Best Sheer Foundation Primers of 2025

Lisa Bechard Avatar
Lisa Bechard
Last Updated: Jan 5, 2025

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Sheer Foundation Primers are a must-have for anyone who wants to achieve a flawless, long-lasting makeup look. These lightweight, oil-free primers are designed to create a smooth, even canvas for your foundation, while also helping to control shine and minimize the appearance of pores. They come in a range of formulas to suit different skin types and concerns, including hydrating, mattifying, and color-correcting options. Whether you're looking to extend the wear of your makeup or simply want to create a more polished finish, Sheer Foundation Primers are an essential addition to your beauty routine.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Almay Skin Perfecting Comfort Care Primer Cover #TOP 1
Almay Skin Perfecting Comfort Care Primer
ftb score rating icon 9.9
Urban Decay All Nighter Face Primer Cover #TOP 2
Urban Decay All Nighter Face Primer
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Paul & Joe Moisturizing Foundation Primer S 02 Cover #TOP 3
Paul & Joe Moisturizing Foundation Primer S 02
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 10 Sheer Foundation Primers

Almay Skin Perfecting Comfort Care Primer

309970110239
Sheer Pink
Almay Skin Perfecting Comfort Care Primer Cover
Almay Skin Perfecting Comfort Care Primer, Sheer Pink, 0.94 oz

The Almay Skin Perfecting Comfort Care Primer is a multitasking formula that instantly perfects the complexion, locks in moisture, and improves the look of skin over time. It helps prolong makeup wear without caking or streaking, evens and firms the skin, and is free of harmful ingredients such as parabens, phthalates, and mineral oil. The primer is hypoallergenic, dermatologist tested, clean, cruelty-free, and fragrance-free, providing a silky, smooth complexion over time.

What We Like
Lightweight formula
Evens and firms the look of skin
Free of harmful ingredients such as parabens, phthalates, and mineral oil
#TOP 2

Urban Decay All Nighter Face Primer

3605972252081
Transparent
1 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
Urban Decay All Nighter Face Primer Cover
Urban Decay All Nighter Longwear Face Primer (Full Size), Smoothing & Hydrating Base for Foundation Face Makeup, Sheer & Lightweight, for All Skin Types, Vegan, Cruelty-free - 1 fl oz

Urban Decay All Nighter Face Primer is a powerful longwear primer that locks your foundation in place, extending its wear time by up to 8 hours. This vegan and cruelty-free primer smooths and hydrates your skin, creating a fresh and even makeup application. With its lightweight and sheer texture, it leaves your skin feeling hydrated and slightly lifted throughout the day. Whether worn alone or as a makeup base, this primer is a no-brainer step in your skin prep routine. Apply it with your fingertips, brush, or sponge and blend it evenly from the center of your face outward. With Urban Decay All Nighter Face Primer, your makeup will stay put and your skin will look smoother and more hydrated.

What We Like
Long-lasting
Hydrating
Lightweight
#TOP 3

Paul & Joe Moisturizing Foundation Primer S 02

APXAVL01
Primer S 02
1 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
Paul & Joe Moisturizing Foundation Primer S 02 Cover
Paul & Joe Moisturizing Foundation Primer, Lightweight, Sheer and illuminating Foundation Makeup with Jojoba Oil, Face Makeup Base for Orange Undertones, Primer S 02 Orange, 1 fl oz

Paul & Joe Moisturizing Foundation Primer S 02 is a light-weight, sheer coverage primer that provides deep moisture to dry skin and balanced moisture retention to oily skin. It contains skin-loving ingredients that give a radiant canvas for the perfect primer. It has different pearlescent properties tailored to each product and shade, such as white overtones for highlighting, yellow tones for canceling redness and dark spots, green tones for restoring evenness, blue tones for a sheer, transparent look, and pink tones for improvement in skin complexion and tone. The primer is easy to use before applying foundation by taking the desired amount onto the palm and spreading it evenly over the entire face.

