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7 Best Primers for Oily Skin to Keep Makeup Locked In
Face primer is essential for keeping your makeup from melting off by midday, especially in the summer. But when it comes to the best primers for oily skin, the search gets trickier. You need a formula that not only locks everything in place but also mattifies, minimizes pores, and won’t clog or irritate acne-prone skin. Also important in your search: oil-fighting ingredients. (Try cellulose and niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3 that helps balance skin tone and control excess oil.)
To find the best primers for oily skin, Allure editors tapped makeup artists for their go-tos and tested over 15 formulas that claim to mattify, smooth, and control oil. During testing, we looked at how long they kept makeup on, how well they blurred pores, and whether they truly helped curb shine. Ahead, the expert-backed, editor-approved primers that actually hold up all day.
Our Top Primers for Oily Skin
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Overall: Nars Soft Matte Primer
Why it’s worth it: Of all the formulas we tried, the Nars Soft Matte Primer came out on top because it combines everything we’re looking for in a primer for oily skin. First off, the gel-like texture is super lightweight, something we can’t say for all the mattifying primers we tested. It glides on easily, instantly knocks out shine, and smooths over pores, uneven texture, and fine lines without feeling like a film on your skin. And it doesn’t make your face look flat or chalky—as with the brand’s setting powder, it gets rid of excess oil but still leaves skin with a natural finish that reflects just the right amount of light.
During testing, we were especially impressed by how well it held up throughout the day. Like a setting spray, it kept our makeup in place from morning to night—even through sweat and oil buildup—and gave us a clean, smooth base for foundation. Plus, it somehow manages to keep skin feeling hydrated and plump (rare for a mattifying formula!).
Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai
“My skin is naturally oily, not to mention acne-prone—so I sit in the space of needing a good mattifying primer, but being worried it’ll feel heavy or occlusive. That’s never been the case with this one, which can somehow make my skin look more matte throughout the day. I recently wore it when the temperature reached the upper 90s and, on top of it, I had to wear a mask due to a cough. This primer held up like no one’s business: It kept shine from forming on my forehead and nose, and my full-coverage foundation didn’t budge until I washed it off.” —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor
- Key ingredients: rice bran extract, rosemary leaf extract, sunflower extract
- Formula: gel
- Finish: soft matte
Best Blurring: Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder
Danessa Myricks Beauty
Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder
Why it’s worth it: If you’re looking for a skin-blurring primer and tinted balm in one, the 2023 Allure Best of Beauty Award–winning Danessa Myricks Blurring Balm is basically an IRL smoothing filter. You can wear it on its own or under foundation (it even comes in a clear version, pictured above, if you prefer no tint), and it always feels lightweight and breathable, which is a big win for oily skin. The balm-to-powder formula means it won’t sit on your face and leave a greasy residue. Instead, it melts in and actively mattifies, thanks to ingredients like silicone for blurring, vegan squalane to balance oil, and upsalite to absorb excess sweat throughout the day. There’s also a dose of hyaluronic acid for hydration, because oily skin still needs moisture to keep the barrier healthy.
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Tester feedback from associate manager of audience development Melanie Curry
“I get super oily and sweaty in the summer (don’t we all?), so I need an oil-free primer that keep my makeup intact for longtime wear in the humid New York heat. Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin balm does just that—and more. What I love the most about this bb is its cream-to-matte finish and lightweight feel. Plus, a little goes a long way. So while this balm isn’t the cheapest on the market, it’ll last you a long time (like months), even if you’re wearing it every day.” —Melanie Curry, associate manager of audience development
- Key ingredients: squalane, upsalite, hyaluronic acid
- Formula: balm-to-powder
- Finish: natural-matte
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Huda Beauty Easy Blur Primer
Why it’s worth it: It’s rare to find a pore-blurring primer that’s also silicone-free, but Huda Beauty’s Easy Blur Primer is the diamond in the rough. Since some silicones can potentially clog pores and trigger breakouts, this one is a great pick for anyone with acne-prone skin as it smooths and blurs without the risk of congestion.
It also absorbs oil all day, thanks to milk thistle extract and glycerin, and gives skin a smooth, airbrushed finish under makeup. Where it really shines is in how well it fills in pores—hi, skin-smoothing polymers—even if you skip foundation entirely. Pro tip: On no-makeup days, try applying it under your moisturizer. It gives your skin a soft-focus finish that has people thinking you’re wearing a base even though you’re not.
“I have combination skin, so it’s not suuuper oily, but I always feel a little self-conscious about my pores when I skip a blurring primer. This one has become my go-to (I’m almost out, which says a lot) because it strikes the perfect balance between keeping oils at bay without making me look flat. I still get a bit of glow, but it controls end-of-day shine and gives my skin a porcelain-like finish, with or without makeup. I rarely leave my apartment without throwing a layer on my T-zone, it just makes everything look a little smoother.” —Lily Wohlner, commerce writer
- Key ingredients: milk thistle extract, glycerin, polymers
- Formula: gel
- Finish: natural-matte
Best Blurring: One/Size Oil Sucker Extreme Mattifying Alkaline Primer
One/Size
Oil Sucker Extreme Mattifying Alkaline Primer
Why it’s worth it: The most powerful of all the primers on this list, the One/Size Oil Sucker Extreme Mattifying Primer is beloved by makeup artists Christian Briceno and Dani Parkes, the latter of whom says it’s one of the only primers she’s found actually keeps the skin matte all through the day. “This primer truly grips makeup while controlling oils,” Parke notes.
