7 Best Hydrating Primers for Dry Skin and Smooth Makeup Application

Using the right face primer can help your makeup application look smoother than ever before — a struggle, especially if you have dry skin. Whether you naturally have dry skin or are experiencing parched skin due to external factors (hello, winter weather), sometimes it’s not enough to use a hydrating serum and thick moisturizer in your skin-care routine. The situation calls for some backup in the makeup department, and that starts with a hydrating makeup primer. 

If you have a dry skin type or are just looking to give your makeup an extra boost of hydration, we rounded up the best hydrating makeup primers to try, ASAP. 

Urban Decay All Nighter Face Primer Longwear Foundation Grip

The newest product to Urban Decay’s collection is this long-wear primer. It boasts the ability to keep your makeup looking fresh for up to eight hours, while the formula gives skin a hit of hydration upon application.

Lancôme Prep & Hydrate Face Primer

With an added benefit of giving your complexion a 24-hour, illuminated glow, this hydrating makeup primer contains two types of pearl pigments that provide you with a photo-ready, instant-dewy glow, even before makeup application. 

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer

This silky-smooth primer adds a touch of radiance and suppleness to your skin. Shea butter, rice bran and glycerin in the formula help give your skin a blurred appearance while deeply hydrating to create the perfect canvas for makeup application.

NYX Professional Makeup Bare With Me Hydrating Jelly Primer

Moisturizing makeup primers don’t have to be heavy or thick, and this jelly primer proves that. It has an ultra-lightweight texture that glides on with a wet feel and dries down to a matte finish. You have cucumber and aloe extract to thank for the instant cooling effect.

E.l.f. Cosmetics Hydrating Face Primer 

Packed with vitamins A, C and E, this complexion-boosting primer hydrates your skin to give it a flawless, smooth appearance. It applies creamy but dries into a natural matte finish to keep shine away without feeling dry or uncomfortable.

Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer 

This gripping formula holds makeup in place without any smears or smudges throughout the day. Hemp-derived cannabis seed extract in the formula hydrates and plumps skin while other skin-care ingredients, like aloe water and cherry blossom, give you that healthy-skin look.

Tula Brighten Up Smoothing Primer 

Despite the ultra-smooth feel, this gel makeup primer is silicone-free — in other words, you get the same effect, but it’s way better for your skin. The formula applies like a burst of water before drying to a satin feel. 

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