What We Like
Provides deep moisture to dry skin
Has different pearlescent properties for highlighting, restoring evenness, and improving complexion
Easy to use with a light-weight, sheer coverage
#TOP 4

Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Glow Enhancer

Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Glow Enhancer Cover
Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Multipurpose Natural Glow Enhancer, Primer, Highlighter - Best Glowy Skincare Makeup, Vegan & Cruelty-Free, No Sulphate, Paraben or Phthalate – Light Sheer Glow, 30g

The Elizabeth Mott Glow Enhancer is designed to give you a beautiful, sun-kissed complexion effortlessly. Its light-reflecting micro pearls provide a natural radiance without the glitter, making it perfect for any occasion. Packed with hydrating ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid and Niacinamide, it deeply moisturizes your skin while refining texture and minimizing pores. The lightweight, non-greasy formula blends smoothly, leaving you with a fresh, dewy finish. Whether used alone, as a primer, or as a highlighter, this versatile product enhances your glow, seamlessly combining the benefits of skincare and makeup.

What We Like
Natural sun-kissed glow
Hydrating formula
Lightweight and non-greasy
Multipurpose use

Glo Skin Beauty Oil-Free Tinted Primer SPF 30

Medium - 1.7 Fl Oz
Glo Skin Beauty Oil-Free Tinted Primer SPF 30 Cover
Glo Skin Beauty Oil-Free Tinted Primer SPF 30 - Mineral Makeup for Face, 4-in-1 Foundation Primer, Sheer Coverage, Skincare & Sunscreen With Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB Protection (Medium), 1.7 Fl Oz

The Glo Skin Tinted Primer is a versatile product that offers sheer coverage, making it perfect for concealing blemishes while also prepping your skin for makeup. This oil-free formula provides all-day wear and protects your skin from harmful UV rays, including blue light. With skin-loving ingredients like Niacinamide and Vitamin C, it’s suitable for all skin types, even sensitive or acne-prone skin. Additionally, the improved formula features more sustainable and vegan ingredients, ensuring you look good while caring for your skin.

What We Like
Sheer coverage for blemishes
UV and blue light protection
Skin-loving ingredients
Sustainable and vegan formula

e.l.f Cosmetics C-Bright Putty Primer

82140
Natural
1 Ounce (Pack of 1)
e.l.f Cosmetics C-Bright Putty Primer Cover
e.l.f. C-Brightening Putty Primer, Makeup Primer For Brightening & Evening Out Skin Tone, Enriched With Vitamin C, Universal Sheer (Packaging May Vary)

The e.l.f Cosmetics C-Bright Putty Primer is a brightening face makeup primer enriched with 2% Vitamin C to help brighten your complexion and even out skin tone. Its velvety formula easily smoothes over your skin, gripping your makeup for long-lasting wear. It gives you a smooth, flawless complexion with or without makeup, providing an even, bare-faced canvas to rock with confidence. All e.l.f. products are 100% vegan, cruelty-free, and leaping bunny certified.

What We Like
Brightens complexion and evens out skin tone
Grips makeup for long-lasting wear
Can be used with or without makeup
Velvety texture for easy application
100% vegan, cruelty-free, and leaping bunny certified

LAURA GELLER NEW YORK Spackle Super-Size Ethereal Rose Glow

0107-0025018
2 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
LAURA GELLER NEW YORK Spackle Super-Size Ethereal Rose Glow Cover
LAURA GELLER NEW YORK Spackle Primer - Ethereal Rose Glow - Super-Size 2 Fl Oz - Hyaluronic Acid Makeup Primer for Mature Skin

LAURA GELLER NEW YORK Spackle Super-Size Ethereal Rose Glow is a lightweight, non-greasy primer that brightens your skin, minimizes the look of fine lines, and creates the perfect base for long-lasting makeup. This product is formulated with hyaluronic acid, squalane, rice extract, and marine fennel, which hydrate and plump your skin. Suitable for dry to normal skin types, this product is free of synthetic fragrance, parabens, and phthalates. LAURA GELLER NEW YORK Spackle Super-Size Ethereal Rose Glow is easy to apply and can be worn with or without makeup.

