The Best Primers for Oily Skin That Erase Pores and Unwanted Shine (2024)

If you have oily skin or large pores, adding a primer to your makeup routine is a worthy step. Primer is generally applied after moisturizer and before makeup, says Annie Tevelin, makeup artist and founder of SkinOwl.

While application is fast, the benefits are profound. A primer helps counteract the effects of excess oil by keeping your makeup in place and preventing it from sliding, creasing, or breaking down as the day wears on, says Samantha Welch, an aesthetician and makeup artist. It also helps to smooth out texture, like fine lines and large pores, she explains.

What to look for in a makeup primer for oily skin

When shopping for a primer for oily skin, look for keywords like lightweight, oil-free, mattifying, and oil control when shopping, says Welch. Additionally, avoid products with added oils, shea butter, or waxes, since these ingredients can contribute to excess oil and can even clog your pores, causing breakouts. Ahead, you'll find the best makeup primers for oily skin that reduce the appearance of pores.

This non-comedogenic smoothing primer instantly mattifies skin and reduces the look of large pores thanks to its gel texture that fills in uneven skin. The formula contains willowherb, a calming ingredient that helps reduce redness and is suitable for acne-prone skin, probiotic extracts to maintain skin's balance, and yuzu, an ingredient rich in vitamin C to help brighten overall complexion.

For less than 10 bucks, you can shop this primer that blurs the look of large pores and makes your skin look smooth and soft. It's a clear formula that blends into all skin tones. It's also moisturizing, so it doesn't take away your complexion's natural glow. You can wear it on its own to smooth skin or underneath makeup for long-lasting wear.

This innovative formula contains mattifying powders to prolong makeup wear and keep excess sebum production in check. One particular powder, snowflake powder works by scattering light to diffuse the look of texture, such as fine lines, wrinkles, or rough skin. The coolest part? It's creamy in texture so it doesn't dry out skin and it's non-comedogenic, so you don't have to worry about clogged pores.

If you're someone who notoriously becomes slick by the afternoon, you'll appreciate this travel-friendly primer stick. It's a clear balm-to-powder formula that blots oil thanks to Jeju island volcanic ash, an absorbent ingredient. The formula also contains mugwort extract, which helps to target blemishes and irritation. The results? A soft-matte finish with even skin that looks natural and healthy. You can apply it before makeup application and throughout the day for easy touch-ups.

Acne-prone skin types will appreciate this primer for its formula infused with blemish-fighting ingredients. It contains salicylic acid, a gold standard acne ingredient, saw palmetto to help balance DHT hormone, which when elevated contributes to excess oil and acne, zinc to improve the look of existing breakouts, vitamin C to brighten, niacinamide to even tone, and linoleic acid, a fatty acid that acne-prone skin lacks. You can use it underneath makeup or on its own as a treatment that smooths your skin.

For those days when you need your makeup to stay in place all day long, this formula has got you covered. It smooths uneven texture allowing your makeup to glide onto your complexion, controls excess oil production and shine, and makes skin look matte for up to 12 hours.

Keep the glow (not oil!) alive thanks to this formula that's made with light-infused pigments. It's also hydrating but not greasy, thanks to lightweight oils like corn, apricot kernel, passiflora, and rice bran. The oils also nourish and smooth skin to help reduce the look of fine lines and large pores.

This translucent primer is easy to apply and is super lightweight for easy layering, says Jordan Sawyer, a professional makeup artist in NYC. It's perfect for creating that flawless filter finish. It's also specially formulated to shrink pores—a common complaint in those with oily skin.

To keep very oily skin looking fresh all day, try this lightweight formula, says Mari Shten, a celebrity makeup artist and founder of Mari Shten Beauty. It effectively controls oil production, plus minimizes the appearance of pores. It also offers some UVA/UVB protection thanks to titanium dioxide and zinc oxide in its formula, which also helps conceal redness.

This primer leaves a smooth, even texture with a blurring effect, says Christina Marie, a professional makeup artist in Los Angeles. It's also loaded with vitamins to help nourish and protect skin from environmental aggressors and stress. The texture is silky yet oil-free, which allows makeup to glide on without causing excess oil production for those with oily or acne-prone skin.

"Many products for oily skin types make the skin dull and lackluster, but this lightweight creamy formula balances the skin perfectly without clogging pores," says Jordan Liberty, a celebrity makeup artist in New York City.