Are you on the hunt for the best primer for oily skin? A key aspect of managing oily skin is finding a reliable makeup primer. A good makeup primer for oily skin reduces the appearance of pores, controls shine, and keeps your makeup from melting off throughout the day. Keep reading to find out what causes an oily complexion along with our recommendations for the best primer for oily skin. 

Understanding Oily Skin

 

If you have oily skin, you know the struggle of enlarged or clogged pores, blackheads and pimples, and the appearance of a shiny complexion. A lot of factors come into play with oily skin, including hormones, stress, and even the weather. 

But the root cause of oily skin is an increased production of sebum, aka the waxy substance you see on your complexion. Don’t worry–sebum is totally natural and it’s not something to stress over. However, it can be inconvenient when we’re trying to keep your makeup on lock. Finding beauty products that work well with oily skin will help keep it under control. 

So what is the best primer for oily skin? Here at Beautyblender, we’re all about skincare and acing your base–and we’ve got two makeup primers for oily skin that you won’t want to live without.

Selfie Shield Primer

 

Do you have a beauty staple that you use every day and recommend to everybody? If not, our Selfie Shield™ Broad Spectrum SPF 38 Dry Oil Primer is about to be it. The silky smooth formula is perfect for all skin types, oily skin included. 

Best Primer for Oily Skin

 We love this primer for so many reasons, but mainly because it has SPF 38 to help protect your skin from sun damage and even HEV light (the blue light emitted from electronic devices). Made with antioxidants vitamin C and E, this formula is completely clear–so it’s ideal for all skin types and colors. 


Wondering why we call it Selfie Shield? The ultra-light dry oil sinks in and blends with no greasiness or chalky cast, so you’re selfie-ready from the get-go. It’s no secret why so many of us love Selfie Shield—it’s not only one of the best makeup primers for oily skin, but it’s a do-it-all formula that works on all skin types.

The Leveler Primer

 

The Leveler is our VIP makeup primer for oily skin. If you want a pigmented primer focused on pore control, The Leveler™ Pore Minimizing Primer is your new BFF. The Leveler comes in two colors to better match varying skin tones. If you wear our Liquid Whip Bounce Foundation in shades 3.5-4.75, then the tan-deep formula is your best bet. If your skin falls into shades 1.0-3.45, try the light-medium formula

light formula

The Leveler gives a velvety, soft matte finish, making it the best primer for oily skin. The smooth formula contains niacinamide (a form of vitamin B3) to help blur the appearance of redness, large pores, and uneven texture over time. High-performance silicones glide over skin and create a humidity-proof barrier instantly to minimize shine and lock makeup in place for all-day (or all night) wear.

Unlike other mattifying primers, the lightweight texture never feels suffocating on skin and helps reduce the shininess that comes with oily skin. By starting with this primer, you’ll create a beautiful and even blank canvas to build your makeup on. 

Pro Tips for Managing Oily Skin


Once you’ve found your MVP makeup primer for oily skin, it’s time to master an oily skin-friendly look. It’s still important to use moisturizer even on oily skin–the key is to find one that works for you that doesn’t clog pores. Dermatologists recommend finding products that say “noncomedogenic,” which means the formula is designed not to clog pores.

best primer for oily skin

Once you’ve applied moisturizer, use a damp Beautyblender to bounce your primer on. Avoid using your fingers since this can transfer the oil on your hands to your complexion. When you’re done, finish it off with setting spray. Since oily skin tends to melt and smear makeup over time, setting spray is a great last step to help combat that. At the end of the day, keeping your oily skin in check starts at the beginning of your beauty routine. Using the best makeup primer for oily skin is the first step to keeping oil at bay and achieving a dewy glow.

 

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