A good primer can protect your skin from the harsh effects of your environment, smooth over visible pores, and prepare your skin for makeup. From hydrating, glowy primers to those that help to minimise large pores, take some time to use our buying guide to find a primer that'll work best with your skin - we even introduce special primers that are ideal for heavier nights and hangovers.
We've searched through popular sites like Amazon, John Lewis and Boots to find you the highest-rated dry skin primers to buy here in the UK, including options for sensitive and ageing skin. Whether you'd like a drugstore bargain or to splash out on a bestseller from Too Faced or Dermalogica, you're sure to find exactly what you need right here. Moreover, we have partnered with Makeup Artist Claire Higgins for reviewing and fact-checking the article so that we can deliver you the best information.
Quick List - Top Primers for Dry Skin
bareMinerals
Long Lasting, Alcohol Free Vegan Primer With Coconut Oil
Too Faced
3-In-1 Primer and Setting Spray for Dry Skin With Aloe and Coconut
NYX
Affordable Dry Skin Primer for Wear With or Without Makeup
A qualified Beauty Therapist and Makeup Artist. I provide professional makeup services for all occasions, whether it be for a bride on their wedding day or backstage at a photo shoot. I also enjoy teaching through hosting live talks on my social media, masterclass events, and 1-1 training. My favourite style of makeup is most definitely vibrant. I love a colourful eyeshadow palette... or 10!
A recommendation service that carefully researches each product and consults with experts across many disciplines. We are constantly creating new content to provide the best shopping experience from choosing ‘cosmetics’ to ‘food and drink’, ‘home appliances’ to ‘kids and baby’ products, reaching users all across the United Kingdom.
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Claire is a qualified Beauty Therapist and Makeup Artist; she provides professional makeup services for all occasions from bridal to backstage at photo shoots. Claire also teaches masterclass events as well as 1-1 training, and when she gets the chance, enjoys sharing her expertise hosting live talks on her social media. She's a big fan of the vibrant style and loves a colourful palette... or 10!
Keep up-to-date with Claire through her Facebook and Instagram page where you can learn the latest tips and tricks when it comes to makeup application and also get inspired to try new looks!
If you struggle with visible pores try our favourite pore strips!
Glycerin is a natural moisturiser that's found in our skin, meaning that it's excellent for boosting severely dry complexions. While it's a simple moisturiser, it's highly effective and will help soften and protect the outer layer of your skin. It's also safe and gentle for those with sensitive skin, making it an excellent all-rounder!
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps nourish and protect, whilst reducing the risk of UV effects on the skin. As well as being a known skin healer, it's super moisturising and if you have mature skin, vitamin E is great for penetrating deep into the skin's surface and holds onto lipids in your face.
Help protect your face from UVs with our favourite facial sunscreens.
Choosing primers with added extracts and oils is another great way to add a boost of hydration to your skin. Coconut water is great for mildly dehydrated skin, as it is refreshing, hydrating and rich in cytokinins to give you a healthy, youthful glow - it also has anti-ageing properties!
Grape seed contains vitamin E, and help soften skin and act as a gentle moisturiser. It can also be used if you have any dark patches or scars on your face, as grape seed can help to minimise their appearance.
Finally, aloe vera, a plant with plentiful antioxidants, enzymes, and vitamins A and C, works as an anti-inflammatory to help soothe irritation. Similarly, green tea also has anti-inflammatory properties and can wake up tired skin.
Boost your hydration with these moisturisers for dry skin.
Alcohol is a popular ingredient that's frequently used by many top skincare brands. Unfortunately, while some forms of fatty alcohol are good for preserving and binding the formulas, they're not all that beneficial for everyone in their simple forms, namely ethanol, isopropyl or ethyl alcohol.
