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When you start to notice that fine lines are settling in and making themselves at home, you should take the hint and go easy on your base makeup. Because using a lot of products on the skin just ends up magnifying fine lines. And there’s nothing “fine” about that! However, we’re not going to be held down by a couple of wrinkles and totally give up on full coverage -that’s preposterous! We’re just going to have to up our primer game. With a little help from legit primers for fine lines, we can prevent the foundation from amplifying the look of those lines.
Primers, in general, serve a perfectly reasonable purpose; they prepare the skin for foundation. They create a barrier between your skin and your makeup. In addition, they blur out pores and smooth out the skin. They make the foundation last longer. They can also turn your base into a matte/dewy finish one.
In the case of fine lines, primers even out the skin texture and kind of fill in the lines in advance. That’s what we’re looking for when shopping for a primer for fine lines.
And for a makeup primer to do that, some things are a no-brainer. You can’t rely on super thin and serum-like primers. They don’t have the necessary weight to actually make a difference in the texture of the skin. So, what is a good primer to cover up expression lines then?
Below, find the best primers to soften fine lines and get the smoothest skin for flawless makeup.
The Best Primers For Fine Lines
1. Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer
If you’re noticing fine lines, you’re likely to notice overall skin dryness as well. It happens as the skin ages. If that’s you or if you’re generally dealing with dry skin, this primer is about to make your life a lot easier! It’s infused with everything coconut water. It’ll keep the skin moisturized so that the skin doesn’t look parched, dehydrated, or flaky.
And on the surface, it’ll blur out fine lines and minor imperfections and prevent the foundation from settling inside the wrinkles. It makes the foundation glide on the skin. So it doesn’t feel like you’re sweeping a bone-dry floor with a broom. Plus, its lotion form is weightless on the skin. That’s why this one is an amazing primer to smooth fine lines on dry skin.
Key Ingredients: Coconut water, probiotics, glycerin
Skin Type: All
Size: 1.35 oz/40 ml
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free
2. Milk Makeup Luminous Blur Stick Primer
For oily skin types, pores are as annoying as fine lines. This oil-free and silicone-free primer refines the look of pores and evens out the skin texture. Instead of applying it all over, swipe the stick primer on the cheeks to cover up pores or any area you want to blur.
You can also choose to apply it to the areas where you tend to get oily. Because the primer is instantly mattifying. It’ll give you a smooth and non-greasy surface to work with without smothering the skin underneath the foundation.
Key Ingredients: Micro-powders
Skin Type: All, especially oily, combination
Size: 1 oz
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free
3. E.l.f. Matte Putty Primer
And speaking of oily skin, this drugstore primer is equally mattifying. The trick is the charcoal & kaolin combo. These two are incredibly helpful in absorbing excess oil on the skin. They reduce the shine and make sure you get a perfectly matte base.
The putty primer is easy to blend all over the skin and lays out a smooth filter. It comes out white at first but disappears into the skin as you blend. It doesn’t get any more affordable than this primer to cover up lines, wrinkles, and pores and make the foundation last longer.
Key Ingredients: Charcoal powder, clay
Skin Type: All, especially oil, acne-prone
Size: 0.74 oz
Good To Know: Cruelty-free, vegan
4. Cover FX Gripping Primer
For the longest-lasting foundation wear, this one is literally a gripping primer. It has a gel texture and a radiant finish. It gets a bit sticky at first. However, that’s exactly why it’s so good at keeping your foundation in place for hours!
Because of that, it’s not one of those primers you’d want to use on bare skin without a foundation. So, keep that in mind. Other than that, the primer puts a veil on fine lines and sticks to your foundation, and gives you absolutely flawless skin.
Key Ingredients: Algae extract, kelp extract
Skin Type: All
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Fragrance-free
5. Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow Face Primer
Oily skin or dry skin, we all love luminous and dewy skin. And we love it, even more, when we don’t have to wear foundation to get it. This primer has the prettiest finish and looks amazing on bare skin as well as through the foundation. The glow is so subtle and non-glittery that it doesn’t magnify the fine lines.
And because of the hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, squalane, and aloe, the skin feels nourished. That’s why it’s a great addition to any skincare too. The liquidy primer softens lines perfectly and gives you an elegant makeup base. It also gives you the dewiest skin for no-makeup days.
Key Ingredients: Aloe, green tea, hyaluronic acid
Skin Type: All
Size: 1.35 oz/40 ml
Good To Know: Contains fragrance
6. Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch
This one has an airy texture that’s almost like a mousse with a velvety feel to it. So, remember to get a tiny bit at first and build from there. It has a soft-focus effect on the skin. It diminishes the look of wrinkles and pores instantly. And it leaves a silky feel on the skin! It holds the foundation in place, keeps it from separating, and keeps your base matte.
