Do you ever apply your make-up and find that it just doesn’t seem to last as long as you’d like? Or that your foundation starts to look a little bit patchy by the end of the day? A primer can be a great way to help your makeup stay in place for longer, and there are lots of different types available on the market.
Silicone-based primers are particularly popular because they create a smooth base for your makeup that helps it to glide on easily. They also tend to be long-lasting and water-resistant.
If you’re looking for a primer that will help your makeup last all day, a silicone-based option may be the best choice for you.
Best silicone-based primer for wrinkles
Silicone-based primers are known for their ability to fill in fine lines and wrinkles, making them less noticeable. They also help to keep makeup in place for extended periods of time.
If you’re looking for a good silicone-based primer to use on your wrinkles, here are three of the best options available.
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Primer
This silicone-based primer comes in a tube with an easy-squeeze opening. It’s designed to hydrate your skin while filling in fine lines and wrinkles.
It can also help reduce how large pores appear on the skin, making it great for oily or combination skin types. Ultimately, this is one of the best silicone-based primers for all-over smoothing of the face.
Stila One Step Primer
This primer comes in a glass bottle, which some users find more aesthetically pleasing than using a plastic container.
It contains antioxidants like green tea to soothe skin, along with peptides to fight signs of aging on the rest of your face
The formula is oil-free, meaning it’s suited to all skin types, including oily skin. It’s also alcohol-free and paraben-free, so it’s completely safe to use on your skin.
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer
Another potion-style silicone-based primer, Smashbox’s offering comes in a frosted glass bottle with a pump dispenser.
It contains antioxidants like vitamins C and E to help reduce wrinkles while moisturizing your skin. If you’re looking for a primer with some anti-aging effects, this one may be the best choice.
It can also help to reduce the appearance of redness and discoloration, making it a great choice if you have sensitive skin.
Best silicone-based primer for sensitive skin
If you have particularly sensitive skin that reacts easily to different products, silicone-based primers can be an excellent choice. They generally contain very little in the way of fragrances or other ingredients likely to irritate your skin type.
Sibu Beauty Sea Buckthorn Facial Primer
This formula uses a combination of priming ingredients – including Centella Asiatica and sea buckthorn – to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while also moisturizing your skin.
It’s suitable for all skin types, including sensitive and acne-prone skin. It can be used both in the morning and at night, making it a great choice for sensitive skin if you wear makeup every day.
Dermablend Insta-Grip Jelly Primer
This is another good option. It contains a high level of moisturizing ingredients, but it’s gentle enough for people with sensitive skin.
Dermablend Insta-Grip Jelly Primer is the perfect way to create a smooth canvas for foundation and concealer. This lightweight, clear primer makeup absorbs quickly, providing a long-lasting grip on your skin that will help your makeup stay in place all day.
Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer
If you have sensitive skin and need a primer that will help minimize your pores, look no further than Maybelline’s Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer.
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This product goes on like a moisturizer to create a smooth canvas over which to apply foundation and leaves the skin looking matte and poreless.
The lightweight, moisturizing formula goes on like a dream, creating a perfect canvas over which to apply foundation.
Best silicone-based primer for oily skin
If you have oily skin, finding a primer that controls shine and keeps makeup in place can feel like a never-ending quest.
Silicone-based primers are oil-free and help to absorb excess oils on the skin’s surface, which helps to keep your makeup in place all day long.
Below are the 3 best silicone-based primers for oily skin.
Neutrogena Shine Control Primer
This is the best silicone-based primer for oily skin. It’s oil-free with a lightweight texture that absorbs excess oil without adding shine.
It contains physical sunscreen ingredients to provide sun protection, as well as glycerin for added moisture. It also provides a matte finish and creates a smooth canvas for foundation.
With or without makeup, this primer will help absorb excess oil and keep your skin looking fresh all day long. Plus, the lightweight, non-greasy formula with rice protein technology won’t over-dry your skin or clog pores.
Matte Makeup Base Primer for Oily Skin
This gel lotion is lightweight on the skin and enriched with ingredients that can help to get rid of excess oil and balance the skin at the same time. Plus, the pro primer creates an invisible, long-lasting natural matte finish.
This primer is specially formulated for oily skin types and contains a unique transparent silicone gel base which helps control shine and reduces pore size.
Instantly create a smooth canvas for foundation or powder application with this lightweight gel lotion – it will help your makeup stay put all day long!
Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer
This lightweight, oil-free primer is formulated with special soft-focus optics that visibly minimize the look of fine lines and wrinkles as well as pores.
The mineral pigments diffuse light to create a refreshed, natural glow while adding a silky finish to your makeup. It also helps makeup go on smoother and last longer so you’ll have fewer touch-ups throughout the day.
This state-of-the-art primer contains silky ingredients that create a smooth canvas for your foundation while minimizing the appearance of pores, fine lines, and wrinkles.
It also delivers SPF 15 sun protection and repels water, so your makeup always looks freshly applied.
Best silicone-based primer for acne prone skin
People who struggle with breakouts often avoid primers because they fear that these products will clog their pores or make matters worse.
Thankfully, good silicone-based primers are oil-free and hypoallergenic, which makes them one of the friendliest types of primers out there for people with acne.
Here are the 3 best silicone-based primers for acne-prone skin
Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer
Dr. Brandt’s Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer is a cult-favorite primer that is proven to reduce shine and mattify the skin, making it the perfect base for makeup or as a stand-alone treatment.
