Why you should add a primer to your make-up routine (2025)

You might be questioning whether you truly need a primer in your make-up bag, and we get it — adding another step to an already hectic morning routine can seem unnecessary. But here's the thing: these overlooked products could actually solve more than one of your make-up woes.

What does a primer do?

For those new to the concept, a primer is a product you apply after your skincare routine and before your foundation. Its main purpose is to create a smooth base and help your makeup stay in place, preventing smudging or fading throughout the day.

However, depending on the formula, primers can also offer added skincare benefits—like a hydrating boost for dry skin, brightening vitamin C for dull complexions, or mattifying properties for oily skin. Some primers also offer a blurring effect that helps to disguise areas where makeup might otherwise gather. So, choosing the right primer for your skin type is the key to making the most of this makeup-skincare hybrid.

How to use a primer

Once you've applied your skincare and SPF, apply a pea-sized amount of your chosen primer all over the face. Alternatively, feel free to apply pore-blurring, smoothing and mattifying primers only to the areas of your face that need it most. For example, the chin and T-zone.

Best primers for mature skin 2025

Luckily, there are plenty of affordable primers on the market now, as well as more luxe options that many beauty editors swear by like Charlotte Tilbury. Interested in giving one a go? Read on for our pick of the best primers for mature skin to shop now...

The packaging might seem a little futuristic, but we like the no-fuss applicator that allows you to roll the product over your face. This hydrating primer is suitable for all skin types as it adds a healthy-looking glow to any face, feels cool to apply, and provides a great base for your makeup.

It may be a splurge, but Elemis' Pro-Collagen offering is a great firming buy with a cool-feeling finish. It contains marine extracts to help smooth and tighten the skin, leaving fine lines and wrinkles appearing reduced and your complexion looking fresh.

Containing SPF50 and peptides to help condition the skin, this mid price point primer is worth the investment. It can be worn on makeup free days to give skin a radiance boost, or added to your makeup routine.

You can always rely on Olay to bring out affordable yet hard-working beauty buys. We like this day cream and primer if you want a low-maintenance option that doesn't require adding a new step into your routine. Thanks to the addition of glycerin, this non-greasy formula helps to lock moisture in the skin.

Containing vitamin E, this smoothing primer is ideal for people who like a lightweight base. It offers a blurring effect that minimises large pores, whilst also giving protection against external aggressors that dry out your skin.

If you spend a lot of time commuting or rushing about the city, then this Max Factor primer could be the one for you. Containing an anti-pollution complex, it helps to protect against the effects of blue light and contains SPF30.

Korean skincare brand Erborian has created this pink primer that boasts a creamy texture for easy application and a comfortable-feeling finish. This primer offers hydration to your complexion, leaving parched skin feeling silky soft.

A great budget-friendly buy, The Ordinary's high-adherence silicone primer is a great option for anyone new to this category of beauty buy. If you tend to wear makeup for long periods, then this buy will help to improve the longevity of your base whilst hydrating thirsty skin.

No7's offering is this Airbrush Away primer that smooths and blurs the skin. If you're looking for a primer that reduces the appearance of pores and fine lines, then this beauty helps to keep your makeup looking fresh throughout the day.

This affordable primer went viral thanks to its ability to grip onto makeup and add a soft focus effect to the skin. We love that it's suitable for all skin types and plumps the appearance of the skin, making it the perfect primer for a tired feeling complexion. What's more, its reasonable price tag makes it a great starting point for anyone new to priming their skin.

This silicone-free primer boasts an ingredient list that includes vitamin C and three types of hyaluronic acid. We love it for mature skin thanks to its radiance boosting finish that brightens up a lacklustre-feeling complexion.

The semi-satin finish on this blurring primer is one reason we love it so much. It's lightweight, making it ideal for anyone who can't stand a heavy feeling on the skin, plus it contains vitamin C to help illuminate your complexion.

This primer went viral on social media for a reason. Cutting through the noise however, we love this one thanks to its ability to really grip on to your makeup, as its very apt name would suggest. It contains a host of ingredients to hydrate your skin too, including aloe water and B vitamins.