Keeping your makeup in place all day can be tricky, especially with the hot and humid climate in many parts of the Philippines. Without a proper base, your foundation and concealer may fade, separate, or slide off after just a few hours. A good makeup primer helps your makeup stay put, smooths the skin’s texture, and enhances overall wear.
Whether you have oily, dry, or combination skin, there are primers available for every skin type and need. You can find a wide selection of makeup primers on online platforms like Shopee and Lazada. In this article, we’ll guide you in choosing the best primer for your makeup routine.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
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If you have oily or combination skin, your makeup may break down faster, especially in the Philippines’ hot and humid weather. A mattifying primer helps control excess oil, reduces shine, and keeps your foundation from slipping or separating throughout the day.
Choose primers with oil-absorbing ingredients like silica, clay, or salicylic acid. These leave a smooth, powder-like finish that helps extend makeup wear. Steer clear of overly creamy formulas, which can add unwanted shine. Mattifying primers are a great choice for office workers, daily commuters, or anyone who spends long hours outdoors.
Look for primers labeled “moisturizing” or “hydrating” and check for ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, aloe vera, or panthenol. These formulas are ideal for those who prefer light coverage and want to prevent flaking, tightness, or discomfort throughout the day.
If enlarged pores or uneven skin textures are among your main concerns, a pore-blurring primer can help refine your base. These primers typically use silicones like dimethicone to fill in lines and pores, creating a soft-focus effect.
Opt for products described as “blurring” or “smoothing,” especially those targeted toward textured skin. These are ideal for events, filming, or when you want your skin to look airbrushed, as they help foundation apply more evenly and reduce the appearance of imperfections on high-texture areas.
To avoid patchiness or makeup peeling off during the day, your primer and foundation should be compatible. Here are a few tips you can consider to ensure a seamless application and better makeup wear.
Check the ingredients list for dimethicone or cyclopentasiloxane, and choose formulas labeled “long-wear,” “blur-effect,” or “smoothing.” These primers work best with silicone-based foundations and are especially suited for oily or combination skin, as well as for those who need their makeup to withstand heat, humidity, or long hours of wear.
Look for products with “aqua” or “water” listed as the first ingredient, and labels that mention “hydrating” or “refreshing.” While they may not blur texture as effectively as silicone-based options, water-based primers offer a more lightweight, skin-like finish without feeling heavy or greasy.
Search for formulas labeled “humidity-resistant,” “sweatproof,” or “16-hour wear.” These primers help prevent fading and sliding without constant touch-ups. Make sure the product is designed for tropical or high-humidity use to get reliable results, especially if your base tends to break down quickly in heat.
These are ideal for daily routines, office settings, or wearing under a face mask. For oily or combination skin, avoid sticky or heavy textures, as they may clog pores or trap sweat. A comfortable, lightweight primer keeps your base looking and feeling good all day long.
Check for ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, or hyaluronic acid to boost moisture and improve skin texture. These primers can complement your skincare routine by reinforcing hydration or protection underneath your base makeup, making them ideal for daily use.
Scroll down to learn more about the best primers for oily skin!
Features and benefits:
Users like how this primer keeps their makeup looking fresh even in hot or humid weather. It’s often praised for giving a blurred, smooth finish without feeling greasy. Some say it works especially well when paired with the Fit Me foundation, though a few note it doesn’t fully hide texture for very oily skin.
Notable Ingredients | Silica, Glycerin, Kaolin, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Isododecane |
---|---|
Oil-Free | |
Mattifying | |
Silicone-Based | |
Non-Comedogenic | unknown |
SPF | 20 |
Color Correcting | No |
Net Content | 30 mL |
Features and benefits:
Users praise its soft-focus finish and protective benefits, saying it primes well for makeup and blends effortlessly without white cast. Many appreciate its non-sticky feel and blue-light protection. A few mention packaging isn’t very sturdy, but most agree it’s a great product for oily or screen-exposed skin.
Notable Ingredients | Zinc Oxide, Octyl Methoxy Cinnamate, Titanium Dioxide, Photolyase, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides |
---|---|
Oil-Free | |
Mattifying | |
Silicone-Based | |
Non-Comedogenic | Yes |
SPF | 40 |
Color Correcting | Yes |
Net Content | 40 mL |
Features and benefits:
Shoppers say this primer effectively smooths and blurs pores while keeping shine at bay for several hours. Many note it's light and comfortable even on its own for a minimalistic look. A few mention it may flake if over-applied or can clash with water-based foundations, but overall feedback highlights its budget-friendly, pore-blurring performance.