With oil-absorbing spheres that diminish pores and diffuse light, your skin will look smooth, matte, and perfectly polished.
It instantly absorbs excess oil, mattifies the skin, and diminishes the look of pores and imperfections. With safe, powerfully effective ingredients, this velvety primer helps create a smooth canvas that lasts all day.
NARS Radiance Primer
This silky, oil-free primer will help to correct skin imperfections while minimizing the appearance of pores.
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The NARS Radiance Primer will give you an instant boost of vitality. The oil-free formula is perfect for fatigued skin and helps to prolong and enhance the look of your makeup.
It’s oil-free, paraben-free, alcohol-free, synthetic fragrance-free, and dermatologist tested – perfect for those with sensitive skin.
TULA Face Filter Primer
This primer smooths over your face flawlessly, giving you a fresh canvass upon which to apply your makeup.
The formula is blendable and buildable, releasing “particles that glow” as you apply it that give your skin a sun-kissed glow.
Your skin will look more luminous, hydrated, and prepped for the rest of your beauty routine.
Best silicone based primer for dry skin
If you have dry skin, you may find that most primers make your skin feel tight and uncomfortable. However, there are some silicone-based primers that are specifically designed to provide hydration and moisture to dry skin.
Here are three of the best silicone-based primers for dry skin.
Milk Makeup Hydrating Primer
It’s an ultra-hydrating primer that provides 24-hour moisture with ingredients like vitamin E, coconut water, sunflower seed oil, and marshmallow root extract.
The gel-like texture glides onto your face effortlessly creating a flawless base for foundation application while keeping your complexion feeling comfortable all day long.
This invisible primer smooths skin and locks in hydration while providing a grip for your makeup that will last up to 12 hours. So whether you’re heading to work, out on the town, or just want your makeup to look good all day long, this primer is perfect for you.
Mally Beauty Evercolor Face Primer
This lightweight liquid formula creates a smooth base that instantly erases pores and fine lines so your foundation goes on flawlessly and stays fresh all day.
Mally’s Evercolor Poreless Face primer is an amazing option that is often used instead of powder. It can be worn on its own as a skin perfecter or to help lock your makeup in before a day out.
Its sheer, lightweight formula instantly diffuses the look of pores and fine lines for a soft-focus effect while keeping your shine at bay. Skin looks naturally flawless and you’ll be all day fierce.
Monica Ann Beauty Dual-Action Face Primer
This primer helps minimize the look of pores and fine lines and creates a smooth canvas for a flawless makeup application.
This unique formula contains essential ingredients to work on your skin, helping it to improve the look of your natural skin while allowing easy makeup application that stays with you all day.
The perfect makeup application starts with an even complexion and our skin primer pairs best with makeup containing Vitamin C & Hyaluronic Acid – two of the most effective ingredients for achieving a youthful glow.
Frequently Asked Questions about Primers
Is silicone good in a primer?
When it comes to primers, there are a lot of different options to choose from. Some people swear by silicone-based primers, while others find them to be heavy and greasy.
I personally love silicone primers because of how they make my skin feel. Silicone primers even out the texture on your skin, which makes it a great base for makeup. It’s very long-lasting and multifunctional. It’s also great for people with dry skin.
The main downside is that some people find it difficult to properly remove the product from their skin completely. In some instances, you may need to use a cleansing milk as one of your first steps in your skincare routine, whereas with other primers you can easily remove it with just micellar water.
Can you use a silicone primer with water based foundation?
It’s no secret that using a primer before foundation is key to getting an even and long-lasting finish, but with so many different types of primers on the market, it can be tough to decide which one to use. If you’re someone who prefers water-based foundation, you may be wondering if it’s possible to use a silicone primer with it.
It is not advisable that a silicone based primer be used with a water based foundation. It may cause the foundation to flake and pill.
If you’re opting for a water-based foundation or tinted moisturiser, we suggest that you opt for a primer which is designed specifically for this type of product.
If you do decide to use a silicone based primer with your water-based foundation you are better off doing a test patch on the back of your hand, before applying it all over your face.
Should you let your primer dry before applying foundation?
As a beauty fanatic, you’ve probably heard that you should let your primer dry before applying foundation.
You should ideally wait a minute or two to let your primer dry before applying your makeup
The reason why you should do this is because it helps to ensure that your foundation goes on smoothly and nothing gets trapped in any fine lines or pores.
So make sure you wait for around a minute before applying your foundation, to ensure that it goes on evenly and doesn’t stick to any makeup that’s already been applied.
Primers have become a popular beauty tool in recent years, so what you choose to do will really depend on the person and what type of skin they have. Many people will find that they can use a primer with either their water-based foundation, or their oil-based foundation.
However, some people might want to play it safe and opt for a primer which is specifically designed for the one product that they’re using – so you’ll need to do your research to see what works best for you.
Final Thoughts
It can be hard to find silicone-based primers that do not clog pores or cause breakouts.
The good news is that there are primers available today that were specifically designed for people with acne-prone skin and dry skin types. Start by finding a product in your price range and choosing the one with the fewest active ingredients.
There are many silicone-based primers on the market today, but not all work for everyone. If you’ve never tried a silicon-based primer before, consider trying one to see if they help you achieve a flawless look.
