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No one wants their makeup to slip and slide during the day — and it won’t if you find the best drugstore primer for mature skin. Even better news is that not all primers will cost you an arm and a leg; in fact, some of the best-rated face primers are available at the drugstore.
As you age, your skin gets drier, thinner, and less elastic. But the best drugstore primer for over-50 women can restore plumpness and moisture to your face, creating the ideal canvas for your favorite sunscreen, foundation, and concealer.
The best makeup primers come in many forms and formulations, so finding the right one for your skin’s needs can seem daunting. Fortunately, we’ve done the research for you. Whether you’re looking for an affordable primer for oily skin or you want a cheap trick for hiding large pores, we’ve got you covered.
Keep scrolling to shopWoman’s World’spicks for the best drugstore primers.
We write about products we think our readers will like. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the supplier.
Best Drugstore Primer For Oily Skin And Large Pores
Cover Girl's Full Spectrum Matte Ambition Matte Skin Primer with SPF 20 provides all-day oil control so your makeup maintains its shine-free finish. Women of all skin types can enjoy this primer, which has the added benefit of SPF to protect your skin from sun damage.
"I have a very oily t-zone and couldn't find an affordable primer to keep me matte. But this works wonders. And it holds my makeup all day, like 10+ hours. Great stuff," one user wrote.
Wet n Wild's Coconut 3-in-1 Primer Water delivers hydration to your skin in the form of a soothing face mist. In addition to being jam-packed with nutrients, the formula is paraben- and cruelty-free as well as vegan so as to not irritate sensitive skin.
"I like the pump on this, it shoots out evenly through out the face. The smell is nice, not overpowering and not sticky at all," one woman said.
While you can't change your pore size, you can mask them with Makeup Revolution's Pore Blur Primer. This gel primer applies smoothly to set your makeup all day, and it's made with the antioxidant vitamin E, which has a whole host of benefits for the skin including fading dark spots and softening the skin.
"Honestly this blew me away it's soo blurring and smoothing I am in love!! And for the price!! I absolutely recommend!!" one reviewer gushed.
It's not uncommon for women in their '50s to still deal with adult acne, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. So finding a primer for acne-prone skin can curb the frequency of your breakouts. E.l.f's Blemish Control Face Primer is made with salicylic acid to dissolve pore-clogging dead skin cells, vitamin E to fade acne scars, and tea tree oil to clean the skin. The result is a primer that creates a satiny surface for your makeup.
"I love this stuff! I have super sensitive skin and it doesn’t irritate it or dry it out! I only wish it came in a larger size," one woman said.
Green is opposite red on the color wheel, meaning it's an excellent shade for your primer if you're looking to neutralize any rosy tones. Maybelline's Face Studio Master Prime Primer, Blur + Redness Control is a water-based formula that feels weightless on the skin and expertly cancels out any redness on your skin in addition to blurring any imperfections.
"The sprayer is amazing!!! It sprays in a really fine mist and it doesn't have a strong smell. It's so refreshing. I will definitely be purchasing again! I used it as a setting spray and it held my makeup totally fine the entire day!
Wrinkles are an inevitable part of aging, but they can cause problems when applying foundation. Enter Cover Girl's Simply Ageless Anti-Aging Foundation Primer. Not only does it hydrate your face (moisture loss is one factor that leads to wrinkles), but it also works to camouflage other signs of aging, like age spots.
"Apply to clean face every morning. My friends and family started really saying how fresh my face looked as soon as I started using it. I can tell and so nice to have other people out of the blue tell you, 'You have beautiful skin,'" one woman exclaimed.
Aloe and cucumber extracts in NYX's Bare With Me Multitasking Spray make this an ideal primer for sensitive skin. Just a few spritz of this primer mist gives the skin a dewy glow, blurs pores and imperfections, and hydrates the skin for eight hours. Use it again in the afternoon to refresh your makeup or spray it on your bare face for a refreshing burst of coolness.
"The sprayer is amazing!!! It sprays in a really fine mist and it doesn't have a strong smell. It's so refreshing. I will definitely be purchasing again! I used it as a setting spray and it held my makeup totally fine the entire day!" one reviewer raved.
We all know the importance of wearing sunscreen, so why not double up with a drugstore primer with SPF? Lumaveil Beauty's Makeup On The Go Mattifying Primer SPF 50 offers not only sun protection, but it also adds a lightweight tint to your skin. This anti-aging primer fills in lines and wrinkles so your skin looks plump and youthful. It's available in three shades — Natural, Beige, and Dark — and is the perfect size for tossing in your bag and using on the go.
"I love it! It has SPF 50, does not leave a white cast, does not leave a shine - in fact it has a beautiful matte, silky finish, it temporarily blurs pores and allows my foundation to last a few hours more. It's also sweat proof. I was looking for a replacement for my hourglass mineral veil that was more affordable and now I found it!" one reviewer exclaimed.
All you need to smooth the appearance of fine lines is a pump of the Bellezza Secreto Premium Makeup Primer. This waterproof gel primer helps your makeup stick for eight to 12 hours, masking redness, preventing flakiness, and mopping up excess oil. All the while its anti-aging ingredients — vitamins A and E — soften the skin and encourage new cell growth.
"This stuff is crazy awesome. It's one of the weirdest textures I've ever felt. It pumps out in a thin gel but feel like powder when you put it on your face. I have never found a product I could use as a daily moisturizer and primer in one (I'm pretty low maintenance when it comes to make up) but this is a product I will swear by until they stop making it. I have visible pores on my nose and this really helps minimize them. Love this stuff!" one woman wrote.
Work smarter, not harder — and pick up a drugstore primer that's also a setting spray, like Milani's Make It Last Setting Spray. Wear it under or over your makeup for up to 16 hours of streak-free, budge-proof makeup. Or leave the makeup at home and spray this on your bare face to prevent your skin from getting too oily during the day.
"I went horseback riding for 6 hours in the heat, then climbed up a mountain to get to a waterfall and that night my make up was still perfect. I LOVE this stuff," one woman raved. Another woman echoed her praise, writing, "I have EXTREMELY oily skin and nothing worked to contain it... until now. I spray this on my face before and after make-up application and it keeps the shine away the entire work day! User for life!"
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