Notable Ingredients | Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Silica, Mentha arvensis leaf extract, Jeju green persimmon extract |
---|---|
Oil-Free | |
Mattifying | |
Silicone-Based | |
Non-Comedogenic | unknown |
SPF | |
Color Correcting | No |
Net Content | 25 mL |
Scroll down to learn more about the best primers for dry skin!
The Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Hydrating Primer is a nourishing yet lightweight product that moisturizes your skin while helping your foundation last all day. It does this using grape seed oil and sodium hyaluronate, which are skin-friendly ingredients known for their hydrating abilities. It leaves your skin soft and smooth and looking flawless!
This primer's formula is also fast-absorbing, so it's comfortable to use even in humid weather. It will soften your skin, banish dry patches, and blur your imperfections for the perfect base makeup. Customers love it, saying that even though it's a hydrating primer, it has a matte finish, which makes their makeup look better.
Formulated with encapsulated oil beads, pearlescent quartz, and skin conditioning extracts, this primer will not just hydrate your skin. It will also illuminate it for a healthy glow! Plus, it can make your skin feel moisturized for 24 hours. It's also light and fast-absorbing, so your foundation can go on quickly and smoothly on your face.
This primer is packed with a dropper applicator, making it easy and hassle-free to apply. You can even use it on your makeup-free days to hydrate your face and make your skin look naturally smooth. Customers can attest to this, saying that it makes them look fresh all day. If you're looking for the best glowy primer for dry skin, this is highly recommended.
You can say that this is a hybrid product, as it's a two-in-one sunscreen and primer. It has a gel formulation that feels good and refreshing on the skin, melting into your face to blur pores and blemishes. It also has SPF 40 that offers protection against UVA and UVB rays from the sun and blue light from your gadgets.
It's infused with hyaluronic acid to ensure that your skin gets the proper hydration that it needs. And with the addition of ceramides, this product helps strengthen your skin barrier to keep moisture locked in. Since it's tint-free, it's suitable for all skin tones and won't alter your makeup even if you need to reapply it throughout the day.
Scroll down to learn more about the best primers for local Filipino brands!
Features and benefits:
Users praise its soft-focus finish and protective benefits, saying it primes well for makeup and blends effortlessly without white cast. Many appreciate its non-sticky feel and blue-light protection. A few mention packaging isn’t very sturdy, but most agree it’s a great product for oily or screen-exposed skin.
Formula Base | unknown |
---|---|
Formulation | unknown |
Suitable Skin Type | unknown |
Targeted Skin Concerns | unknown |
SPF | 40 |
Net Content | 40 mL |
Particularly for people with near-perfect skin or texture issues, users value the primer's mattifying and smoothing properties. They also mention that it works well as a base for touch-ups or makeup application. The balm side, however, is less efficient at giving a glow, according to some users, and it can feel tacky or sticky, which might interfere with layering other makeup. All things considered, it is preferred for texture refinement but less so for redness or acne mark coverage.
Formula Base | Silicone-Based |
---|---|
Formulation | Balanced |
Suitable Skin Type | Combination Skin |
Targeted Skin Concerns | Pore Minimization、Glow Enhancement |
SPF | |
Net Content | 12g |
Users find that this primer extends makeup wear while providing reliable sun protection. Its lightweight consistency absorbs fast and creates a smooth base that controls oil. Many praise its pore-blurring effect and matte finish that lasts throughout the day.
Formula Base | Silicone-Based |
---|---|
Formulation | Balanced |
Suitable Skin Type | Combination Skin、Oily Skin |
Targeted Skin Concerns | Sun Protection、Redness Reduction、Hydration、Oil Control、Pore Minimization |
SPF | 50 PA+++ |
Net Content | 30mL |
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.
Always apply sunscreen before primer. Sunscreen protects your skin, while primer preps it for makeup. Let the sunscreen fully absorb before layering on your primer to avoid clumping or sliding. This keeps your base looking smooth and ensures your skin stays protected.
Apply primer after skincare and before foundation. Once your moisturizer or sunscreen has settled, apply a thin layer of primer to areas that need oil control, hydration, or smoothing. Give it a minute to set before moving on to your base makeup. This helps the foundation glide on better and stay in place longer.
Yes, you can use primer on its own. Some primers help blur pores or reduce redness, making your skin look smoother even without foundation. Hydrating or mattifying primers can also help you feel fresh throughout the day, especially if you’re running errands or working from home.
It’s better to use an eye primer, but in a pinch, a small amount of face primer can work. Face primers aren't designed to prevent creasing on your eyelids, so you might not get long-lasting results. For best performance, especially with eyeshadow, go with a product specifically made for the eye area.
A good primer is just the beginning. Whether you’re going for a natural glow or full coverage, pairing your primer with the right foundation, sunscreen, or setting spray makes all the difference. Check out these other articles to help you build a base routine that works for your skin and lifestyle.
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
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