Another welcome plus? It also blurs the pores so effectively that it creates a smooth base to apply your foundation or concealer, Briceno says. But don’t get it twisted—it’s not going to sap your skin of all moisture. This formula is also loaded with hyaluronic acid, which visibly plumps and boosts moisture without the shine. One thing to note? “Avoid using oil-based products on top of it, as they tend to separate from the skin and look flaky,” says Briceno.
Expert tip from makeup artist Dani Parkes
If you want another layer of oil-blocking protection, Parkes loves to spray the One/Size On ‘Til Dawn Setting Spray, which claims to be waterproof, transferproof, smudgeproof, and sweatproof for 16 hours, to lock in her client’s makeup looks.
- Key ingredients: mineral silicate complex, hyaluronic acid
- Formula: cream
- Finish: super matte
Best Lightweight: Milk Makeup Pore Eclipse Mattifying Primer
Milk Makeup
Pore Eclipse Mattifying Primer
Why it’s worth it: Who doesn’t love a good two-in-one? When it comes to makeup, we’re all about products that instantly make skin look better and deliver long-term benefits. That’s exactly what you get with Milk Makeup’s Pore Eclipse Primer. (Its sister product, the Pore Eclipse Matte Setting Spray, won a 2024 Allure Best of Beauty Award.) This lightweight, water-cream primer blurs pores and controls shine on contact, but it also packs some of the most skin care-forward ingredients of any primer on this list. Think: niacinamide to visibly minimize pores, bakuchiol to smooth texture, and lentil extract for oil control.
“Let this sit for about a minute before applying any foundation on top,” says Wohlner. “I find that it takes a sec to absorb into the skin, so waiting to apply makeup will help give it the most dramatic effect.”
- Key ingredients: niacinamide, bakuchiol, lentil extract, moonstone
- Formula: water cream
- Finish: soft matte
Most Mattifying: Benefit The Porefessional Matte Pore Minimizing Primer
Benefit
The Porefessional Matte Pore Minimizing Primer
Why we love it: If you’re after long-lasting oil control, Benefit’s The Porefessional Matte Pore Minimizing Primer is an Allure favorite. The original Porefessional Pore Primer is a classic (we were using it back in our high school days), but this newer version takes that pore-blurring power and cranks up the mattifying effect. The texture is different, too: It’s silky and a bit milky, rather than having a silicone-y slip, which makes it easy to smooth over your whole face without pilling. It leaves behind a velvety, soft-focus finish that keeps shine in check all day. Bonus: The formula is packed with skin-loving ingredients like niacinamide (spotting a theme?), oil-absorbing rosehip extract, and mineral powders to help blur large pores over time. So, the more you use it, the better your skin will look.
- Key ingredients: niacinamide, rose hip extract, mineral powders
- Formula: water cream
- Finish: matte
Best Drugstore: E.L.F. Power Grip Matte Primer
E.L.F.
Power Grip Matte Primer
Why we love it: Similar to the Milk primer, E.L.F’s Power Grip Matte Primer—a matte version of the fan-fave Power Grip Primer—has a sticky, tacky texture that holds onto makeup all day long, and Parkes is a mega fan for her oily skin clients. “The texture and feel of this primer helps your makeup last so long, and it’s super mattifying, so it reduces oil buildup throughout the day,” she says. Similar to other oil-busters on this list, its claim to fame is that it has niacinamide, which Parkes says helps clear your pores over time.
“Use this primer if you want your makeup to blend better on your skin—the soft matte finish creates the perfect smooth base for application,” Parkes says.
- Key ingredients: niacinamide, lemon myrtle blend
- Formula: gel
- Finish: matte
Frequently Asked Questions
Which primer type is best for oily skin?
According to Briceno, silicone-based primers are the way to go if you have oily skin. “They contain silicate, which helps absorb the oils in the skin, creating a smooth, grippy texture for makeup,” he says. Another bonus of silicate? It provides that velvety-looking finish that improves the appearance or pores and helps control areas of the face with excessive oil production, Briceno says. One caveat: If you have acne-prone skin, be aware that silicones can trap bacteria, so make sure to cleanse your skin thoroughly when removing it.
If you don’t see a silicone callout on the package, you’ll know that a primer is good for oily skin if the bottle has words like “mattifying” and “pore blurring,” says Parkes.
What should you keep in mind when shopping for a primer for oily skin?
“Make sure your primer pairs well with your skin-care products,” says Briceno, who prefers water-based moisturizers since they layer best with silicone primers. “They’re lightweight and absorb more easily into the skin,” he explains. If you’re using a thicker moisturizer, give it a few minutes to fully sink in before applying your primer to avoid pilling. Briceno also advises steering clear of alcohol-based products, which can overdry the skin and trigger even more oil production. Instead, he recommends gel-based formulas, which are more durable and help keep oil in check.
What ingredients should you look for in a primer for oily skin?
When shopping for a primer for oily skin, it’s important to keep ingredients in mind. Briceno recommends looking for niacinamide, which helps regulate oil and refine pores, along with oil-absorbing ingredients like silica and kaolin clay to mattify and smooth skin texture.
Silicones such as dimethicone and cyclopentasiloxane are great for blurring imperfections and minimizing the look of pores. For those prone to breakouts or congestion, charcoal and salicylic acid can help keep skin clear while controlling excess oil.
Are primers better for oily skin than dry skin?
Both skin types can benefit from primers, but there are clear differences between primers made for oily skin and options made for drier skin types. “Primers for oily skin control shine and prolong wear usually by providing the skin with a grip barrier, so the makeup stays looking fresh for an extended time,” says Briceno. On the other hand, primers for dry skin focus on hydration and provide skin with luminosity. Parkes says a hydrating moisturizer or face oil will do the job for dry skin, too. Where these two types of primers align is with their purpose: They both make your makeup look its best without the need for multiple touch-ups.
Meet the experts
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
