positions at publications like InStyle and PopSugar. To make the selections in this roundup, she sifted through customer reviews and studied ingredient lists. From the above, she has personally tried e.l.f. Cosmetics and Ole Henriksen.

• Nydia Figueroa is a celebrity makeup artist and beauty expert—in addition to professional makeup, she works as a beauty director at Fashion Gxd Magazine and Miss New Jersey Earth.
• Robert Sesnek is a celebrity makeup artist with over 15 years of industry experience—his all-star client list includes Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, Adriana Lima, and Julianna Moore.