The 7 Best Pore Minimizing Primers With Blurring Effect, Tried, Tested & Approved

Best Overall

bareMinerals Foundation Primer

$33

$29 at Amazon $33 at Ulta $22 at Macy's

Size: 1 oz | Key Ingredients: Agave Tequilana leaf extract, silica, citric acid | Finish: Matte | Base: Gel | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This 24-hour-wear primer from BareMinerals was awarded our best overall pick due to its superior application, texture, and hold beneath foundation. Our tester Ashley loved how exceptionally smooth it felt on application, and she noted it created no pilling whatsoever — a common issue with some primers.

She found that she could wear it alone on bare skin or layered beneath liquid foundation, tinted moisturizers, or BB creams. In terms of her pores, Ashley noted that it created a smoothing effect without leaving her skin feeling clogged. The primer also applies like a silicone gel, so it feels silky smooth, with zero tackiness or stickiness, and it has a nice slip to it. It creates a matte finish, so it is ideal for those with combination or oily skin who find it hard to get their makeup to stay put.

While Ashley said this primer did not take away the visibility of her pores entirely, it certainly helped in shrinking their appearance and controlling excess oil and shine within her T-zone area. She also reported that on the days she wore it with makeup, her skin looked smooth the entire day, and not as oily as on days when she didn’t wear the primer. It’s also cruelty-free and suitable for vegans.

Best for Acne-Prone Skin

Benefit Cosmetics POREfessional Face Primer

$36 at Amazon $59 at Sephora $59 at Ulta

Size: 0.75 oz | Key Ingredients: Dimethicone | Finish: Matte | Base: Gel | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Benefit Cosmetics’ The POREfessional matte primer has long been a bestseller, and its popularity has held steadfast for very good reason. Our favorite option for acne-prone skin, this oil-controlling primer significantly minimizes pores and keeps makeup looking smooth throughout the day.

Our tester Erica found that the primer helped to reduce the look of her pores while giving her skin a more even appearance. These results also held through an 8-hour workday and a wedding outside in the NYC heat. She reported that not a single line or pore was noticeable until her makeup was removed at the end of the day, even after an evening of dancing.

She also loved that while this product has a mattifying texture, it did leave her skin feeling hydrated. It does go on slightly tacky initially, however, so she suggests leaving it a minute or so before applying foundation or tinted moisturizer.

Best Budget

e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer

$11 at Amazon $11 at Ulta $11 at Target

Size: 0.74 oz | Key Ingredients: Kaolin clay and white charcoal | Finish: Matte | Base: Putty | Cruelty-Free: Yes

You don’t have to spend lots of money on makeup to get a great result, as this primer from e.l.f. proves. Our tester Sarah rated it highly thanks to its lightweight texture, ease of application, and lack of fragrance, which worked well on her sensitive skin.

Sarah found that the primer went on incredibly smooth and rubbed in seamlessly. It also blended well under makeup and didn’t cause any patchiness or unevenness with her foundation. She also didn’t experience any pilling. It didn’t completely remove the look of her pores, but it did blur them without causing any congestion.

This primer has a slightly satin finish rather than totally matte, so it’s a good option for a drier skin type. While she would have liked to have seen a more noticeable difference where her visible pores were concerned, Sara still rates this as a solid budget option to help keep makeup in place all day.

Best for Oily Skin

L'Oréal Paris Prime Lab Pore Minimizer Primer

$17

$13 at Amazon $13 at Target $18 at CVS

Size: 1 oz | Key Ingredients: AHA, BHA, LHA | Finish: Matte | Base: Lotion | Cruelty-Free: No

Featuring an AHA, LHA, BHA complex, this pore-minimizing primer from L’Oréal is formulated to refine the look of the skin and create a blurring effect. But how did it fare during our meticulous testing process?

Our tester Melody has oily/ combination skin, so she likes primers to reduce the oil and the appearance of her large, visible pores. She found that this product went on well without any pilling, and it did a good job of reducing the look of her pores. It also left a silky, matte finish that created a good base for foundation.

Melody also found that by applying the primer, her foundation stayed put throughout a long day, and it stopped makeup from settling into her pores and fine lines. It does leave an initial white cast, but this disappeared once foundation was applied. She loved it so much; in fact, she plans to replace her current go-to primer with this one.

Best Hydrating

Refy Blur and Hydrate Oil-Control Face Primer

$36 at Sephora $36 at Refybeauty.com $29 at Selfridges.com

Size: 1.4 oz | Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, shea butter, pullulan | Finish: Matte | Base: Gel to cream | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you feel like your skin loses moisture throughout the day, this primer from REFY can help. Not only does it extend the life of makeup, but it also keeps the skin feeling protected and hydrated.

Our tester Cortney has a dry yet congestion-prone skin type, which can be hard to manage when choosing makeup products. She found that this primer was lightweight and went on smoothly without creating any pilling. It also left a pillowy soft and hydrating finish which minimized the look of pores and fine lines while keeping the oilier parts of her face matte.

Cortney said she would have liked the primer to have reduced the look of her pores more than it did, and she felt that it left a noticeable film on her skin, so this is a product best used beneath a foundation rather than worn alone. Overall, though, she plans to continue using the product, and she loved the soft, hydrating base it created.

Best Lightweight Formula

Tatcha The Liquid Silk Canvas

$55 at Amazon $55 at Sephora $55 at Ulta

Size: 1 oz | Key Ingredients: Fibroin, sericin, and silk powder | Finish: Matte | Base: Liquid | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you want a primer that controls oiliness while still leaving a bit of dewiness, try this pick from Tatcha. Not only does it create a blurring and smoothing effect, but it also protects the skin from pollutants in the environment. Pores and fine lines are also diminished with the help of Fibroin, Sericin, and Silk Powder.

Our tester Shannon tested the primer in her everyday life and found that it got rid of the shininess she usually experiences a couple of hours after applying her makeup. She also loved how smooth it made her makeup look and the longevity it gave it throughout the day.

It does need to be rubbed in properly to avoid leaving white marks, but Shannon reported that its lightweight cream texture doesn’t feel tacky or sticky. She recommends this for anyone who experiences shine after applying makeup but wants to maintain the glowy finish of dewier foundations and tinted moisturizers.

Best for Heat and Humidity

Fenty Beauty Blurring Primer

$37 at Sephora $37 at Ulta

Size: 1 oz | Key Ingredients: Maple sap extract and chia seed extract | Finish: Matte | Base: Liquid | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Fenty Beauty’s mattifying and blurring primer is designed specifically to stand up to the challenges of humidity, making it a must for the summer months. Silicone-free, it’s formulated with chia seed extract to control excess oil on the skin and maple sap extract to grip the primer to the skin and extend the life of makeup.

Our tester Cam was impressed by how well this product helped her makeup stand up against both New York humidity and air-conditioned office air. Upon application, it instantly reduced the appearance of her pores, specifically in the T-zone area. Her skin barely broke a sweat — even in 90-degree weather. Her blush faded a bit quicker, around four hours after she placed it on top of the Fenty primer. But she found that on a less hot and sweaty day, her makeup was able to last a couple of hours longer. Overall, her face felt protected against the elements.

A small issue was that Cam noticed the primer left a bit of a white cast if she forgot to apply moisturizer before using. So be sure to hydrate the skin for best results.