We all know how important a good quality primer is when it comes to flawless makeup. The purpose of a primer is to create a smooth and even looking base for your makeup. Primer combines with foundation and ensures that your foundation stays in place for the day. Also, the primer is a great product for those who have visible pores or fines lines because primer smoothes your face and covers all imperfections.
Illuminating primer does the same as a regular primer. The only difference between other primers is that illuminating primer contains very small light-reflecting particles in it, that creates a dewy, healthy skin look. Also, illuminating primers often contain hydrating factors, such as hyaluronic acid, so it also plumps and hydrates your skin. Nevertheless, we still highly recommend using a moisturizer before you apply primer if you want to achieve a dewy and luminous look.
If you want to know, what illuminating primers are best on the market, we made a list of 15 Best Illuminating Primers!
15 Best Illuminating Primers:
1. Juice Beauty Phyto-pigments Illuminating Primer
Juice Beauty is an organic brand that uses plant-derived products as their active ingredients. This illuminating primer is great for all skin types, it hydrates your skin and controls oils. This product contains coconut alkanes and organic glycerin. Also, it is worth mentioning that this primer is silicone-free! This primer contains an anti-age serum, that has plenty of natural antioxidants.
The formula of this primer is lightweight and easy to apply. For application use your fingers, after that use more product on the areas that have large pores. This primer will smooth fines lines and wrinkles and blurs pores.
Related: Top Rated Eye Creams for Wrinkles
Also, this primer is cruelty-free, formulated without parabens, pesticides, sulfates, artificial dyes, synthetic fragrances, phthalates, silicones, GMO, etc.
2. Becca First Light Priming Filter
Becca is a pretty famous brand for those, who are interested in makeup. This company creates high-quality products that are well-known in the makeup community.
This Becca illuminating primer instantly brightens your skin and evens the tone. After applying this dewy primer your skin will be refreshed and luminous. Also, this product minimizes large pores. It is worth mentioning that this illuminating primer is non-comedogenic it means that this product won’t clog your pores or cause breakouts.
Speaking about key ingredients this primer contains hyaluronic acid that is a well-known moisturizing agent. Nevertheless, this Becca illuminating primer contains Vitamin C that nourishes your skin. Also, this illuminating primer contains small light-reflecting particles that create a luminous finishing look.
You can use this primer without foundation if you want that natural look or you can apply foundation.
Related: Good Foundations for Dry Skin
Also, this product is vegan and cruelty-free!
3. Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Face Illuminating Primer
This is a great budget-friendly primer that actually works! This illuminating primer is formulated for normal to dry skin. It minimizes large pores and keeps your makeup locked in place for the day. This Elizabeth Mott primer creates a smooth and luminous base for your makeup. Also, this illuminating primer is waterproof, so there is no need to worry about rain or sweat!
The formula of this luminous primer is hydrating, but don’t worry it won’t look greasy or oily! Also, this primer contains pearl powder, good news for those who like radiant makeup look!
It is worth mentioning that this primer is cruelty-free and wasn’t tested on animals! This product is paraben-free and gentle for your skin.
4. L’Oreal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion
This L’Oreal illuminating primer comes in four different shades for every skin type! The shades are fair, light, medium, and deep. This product hydrates your skin and gives it a luminous and healthy looking glow. Also, this product not only moisturizes and prepares your skin for foundation but gives it a sun-kissed look.
Related: Foundations for Combination Skin
This primer contains hydrating agents such as glycerin and shea butter, these ingredients lock moisture into your skin and keeps that healthy glow.
You can use this product alone as a tinted moisturizer or use it as a primer under foundation. Since this formula contains a lot of light-reflecting particles, it can be used as a liquid highlighter. Also, you can apply it on your body to highlight certain areas.
5. Honest Beauty Everything Primer
This primer is a great product for those who like truly hydrating primers. This illuminating primer contains botanical peptides, peony root extract, and hyaluronic acid, that locks in moisture and hydrates the skin. This primer smooths your skin, hydrates it, and makes fine lines and wrinkles less visible. Nevertheless, this product also blurs pores! Also, light-reflecting particles of this luminous primer are made of natural stone mineral – mica.
You can use this primer alone if you want a naturally luminous look, or you can use it under foundation.
Related: Top Rated Cushion Foundations
Also, the formula of this illuminating primer contains no parabens, PEGs, paraffins, steareth-n, petrolatum, mineral oil, and synthetic fragrances. Another great thing about this primer is that it is cruelty-free, dermatologist tested and toxicologist verified!
6. Illuminating Rose Gold Facial Serum
This serum will be a perfect match for those, who like to put a minimum amount of products and get a maximum effect! This product is actually a serum, it means that you don’t need to use a moisturizer with a primer if you want a luminous skin look! This serum can be used as a primer before you apply your foundation. This illuminating serum controls oil and shine and gives you a matt finish look.
Related: Best Serums for Oily Skin
The active ingredient of this serum is organic and natural hyaluronic acid, which deeply hydrates your skin and smooths it. The second key ingredient of this serum is aloe vera, which hydrates your skin without leaving it oily or greasy. Aloe vera also reduces skin inflammation and helps it to heal. Also, this serum won’t clog your pores or cause breakouts!
This product is paraben-free, cruelty-free, and vegan!
7. Benefit The Porefessional Pearl Primer
Benefit is a well-known brand for those who are interested in makeup. This primer gives you a radiant, natural-looking face. This illuminating primer brightens your skin blurs and minimizes the appearance of pores. This product creates a soft-matt, luminous look. The formula of this primer is silky, lightweight, and oil-free. The shade of this product is slightly pink, so it won’t be a great option for those who have warmer skin tones.
