Airbrush imperfections and enlarged pores with a blurring primer

If you know what you're doing, makeup has the power to make magic. It can alter your features and define those you wish to emphasise too.

But there are also makeup products that possess their own magic qualities and promise a photoshopped finish so perfect it's almost hard to believe.

Introducing: blurring primers. The ultimate secret weapon for smoothing over skin texture and creating a flawless makeup base.

Keen to become acquainted? Keep reading to discover BEAUTYcrew's top picks for the best blurring primer...

2024's Top 3 Best Blurring Primers

1. e.l.f Putty Primer, $17, Adore Beauty
2. L'Oréal Paris Prime Lab Up Primer, $17, Big W
3. Benefit The POREfessional Primer, $63, Adore Beauty

e.l.f Poreless Putty Primer
from $17 at Adore Beauty

As the name suggests, this silicone-based primer helps to flawlessly diminish the appearance of pores for a smooth, even base that grips to makeup for a long wearing finish. The formula has also been enriched with hydrating squalane to ensure comfortable wear that lasts all day. 

Key features:

Silicone-based primer
Infused with hydrating squalane
Smooth, velvety texture
Grips makeup for a long wear finish
Minimises the appearance of pores

Available at:

• $17 from Adore Beauty
• $16.20 from ASOS
• $22 from Priceline

L'Oréal Paris Prime Lab Up Primer
from $17 at Big W

This pore-minimising primer from L'Oréal marries together pore-filling silicones and pore-minimising skin care ingredients to simultaneously perfect the complexion immediately and over time. 

Key features:

Hybrid silicone and skin care based formula
Soft-focus filler complex burs pores and reduces the size of pores with continued use
One per cent AHA, LHA and BHA complex gently removes dead cells and brightens skin
Promises flawless makeup for up to 24 hours after application

Available at:

• $17 from Big W
• $26.99 from Oz Hair & Beauty
• $28.99 from Chemist Warehouse

Benefit The POREfessional Primer
from $63 at Adore Beauty

This complexion-perfecting primer contains smoothing silicones that help to create a flawless, even complexion that looks just as good worn alone as it does under makeup.

Key features:

Silicone-based primer
Non-comedogenic
Smoothing and perfecting
Lightweight, long wear formula
Can be worn alone or under makeup

Available at:

• $63 from Adore Beauty
• $63 from Sephora
• $63 from MYER

NYX Professional Makeup Plump Right Back Primer & Serum
from $17.97 at Priceline

If traditional silicone primers tend to dry your skin out, then we suggest giving this skin care infused pick from NYX a go. It contains a blend of hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, pro-vitamin B5, magnesium and potassium to help plump fine lines and wrinkles, minimise the appearance of pores, brighten the complexion and hydrate the skin. 

Key features:

Skin care infused formula
Contains hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, pro-vitamin B5, magnesium and potassium
Plumps fine lines and wrinkles
Unifies and brightens skin tone
Leaves skin feeling hydrated 
Minimises the appearance of pores

Available at:

• $17.97 from Priceline
• $25.99 from Chemist Warehouse
• $29.95 from Adore Beauty

Revlon PhotoReady Prime Plus™ Primer Perfecting & Smoothing
from $32.95 at Priceline

Revlon combines the plumping and hydrating benefits of vitamin B5 and hyaluronic acid with the pore-smoothing powers of a silicone primer to create a formula that not only provides immediate skin-perfecting results, but it also improves the appearance of skin over time too. 

Key features:

Hybrid silicone and skin care based primer
Contains vitamin B5 and hyaluronic acid
Smooths over pores and imperfections
Improves the overall appearance of skin over time 

Available at:

• $32.95 from Priceline
• $32.95 from Big W
• $32.95 from MYER

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Hydrating Primer
from $29 at Sephora

Formulated with normal to dry skin types in mind, this hydrating, skin care-infused primer contains grape seed oil and hyaluronic acid, which work in unison to hydrate, soften and smooth skin. The result? A lightweight, filter-like blurred finish that lasts all day.

Key features:

Skin care infused hydrating formula
Contains grape seed oil and hyaluronic acid for hydration and a soft, silk finish
Softens skin
Smooths dry patches
Leaves skin with a filter-like blurred finish
Lightweight

Available at:

• $29 from Sephora
• $29 from Fenty Beauty

What does a blurring primer do?

A seemingly unnecessary product to some, blurring primers claim to, not only prep your face for other makeup products, but also smooth over imperfections and pores, blurring any perceivable flaw to the naked eye. And although your first instinct may to be to question if blurring primers even work in the first place, it would be the wrong question to ask, because it's not a matter of if they make good on all the things they promise — it's how they do it. 

There are three categories of blurring primer; the first uses silicones (such as dimethicone) to fill in pores and fine lines to create a smooth, untextured base for makeup, while the second contains light reflecting particles to diffuse the appearance of the skin. Finally, the third uses skin care ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and more to plump fine line and wrinkles, unify skin tone, and minimise the size of pores. 

There are benefits to all three categories of blurring primer depending on your skin type, personal preferences and needs, but there are a handful of blurring primers that separate themselves from their peers, boasting top-rated formulas that are beloved the world over.

Main image credit: @madelyncline

The natural next step in your base makeup routine? A long wear foundation. These are BEAUTYcrew's top picks in the category.