What We Like
Brightens your skin and minimizes the look of fine lines
Creates the perfect base for long-lasting makeup
Formulated with hyaluronic acid, squalane, rice extract, and marine fennel
Suitable for dry to normal skin types
Easy to apply and can be worn with or without makeup

Maybelline Face Studio Master Prime Primer

K1820100
1 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
Maybelline Face Studio Master Prime Primer Cover
Maybelline Face Studio Master Prime Face Primer Makeup Base, Blur + Redness Control, 1 Count

This water-based Maybelline Face Studio Master Prime Primer is a lightweight and non-oily formula that primes skin with pigments to counteract the look of redness for an even-toned start. It also helps smooth application without a greasy feel, visually blurring imperfections and smoothing fine lines for flawless, even-toned skin. It is dermatologist and allergy tested and suitable for sensitive skin. This primer can be applied all over the face before foundation or worn alone for a luminous effect. Maybelline also offers a range of foundation, concealers, contours, highlighters, and powders that can help achieve the perfect canvas for any look. Garnier Micellar Water can be used as a gentle makeup remover at night and as a facial cleanser in the morning to prep skin for Maybelline makeup.

What We Like
Helps counteract the look of redness for an even-toned start
Visually blurs imperfections and smooths fine lines for flawless, even-toned skin
Dermatologist and allergy tested, suitable for sensitive skin
#TOP 9

Maybelline Face Studio Master Prime Primer

K1819800
100 BLUR + SMOOTH
1 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
Maybelline Face Studio Master Prime Primer Cover
Maybelline Face Studio Master Prime Face Primer Makeup Base, Blur + Smooth, 1 Count

The Maybelline Face Studio Master Prime Primer is a water-based primer that helps smooth the application without leaving a greasy feel. It visually blurs imperfections and smoothens fine lines for a flawless, even-toned skin. The primer can be applied all over the face before foundation or can be worn alone for a luminous effect. The lightweight and non-oily formula is dermatologist and allergy tested, suitable for sensitive skin, and does not clog pores. Maybelline offers sheer, medium, and full coverage foundation, concealers, primers, contours, highlighters, and powders to create any look.

What We Like
Lightweight and non-oily formula
Refines the look and feel of skin for makeup
Water-based primer that smooths application without a greasy feel
#TOP 10

KYDA Color Correcting Serum SPF 50

Purple Pink Green
KYDA Color Correcting Serum SPF 50 Cover
KYDA Color Correcting Facial Serum, SPF 50 PA+++, Moisturizing Makeup Primer, One Step Brightening Primer to Even Skin Tone, Oil Control Skin Corrector, Sheer Finish, Refreshing, Purple Pink Green

The KYDA Color Correcting Serum is a versatile makeup primer designed to enhance your skin's appearance. It features three color-correcting pigments that help balance your skin tone by neutralizing yellow, red, and dark tones, making it easier for you to achieve a flawless look. With an impressive SPF 50 PA+++ protection, you can confidently shield your skin from harmful UV rays while enjoying your day outdoors. The moisturizing formula also hydrates your skin and minimizes fine lines, ensuring a smooth base for makeup application. Lastly, its refreshing, lightweight texture leaves your skin feeling comfortable and looking naturally radiant.

What We Like
Effective color correction
High sun protection
Hydrating formula
Lightweight and refreshing
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What primers and foundations go together?

​ The key is to make sure the primer you select complements your foundation. For instance, if you have a silicone-based primer and a water-based foundation, your foundation could “pill” on top of the primer, says Trop. "If you have a silicone-based primer, it's best to use a silicone-based foundation on top," she says.

2. What shade should your primer be?

Green primers are best for skin tones prone to rosacea and acne—they neutralize the color red. Use one all over if you have widespread redness, or dab it just where you need it to give an even-tone base for a flawless foundation application.

3. Is silicone primer good for dry skin?

“Water-based primers are best for dry and dehydrated skin — they will last longer and look better on dry skin,” says Dorman. “Whereas silicone-based primers look better on oily skin, as the silicone creates a layer that keeps the oil from breaking through.”

Editor's Notes

During our sheer foundation primer research, we found 48 sheer foundation primer products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 259,635 customer reviews through our big data system to write the sheer foundation primers list. We found that most customers choose sheer foundation primers with an average price of $10.83.

The sheer foundation primers are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of sheer foundation primers, including Almay, URBAN DECAY, Paul & Joe, Elizabeth Mott, Glo Skin Beauty. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 385 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.

Written by
Lisa Bechard Avatar

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.