Three Editors With Three Different Skin Types Share the Primer They Love
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Ask any beauty editor and they'll tell you the same thing: primer is their beauty routine's unsung hero. Essential for a full face of makeup and natural looks alike, primer just makes everything smoother, more flawless, and more radiant. That being said, when selecting a primer to include in your own routine, you really need to look for primers that work with your skin type to provide the finish you want. The good news? You can get exactly what your skin needs for a totally reasonable price. The Putty Primers from e.l.f Cosmetics are each $8 (yes, cheaper than your venti latte) and each one is carefully formulated to answer a specific need.
The Luminous Putty Primer is infused with hyaluronic acid and vegan collagen to help plump and hydrate the skin, so it's ideal for anyone looking for just a natural, dewy glow with or without makeup. The Matte Putty Primer has kaolin and white charcoal to absorb excess oil for a shine-free finish. And the #1 Primer in America, the Poreless Putty Primer is the perfect everyday product because it comes infused with squalane to help grip makeup for all-day wear while protecting your skin from moisture loss. See what our editors have to say about their favorite primers ahead!
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Luminous Putty Primer
"I have dry skin year-round, so layering products that give me a radiant and hydrating finish is a must to combat a dull complexion. e.l.f Cosmetics Luminous Putty Primer ($8) is my go-to because it gives me a glow right off the bat. Even if the rest of my routine isn't all dew, all the time, I can rely on my putty primer to give me that luminosity I crave. Plus, it grips my foundation like nothing else, and as someone who constantly goes for full coverage, I need that power. — Jillian Selzer, social media editor
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Matte Putty Primer
"As someone with unrelenting combination skin, striking the right dewy-meets-matte balance has been a challenge. The Matte Putty Primer ($8) quickly became a go-to last summer because it miraculously kept my makeup (and frankly, my T-zone oil) in check after many a sweaty ride on the crowded subway, but I've come to love the stuff even more so now that we've been working from home these last few months. It perfectly smooths and blurs the skin with just a swipe, so I needn't apply any other base makeup to look presentable for a Zoom call. (Plus, it's not just me who loves it: our editors also awarded it a coveted Power Your Pretty award last year!)" — Kelsey Castañon, beauty director
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Poreless Putty Primer
"Since I spend a lot of my free time these days on TikTok, it makes sense that it's exactly where I discovered the magic of the e.l.f. Cosmetics Poreless Putty Primer ($8). I'm the kind of person who wholeheartedly believes in using a primer before foundation or concealer, so giving this cute pot a go felt right up my alley. As the TikTokers implied, this putty is kind of magic: it's affordable, easy to use with or without makeup at all, and blurs pores like they don't even exist. You'd be hard-pressed to find anything better." — Sam Sasso, beauty editor
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