Best Clear Foundation Primers of 2026
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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
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.
W7 Prime Magic Face Primer 2 Pack
The W7 Prime Magic Primer helps you create a smooth, flawless base for your makeup. It works to reduce the appearance of pores and imperfections, giving your skin a more even texture. The light, clear formula blends easily, leaving your face shine-free and ready for foundation, which helps your makeup stay put longer and look fresh. Designed by professionals in London, this primer is gentle on sensitive skin, making it a great choice whether you’re a teen or adult. With W7 Prime Magic Primer, you get a high-quality product that supports a natural, polished look with less effort.
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.
Maybelline Poreless Jelly Hydrating Primer
The Maybelline Poreless Jelly Primer offers a refreshing way to prepare your skin for makeup with its lightweight, hydrating formula that keeps your look fresh for up to 24 hours. Its unique water jelly texture feels weightless on your skin while instantly softening and blurring pores for a smooth finish. The primer contains 2% Niacinamide, which helps improve your skin’s appearance and keeps it feeling comfortable. Plus, it layers well under makeup without leaving any greasy residue or white cast, making it ideal for all skin types, including sensitive skin. With this primer, you’ll enjoy a flawless base that helps your makeup stay put all day.
Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Face Primer
Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Face Primer is a lightweight and breathable formula that blurs pores, controls shine, and provides a matte finish for up to 16 hours. It creates a smooth canvas for makeup application and enhances the look of makeup while extending its wear with instant shine control. The primer is perfect for normal to oily skin, and its pore-minimizing effect helps to minimize the look of imperfections for flawless, blurred skin.
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.
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer
Smashbox Photo Finish is a versatile makeup primer that enhances your skin's appearance. It effectively smooths out the look of pores and fine lines, giving you a flawless base for makeup application. This primer also helps your makeup last longer, ensuring you look your best throughout the day. Additionally, it acts as a protective barrier against environmental pollutants and stressors, keeping your skin safe. Suitable for all skin types, this vegan and cruelty-free primer is a great choice for anyone looking to improve their makeup routine.
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.
PHOERA Primer Face Foundation Primers
PHOERA Primer Face Foundation Primers is a skin primer for face with skin benefits enriched with a unique transparent silicone gel base and Vitamin A, C & E. It helps boost your complexion and hydrate your skin for a fresh, dewy look. The matte makeup primer readies your face after your skin care regimen and before makeup application to ensure your look is locked in. It delivers an immediate smooth effect on your skin. This primer forms a protective film on the skin surface, isolates cosmetics, and reduces UV damage to prevent makeup damage. Use it prior to applying your favorite foundations, concealers, powders or bronzer and enjoy prolonged makeup wear.
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.
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 142,741 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 $11.58.
The clear foundation primers are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of clear foundation primers, including W7, MAYBELLINE, wet n wild, Smashbox, Phoera. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 315 consumers with an average rating of 4.8.
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.