Key Ingredients: Vitamin E
Skin Type: All
Size: 0.50 oz
Good To Know: Non-comedogenic
Quick Tip: If you ever forget to wear your primer before you apply your foundation, fear not. Take a tiny bit of this primer and heat it up between two fingers. Pat it gently on the areas where you want to smooth out. You can even do that over your under-eye concealer. I promise you, it doesn’t mess up the makeup, but kind of freshens it up just like a reapplication would.
7. Benefit Stay Don’t Stray 360 Degree Stay Put Eyeshadow Primer
An eyeshadow primer that doubles as an under-eye primer! Because when fine lines are concerned, eyeshadow is no longer a primary issue. We all know that a good eye cream is essential for keeping your concealer in place. Otherwise, the concealer separates and creases. And it clings onto dry and flaky patches. But this under-eye primer is going to enhance your eye makeup significantly.
It’s like a concealer that blurs out anything around the eyes; crow’s feet, fine lines on the inner corners, and below the lash line. It’s made with hydrating hyaluronic acid, and antioxidant-rich vitamins C and E. The primer smoothes the under-eye area and keeps the concealer and the eyeshadow in place for flawless makeup. Remember that if you’re particularly troubled with dark circles, you can use a color corrector before applying your concealer to cancel out any discolorations.
Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin E
Skin Type: All
Size: 0.33 oz
8. Tatcha The Silk Canvas Protective Primer
This luxurious primer is for when you have no room for surprises and your skin has to look absolutely perfect! And of course, when you can afford to. It’ll prime the face, the eyes, and even the lips to give you a refined surface to layer makeup on. The balm formula doesn’t mattify the skin but doesn’t make it dewy either.
It creates a veil of silk on the skin because it’s literally made with silk. Apply your foundation, go ahead and apply another layer, and set that with powder. It doesn’t matter because this primer will work with anything to give you your best base.
Key Ingredients: Silk, green tea extract
Skin Type: All
Size: 0.7 oz
Good To Know: Non-comedogenic, cruelty-free
9. StriVectin Line BlurFector Instant Wrinkle Blurring Primer
This primer is like a line eraser! It’s more of a silicone-based primer, so you know it’s going to be absolutely blurring. Use the lotion primer over the smile lines and forehead wrinkles where your foundation tends to separate and crease.
It’s going to have a wrinkle-filler effect and just even the surface. It also helps the foundation spread easily on the skin without filling inside the wrinkles or pores. For the ultimate second skin, this one is the best primer to cover up fine lines.
Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, vitamin E
Skin Type: All
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Vegan
10. Nars Radiance Primer Broad Spectrum SPF 35
Saved the best for last! If you’re generally unhappy with the signs of aging appearing on your skin, you know that sunscreen is a must-have in your routine! It’s the ultimate anti-ager. However, sunscreen is also the most annoying step in a full-glam makeup routine. It makes makeup application difficult and can also mess up your finished look.
For that, you’re going to LOVE this multi-tasker! It’s an illuminating primer that has SPF 35 in it for daily sun protection. So, you don’t have to add another layer of product. The texture is more liquidy, so it may not work on deep-set wrinkles. But overall, it does enhance the longevity of your makeup and gives you that radiant and youthful base.
Key Ingredients: SPF, hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5
Skin Type: All
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Contains fragrance
Related: The Best Sunscreens To Wear Over Makeup
11. Dior Airflash Radiance Mist Primer & Setting Spray
OK, we’re doing overtime now. But as someone who’s also dealing with annoying fine lines, I feel like this product is something you have to know about. Because it’s a multi-tasker and is ideal when you want to keep products to a minimum. It primes the skin, sets the makeup, and is also amazing to refresh it throughout the day.
It actually comes in shades -2 shades to be more specific. However, the shade is not like a tint but more like a sheer glow. When prepping for makeup, it leaves an airbrushed effect on the skin. And when you want to refresh your makeup, it just blends everything together again. It’s an overall super-hydrating and blurring primer for fine lines.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E
Skin Type: All
Size: 2.3 oz
So these are some of the best primers for fine lines and wrinkles. Remember, a good base is the easiest way to amplify your makeup. If you haven’t found what you’re looking for here, keep reading for the things to keep in mind when choosing a primer to cover up fine lines and wrinkles.
What To Look For in a Primer For Fine Lines and Wrinkles
Silicones
Silicones are what give the primer a silky feel. Silicones literally have a blurring effect on the skin. That’s why they’re super helpful in smoothing out textured skin and filling in wrinkles, lines, and pores.
Ingredients
Look for antioxidants like vitamin E and green tea and hydrators like hyaluronic acid and glycerin in a primer for fine lines. It’s always a good thing when a makeup product has skincare benefits. A primer becomes part of your skincare when you’re using it on mature, aging skin. And these ingredients help nourish the skin and plump up fine lines.
FAQ
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