This product really does it’s job, but it won’t be a great option for those who look for more natural and sensitive skin-friendly products.
8. Mineral Fusion Illuminating Primer
This mineral illuminating primer is suitable for all skin types. It contains gold light-reflecting particles that create a warm, sun-kissed look. The formula of this primer is silky and blurs fine lines, pores, and smooths the surface of your skin for foundation application. Also, this dewy primer illuminates and brightens your skin.
The main active ingredient of this primer is Vitamin C that brightens and evens the tone of your skin, also, promotes collagen synthesis. The second active ingredient is orange fruit oil that gives your skin a brighter and more radiant look.
And last, but not least, this illuminating primer is vegan, gluten-free, hypoallergenic, paraben-free, cruelty-free, phthalate-free, and has no artificial colors.
9. Smashbox Photo Finish Radiance Primer
Smashbox is a great professional makeup brand. They created a dewy, radiance primer that gives your skin much-needed hydration and a glowing, sun-kissed look. A satin formula of this primer not only hydrates but also smooths your skin and prepares it for the foundation. Also, it is important to mention that this primer is suitable only for normal and dry skin.
Related: Top Rated Primers for Dry Skin
The shade of this primer is slightly warm and gold, so it will be a perfect product for those who have a warm skin tone. This illuminating primer contains great active ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, shea butter. These active ingredients are great natural moisturizers!
Also, this illuminating primer is cruelty-free, formulated without parabens, phthalates, silicones, fragrances, and talc!
10. Josie Maran Argan Enlightenment Illuminizer
This Josie Maran illuminating primer will be a perfect product for those who have a fair or light skin tone. This dewy primer is infused with pure argan oil that is well known for its great moisturizing and nourishing effect. This illuminating primer smooths the skin, hydrates, and gives your skin a healthy glow. Also, this illuminating primer contains Vitamin E, madonna lily, and poet’s narcissus that brightens your skin and evens the skin tone.
You can use this primer under foundation or mix it with foundation, also, you can use it as a liquid highlighter.
This illuminating primer is formulated without parabens, phthalates, sulfates, fragrances, mineral oil, gluten, and formaldehyde.
11. Physicians Formula Spotlight Illuminating Primer
Physicians Formula is a great drugstore brand, that offers high-quality budget-friendly products. Their illuminating Spotlight primer is an anti-aging primer that not only blurs and smooths all the lines, wrinkles, and other imperfections but also contains antioxidants that protect skin from premature aging.
The shade of this dewy primer is quite universal, so it will be a great product for everyone. Also, this illuminating primer corrects redness of the face. You can wear this product alone or under the foundation!
Another great thing about this product is that it is made for sensitive skin. This primer is created without harmful and irritating ingredients and is hypoallergenic. The makeup products of this brand are recommended by dermatologists, allergists, ophthalmologists, and plastic surgeons.
12. NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Honey Dew Me Up
NYX is a budget-friendly brand that offers great products! This primer is one of those! This illuminating primer not only hydrates your skin but also minimizes skin redness and creates a luminous, golden finish look.
This primer contains a powerful hydrating agent, our well known hyaluronic acid. Also, this primer has lavender that naturally calms the skin and collagen that is great for fighting the aging process. This product hydrates your skin, without oily finish and ensures that your foundation stays in place no matter what.
Also, it is important to mention that NYX makeup products are animal friendly and cruelty-free.
13. Revlon Photoready Rose Glow
This illuminating primer is a water-based product, that contains natural oils, that hydrates your skin and makes it luminous. The good news is that the moisturizing and priming effect lasts for 24-hours. Also, this product contains rose gold light-reflecting particles that give a natural dewiness for your skin.
Related: Top Rated Water Based Primers
This product comes in a bottle with a dropper, so it makes the process of applying a lot easier! Also, the formula of this product is light and quickly absorbs into the skin, so don’t worry about oiliness.
You can wear this illuminating primer alone or under liquid, cream, or powder foundation.
Related: Good Powder Foundations for Dry Skin
14. Covergirl Base Business Face Primer Illuminating
Covergirl is a well-known drugstore makeup brand, that has great products. This illuminating, peach shade primer is oil-free, ensures the longevity of your makeup, prepares your skin for foundation and keeps it in place. Nevertheless, this product is suitable for every skin type and is universal. It gives your skin a radiant, dewy finish look and smooths all imperfections.
The formula of this dewy primer is lightweight and easy to apply, you can use your fingers, a foundation brush, or a makeup sponge.
And last, but not least, this illuminating primer is cruelty-free, it means this product wasn’t tested on animals!
15. e.l.f. Cosmetics Illuminating Face Primer
This illuminating primer by e.l.f creates a smooth and glowing base for your makeup. Also, it hydrates your skin and keeps foundation in place. This silky texture primer blurs fine lines, skin redness, and brightens the skin.
Application of this product is easy, before you apply your foundation, blend few drops of this dewy primer into your skin and you are good to go!
The formula of this dewy primer contains no parabens, sulfates, phthalates and can be used on sensitive skin. Also, this primer is PETA certified, cruelty-free, and vegan.
Related: Top Rated Dewy Foundations
Joan S. Wilson is a lifelong makeup and skincare enthusiast. She used to work as a makeup artist for 5 years. Joan is always curious and wants to learn more when it comes to makeup and skincare. She tries her best to make other people’s skin health better. This is why Joan is so passionate about writing articles on beauty topics. She always looks for products that are high-quality, dermatologist-tested, and does that it says on the label. In every article, she shares her knowledge to make your life healthier and happier!