5 Hydrating Primers for Dry Skin
Tired of your foundation and concealer emphasizing your dry skin? Me too, girl! I’ve tried a ton of different foundations and concealers throughout the years and I’ve discovered that it’s not always the formula that needs a change. Sometimes it’s our approach, skin and technique that needs a little tweaking. Foundation and concealer has a tendency to emphasize dry skin putting the spotlight on flaky patches and fine lines rather than creating that smooth, flawless finish we crave. Now, there’s plenty of moisturizing foundations and concealers out there but if you’re anything like me you’ll quickly learn that they’re not without flaws either. Some moisturizing formulas tend to settle into fine lines and wrinkles as well as fade quickly, look greasy or just feel too rich–especially in the summer. That’s why I like to focus on correcting my dry skin with a solid skincare routine (which I’ll soon share!) and a good hydrating formula to ensure that my makeup applies and wears beautifully all day.
Urban Decay Brightening & Tightening Complexion Primer Potion ($31.00)
I’ve been a fan of Urban Decay’s Original Eyeshadow Primer Potion for years so when the Complexion Primer Potions went on sale for half off at Ulta on Black Friday I knew I had to grab one. Urban Decay has 2 Complexion Primer Potions but after trying them in the store the Brightening & Tightening Complexion Primer Potion was the clear winner for me. It’s formulated to moisturize dry, dull skin and lift and firm skin over time while adding a radiant glow that makes applying foundation a breeze. The Urban Decay Brightening & Tightening Complexion Primer Potion has a lightweight gel texture with a slight cooling effect that soothes my dry skin while adding a burst of moisture and giving my skin a luminous glow and smoother appearance. It quickly became one of my holy grail primers as the formula helps my foundation apply smoothly and last all day without looking cakey or settling into my fine lines. The Urban Decay Brightening & Tightening Complexion is a wonderful option for dry, dull skin that suffers from flaky patches, fine lines and sensitive skin.
NYX Honey Dew Me Up Serum & Primer ($16.99)
Besides fine lines, one of the biggest struggles with dry skin is dullness. Dry skin has a tendency to look dull and lackluster some days that makes makeup look flat and dry. The easiest way to fight dullness is with a good luminous primer that helps boost radiance to bring life back to skin with a dewy glow. When my skin starts to look flat and dull, I reach for the NYX Honey Dew Me Up Serum & Primer. It has a gel-like texture that mimics the feel of honey and a slight stickiness upon application that absorbs quickly to lightly moisturize and give skin a killer radiant glow. NYX Honey Dew Me Up Serum & Primer really helps to prime dull skin for a smoother, luminous finish that lasts all day without looking cakey and flat by the end of the day. As the name applies, Honey Dew Me Up also serves as a serum formulated with honey and collagen to hydrate and plump skin while neutralizing the appearance of discoloration and redness over time. I’ve been using the NYX Honey Dew Me Up Serum & Primer for about a year now because it does such a good job at making my dry, dull skin glow like no tomorrow without looking greasy, glittery or oily. I think the NYX Honey Dew Me Up Serum & Primer would make a wonderful addition to your stash if you struggle with a dull, lackluster complexion.
Milani Prime Perfection Hydrating + Pore Minimizing Face Primer ($9.99)
Drugstore makeup is overflowing with lipsticks, foundations, eyeshadows and more but you’d be hard pressed to find a decent primer in the mix. Milani recently added 2 new primers to their collection including the Prime Perfection Hydrating + Pore Minimizing Face Primer. I picked it up hoping that it would be a good dupe for the Urban Decay Brightening & Tightening Complexion Primer Potion but it’s a completely different formula. The Milani Prime Perfection Hydrating + Pore Minimizing Primer adds a touch of moisture while providing a smooth luminous base that helps makeup adhere better to skin. It has a lightweight creamy texture that goes on smoothly and lightly hydrates skin while adding a soft radiance and helping my makeup last a little bit longer throughout the day without much settling or looking cakey. The Prime Perfection Hydrating + Pore Minimizing Primer isn’t quite as hydrating as I was expecting but I do think it’ll be a great formula for summer. The formula isn’t quite as rich as a more hydrating primer so it won’t make your skin look too dewy or oily as you sweat and it also has a slightly sticky feel that really grabs on to foundation so that it adheres and lasts a little longer. The Milani Prime Perfection Hydrating + Pore Minimizing definitely won’t replace your moisturizer but it’s a good option for dry skin in the summer.
Laura Geller Tinted Under Make-Up Primer in Bronze ($32.00)
Tinted primers usually don’t fly with my brown skin because they’re typically too light and too pigmented for my taste but Laura Geller got it just right with her Tinted Under Make-Up Primer in Bronze. At first, I was just interested in seeing what the bronze tint would be like but when I tried it out at Ulta I discovered just how moisturizing and dewy Laura Geller’s Tinted Under Make-Up Primer was. It has a lightweight gel texture that’s very soothing and hydrating as well as a sheer bronze tint that adds a subtle warmth and dewy glow to my complexion without looking glittery or too shiny. I love to reach for the Laura Geller Tinted Under Make-Up Primer in Bronze when my skin is feeling a little dry and dull and could use a quick moisture and radiance boost. It’s the perfect primer for dry, dull skin that looks sallow or could just use a little warmth and glow.
Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer ($32.00)
Most makeup primers just provide short term benefits when it comes to dry skin. Like temporarily moisturizing skin instead of deeply hydrating and treating skin from within. Too Faced took a completely different approach with their Hangover Replenishing Face Primer and I couldn’t love them more for it. Too Faced’s Hangover Replenishing Face Primer has been a staple in my routine for years because it doesn’t just prime dry skin for a smooth, flawless finish but it also helps to treat skin with skin-loving ingredients like coconut water and probiotics. Hangover Replenishing Face Primer is like a splash of water for dry skin adding lots of moisture, a radiant glow and a smoother appearance with lightweight lotion-like texture that can be used alone as a moisturizer. That’s how hydrating it is! I think severe dry skin or even gals with oily skin who needs a lightweight moisturizer would find the Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Primer to be a real treat.