Best Clear Foundation Primers of 2025

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Foundation primers are a must-have for anyone who wants to achieve a flawless makeup look. These clear primers are designed to be applied before foundation, creating a smooth and even base for makeup application. They help to minimize the appearance of pores, fine lines, and other imperfections, while also helping to extend the wear time of your foundation. Clear foundation primers are perfect for all skin tones and types, as they do not add any additional color or texture to the skin. They are a great addition to any makeup routine and can help to create a long-lasting, flawless finish.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Clear Foundation Primers
BODYOGRAPHY - Foundation Primer: Anti-Aging, Moisturizing, and Safe-to-use
Get the perfect makeup base with BODYOGRAPHY Foundation Primer. The clear tone and lightweight silicone-based formula are perfect for all skin types, neutralizing your skin tone and smoothing out the look of fine lines and pores while prolonging your foundation's wear. The primer also moisturizes and rejuvenates your skin with Jojoba Oil and Shea Butter, leaving a natural glow and creamy base. What's more, the product is free from harmful parabens, gluten, lead, and talc, making it a safe and vegan-friendly option you can trust.
NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Studio Perfect Primer
NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Studio Perfect Primer is a vegan face primer that creates a smooth matte surface for foundation and prolongs the wear of your makeup. It is available in three shades: clear, lavender, and green. The clear primer covers fine lines and large pores, the lavender primer brightens and illuminates yellow undertones, and the green primer eliminates redness. The formula is easily absorbed, ensuring the longevity of your makeup. It is cruelty-free and certified by PETA.
W7 Prime Magic Face Primer
Introducing the W7 Face Primer, a professional quality makeup primer designed in London. This clear, light formula effortlessly glides over your skin, minimizing pores, blemishes, and imperfections. Say goodbye to uneven skin surfaces and hello to a flawless complexion. Not only does this primer create a smooth canvas for your makeup, but it also helps your makeup stay in place for longer, reducing fine lines. Apply a pea-sized amount after moisturizer and before foundation, blending it evenly with your fingertips. With its cruelty-free and safe-for-sensitive-skin formula, the W7 Face Primer is a must-have for women and teens of all ages who love high-quality cosmetics.
Wet n Wild Prime Focus Impossible Primer
Wet n Wild Prime Focus Impossible Primer is a foundation primer that provides a perfect base for makeup, with a matte finish that works well for both natural and creative makeup styles. It also contains skin-loving ingredients like Gooseberry and Jeju Blossom Extract to naturally brighten your skin, while deeply hydrating it to keep it moisturized under makeup. The product is cruelty-free, as are all wet n wild products.
Wet n Wild Photo Focus Matte Face Primer
Wet n Wild Photo Focus Matte Face Primer is a lightweight spray that acts as a primer to create a smooth base for any foundation. It evens out the skin tone while filling in pores and blurring imperfections, leaving a gorgeous matte finish. The weightless formula utilizes the power of Aloe Vera and Vitamin E to keep the skin feeling fresh and hydrated. Moreover, it extends makeup wear and is cruelty-free.
Almay Smart Shade CC Luminous Primer
Almay Smart Shade CC Luminous Primer is a foundation primer that comes in #100 Clear shade, providing a luminous finish and broad spectrum SPF 15 protection. It is dermatologist tested and hypoallergenic, and can soften and smooth the skin.
LAURA GELLER NEW YORK Spackle Super-Size Primer
LAURA GELLER NEW YORK Spackle Super-Size Primer is a clear makeup primer that creates a smooth canvas for improved foundation application and wear. Its lightweight, non-greasy formula is perfect for normal to combination skin types. The primer is formulated with good-for-you ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and antioxidant botanicals that brighten and replenish skin for a healthier, suppler complexion. It is easy to apply and can be worn with or without makeup.
COVERGIRL Outlast All-Day Makeup Primer
COVERGIRL Outlast All-Day Makeup Primer prepares your skin for makeup application by hiding pores and reducing the look of imperfections. It extends the wear of your regular foundation for a long-lasting look. The clear, translucent formula works for any skin color and won't clog pores or irritate sensitive skin. Plus, it is cruelty-free and never tested on animals.
Bodyography Clear Foundation Primer
The Bodyography Clear Primer is designed to create an ideal canvas for your makeup. It provides a transparent layer that smooths out your skin, making it easier to apply foundation seamlessly. By minimizing the appearance of pores and fine lines, it helps you achieve a more polished look. This primer also ensures your makeup stays put throughout the day, so you can feel confident without frequent touch-ups. Plus, it features a hydrating formula that caters to all skin types, whether you have dry or oily skin, without feeling greasy.
Maybelline Grippy Serum Primer
The Maybelline Grippy Primer is designed for long-lasting wear, gripping your makeup for up to 24 hours. Its unique Serum-To-Grip technology transforms from a fresh serum into a sticky texture, ensuring your makeup stays in place. This water-based formula includes 2% Niacinamide, providing hydration and a plumped skin appearance. You’ll appreciate that it applies smoothly without leaving a greasy residue or white cast, making it suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin. It layers well with various makeup products, giving you a perfect canvas for any look.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What does clear makeup primer do?
Primers are the photoshop of the makeup world. They're used underneath eyeshadow, foundation, tinted moisturizer, and mascara to create a smoothing effect that enhances makeup coverage and helps your makeup stay on longer — all while targeting concerns like oily or dry skin.
2. Which Foundation Primer is the best?
The best primer for you. Best overall: Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Hydrating Makeup Primer.Best multitasker: MAC Prep and Prime Fix+ Primer and Setting Spray.Best value: Elf Hydrating Face Primer.Best for blurring pores: Rare Beauty Pore Diffusing Primer.Best for oily skin: It Cosmetics Your Skin but Better Makeup Primer+
3. What is the difference between primer and foundation primer?
Differences Between Primer and Foundation While a primer is used to help makeup last longer, reduce transfers, ensure an even application and produce a smoother surface, a foundation is used to create a smooth and even complexion, while also hiding blemishes and redness.
4. Are foundation primers necessary?
If your foundation is sitting well on top of your skin, you don't need a primer. However, if you have oily skin or big pores, you can use a mattifying primer to help smooth out the skin. If you have dry skin, you can use a hydrating primer. For dull skin, a luminizing primer is a great option.
During our clear foundation primer research, we found 48 clear foundation primer products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 130,502 customer reviews through our big data system to write the clear foundation primers list. We found that most customers choose clear foundation primers with an average price of $10.84.
The clear foundation primers are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of clear foundation primers, including Bodyography, NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP, W7, wet n wild, Almay. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 4,523 consumers with an average rating of 4.9.

Lisa Bechard is a skin therapist with 12 years of working experience in the beauty industry and also an experienced beauty writer who has expertise in skincare, medical aesthetics and cosmetic surgery, and wellness. Her writing skills are excellent and all her content is very persuasive and insightful.