If you have especially dry and sensitive skin, it's usually recommended that you avoid alcohol-containing products as much as you can. This is because in large quantities, alcohol can destroy the sebum in your skin, drawing out the moisture and causing cracks and dryness – the opposite of what you want!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | bareMinerals Good Hydrations Silky Face Primer|30 ml | ![]() | Long Lasting, Alcohol Free Vegan Primer With Coconut Oil | |
2 | Too Faced Hangover 3-in-1 Replenishing Primer|120 ml | ![]() | 3-In-1 Primer and Setting Spray for Dry Skin With Aloe and Coconut | |
3 | Dermalogica Hydrablur Primer|22 ml | ![]() | Hydrating Primer That Fills Fine Lines and Pores | |
4 | NYX Professional Makeup Hydra Touch Primer|25 ml | ![]() | Affordable Dry Skin Primer for Wear With or Without Makeup | |
5 | Clinique Superprimer Universal Face Primer|30 ml | ![]() | Oil-Free, Spf 10 Primer for Spring and Summer | |
6 | Smashbox Photo Finish Primer|30 ml | ![]() | Skin Blurring Primer for Instagram-Ready Makeup | |
7 | The Ordinary High-Adherence Silicone Primer|30 ml | ![]() | Non-greasy and a Popular Favourite of Skincare Enthusiasts | |
8 | e.l.f. Hydrating Face Primer|14 ml | ![]() | Nourishing Primer With Vitamins A, C and E | |
9 | Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser|22 ml | ![]() | Drugstore Primer for Dry Skin to Minimise the Appearance of Wrinkles, Spots and Pores | |
10 | NYX Honey Dew Me Up|22 ml | ![]() | Hydrating Primer That Soothes Irritation and Redness |
Providing immediate and long-lasting hydration, this primer by bareMinerals allows makeup to easily glide on and stay on. It also reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and the hint of coconut oil creates a gorgeous radiating glow.
On top of all this, this natural, cruelty-free primer is rich in skin-plumping ingredients, soft hydrators, and soothing alkanes, and it even contains a dash of opalescent luminosity derived from blended minerals.
Not only does this primer act as a base for your makeup, but also as a setting spray too, as it can lock down the molecules and hold them to your skin. Also, it works as a great refresher to keep in your handbag for cooling spritzes or boosts of hydration throughout the day.
This primer can also reduce the appearance of pores to make your foundation look flawless – without the need for an Instagram filter. It also contains a micro-encapsulated tint, which offers a natural dewy glow to duller dry skin types.
You can wear it with makeup or without for an au naturel look, but either way, you're sure to love the intense hydration of this super-affordable product. Customers frequently comment on the effectiveness of the added moisturisers, and how they could certainly see a great difference after use.
Plus, it has an SPF of 10 for added protection on top of your regular daily sunscreen. It's an oil-free serum with a lightweight texture so you won't be left with any residue or clogged pores, yet you'll still feel adequately moisturised.
Added green tea leaf extract provides an energising boost that cools down the surface of the skin, while creating a velvety-smooth finish. Many reviews from customers also claim that their skin started to soften after consistent use.
This primer contains silicone which can sometimes clog your pores. Although, if you have dry skin it should just slide right over the top. The texture is non-greasy and it feels light to touch, working great as a base for your makeup or just as a highly-effective hydration boost.
It may only be 14 ml in size but it is still quite affordable, making it quite the bargain if you'd like to try out a new, effective primer without splashing too much cash. Although it can be a bit greasy on the skin, so use sparingly.
Whilst this product is super-smoothing, we were disappointed to see that it is not a cruelty-free product, nor are the brand. If you prefer to support animal-friendly companies, take a look at some of the other primers on our list.
This product will prep and prime your face for seamless makeup application. Although while it is rich in moisturising ingredients such as glycerin, it does contain alcohol which might not be the best solution for those with combination dry and sensitive skin.
After applying moisturizer and letting it set into the skin, apply a pea-sized amount of primer. Begin applying the primer with the tips of your fingers, from the center of the face (T-zone) and blend outwards towards the cheeks, chin, and hairline, building up more product as needed. Then, wait at least one minute for the primer to properly set before going in with the next product.
Written and researched by Annie Speight
No. 1: bareMinerals|Good Hydrations Silky Face Primer|30 ml
No. 2: Too Faced |Hangover 3-in-1 Replenishing Primer|120 ml
No. 3: Dermalogica|Hydrablur Primer|22 ml
No. 4: NYX|Professional Makeup Hydra Touch Primer|25 ml
No. 5: Clinique|Superprimer Universal Face Primer|30 ml
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