9 Best Silicone-Based Primers: Top Picks for Picture-Perfect Skin

9 Best Silicone-Based Primers: Top Picks for Picture-Perfect Skin

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Makeup primers have become a product in their own category because of the varying formulations available, each with different effects on the skin.

And the use of primer with silicone-based ingredients is a rising trend among beauty enthusiasts for several reasons.

A woman is getting her makeup done in front of a mirror.

If you’re unfamiliar with silicone, continue reading to learn what it is, how silicone-based primers differ from other products, and why it might be the best option for your skin type. 

We’ve also gathered a list of the best silicone-based primers for various face concerns!

Smashbox The Original Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Oil-Free Primer
Editor's Choice
  • Proven to minimize the size of pores
  • Reduces visibility of fine lines
  • Extends makeup wear for hours
Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer
Budget Pick
  • Non-comedogenic and lightweight formula
  • Blurs out pores for a smooth matte finish
  • Fragrance-free for sensitive skin
Dermalogica SkinPerfect Primer SPF30
Premium Pick
  • Protects from UVA and UVB rays
  • Has anti-aging properties
  • Reduces the appearance of wrinkles

Now for the fun part. Here are some of the best silicone-based primers out there! Look for the one that works for your skin type and budget!

Best Silicone-Based Primers for All Skin Types 

1
Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Pore Minimizing Primer

Remove fine lines and uneven skin tone from your list of worries with Benefit’s crowd-favorite primer.

Key benefits: Lightweight formula; minimizes pores and appearance of fine lines; smoothens the skin; suited for all skin tones

Features:

  • Vitamin E derivative (tocopheryl acetate) fights UV damage 
  • Translucent formula
  • Can match all skin tones

Start your beauty regimen with a primer that instantly smoothes the skin and helps makeup stay longer.

This is a wonder product that reduces the appearance of pores and fine lines while protecting your skin.

Primers are commonly applied before any makeup product, but The POREfessional Face Primer has a translucent formula.

So when you’re having a long day and pores start reappearing midday, you can apply a small amount and blend away to maintain a flawless look!

2
The Ordinary High-Adherence Silicone Primer

If you’re into mattifying silicone-based primers, this one’s made for you!

Key benefits: Mattifying effect to reduce pores; works for all skin types; smoothes the skin to hide imperfections

Features:

  • Advanced adaptive silicones with hydrating, mattifying, and blurring properties
  • Dimethicone seals in moisture and delivers a smooth matte finish
  • Isodecyl neopentanoate with emollient and skin-conditioning qualities

What more can you ask from a primer with something to offer for just about every skin type?

This list wouldn’t be complete without a primer from social media’s favorite brand. 

By combining advanced adaptive silicones, The Ordinary High-Adherence Silicone Primer promises to rehydrate the skin while blurring imperfections with a smooth, matte finish.

A white packaging box and a silicone based primer bottle isolated on a white background

It’s also safe even for sensitive skin because it doesn’t contain alcohol. Its cream-like formula is vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, and nut-free, so you won’t have to worry about common allergens.

3
Smashbox The Original Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Oil-Free Primer

Works on all skin types, but its oil-free formula should work even better for oily skin.

Key benefits: Popular crystal-clear gel formulation; helps makeup stay for hours; instantly smoothes the skin for a flawless finish

Features:

  • Vitamin A (retinyl palmitate) promotes cell turnover and gently clears the pores
  • Camellia sinensis leaf extract aids in skin regeneration
  • Safflower seed extract is rich in antioxidants and can prevent flaking

Combines the benefits of vitamins A and E to protect and nourish your skin.

This Smashbox primer is easy to blend and does well to prep the skin for other makeup products.

But it has excellent nourishing benefits too, as it acts as a barrier to protect your skin from pollutants and further damage.

Smashbox conducted its own experiment with the participation of 103 women.

Most of them observed that the primer minimized fine lines and pores, blurred out imperfections, and delivered on its promise of a flawless finish.

Best Silicone-Based Primers for Oily Skin

4
Rimmel Stay Matte Mattifying Primer

Made to be worn for longer periods without making your skin feel heavy and greasy!

Key benefits: Reduces oily skin patches; minimizes the appearance of pores; lightweight and non-greasy formula

Features:

  • Eight-hour shine control formula for a long-lasting matte finish
  • Can be worn without foundation
  • Cyclopentasiloxane for an easy-to-spread formula that seals in moisture

Delivers a matte, velvety finish so your face instantly looks and feels smoother even without makeup.

When looking for a silicone-based primer for oily skin, your best bet is to go for products that promise mattifying effects.

But the Rimmel Stay Matte Primer goes further with a formula that won’t clog your pores.

With its eight-hour shine control formula, you can expect your foundation to stay longer on a smooth surface without having to worry about oily patches for hours.

5
Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Face Primer (Matte)

It’s the ultimate silicone-based primer for oily skin with a sebum-controlling formula.

Key benefits: Preps the skin with a smooth and matte finish; brightens the skin and balances complexion; delivers a pore-minimizing effect

Features:

  • Sebum-controlling powder to prevent oily skin patches
  • Paraben-free and cruelty-free formula
  • Waterproof and sweatproof

Its claim to fame is a “weightless” formula that you can wear for hours without making your skin greasy.

If oily skin gets in the way of your skincare and makeup regimen, waste no time and get yourself the Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Face Primer.

Along with a “weightless” formula, it features sebum-controlling properties to make sure you won’t get oily patches on your skin all day.

It prevents creasing and delivers a flawless finish by minimizing the appearance of pores.

More importantly, it’s long-wearing so you’ll worry less about touch-ups.

Best Silicone-Based Primer for Wrinkles

6
Dermalogica Skinperfect Primer SPF30

With a 3-in-1 formula that preps and protects the skin, it’s definitely the holy grail of your search for the best silicon-based primers!

Key benefits: Delivers silky and smooth finish; blurs fine lines and wrinkles; improves skin elasticity

Features:

  • Zinc oxide acts as a sunscreen and can help prevent minor skin irritations
  • Broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen for protection from UVA and UVB rays
  • Anti-aging properties

It has all the bells and whistles without skipping its most important purpose: to prepare your skin for makeup application.

Before you get lost in all its added benefits, the Dermalogica SkinPerfect Primer SPF30 is formulated with a velvet-like consistency and soy protein to smoothen the surface of your skin. 

So it blurs out fine lines and wrinkles while allowing you to evenly distribute makeup.

And thanks to its sunscreen protection and anti-aging qualities, you can wear this primer before going out into the sun — even on a bare face!

Best Silicone-Based Primers From Drugstore Brands

7
Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer

Get the best benefits from silicone-based makeup primer without ruining your budget!

Key benefits: Blurs out pores, moisturizes the skin; smooth matte finish; lightweight formula

Features:

  • Non-comedogenic formula to avoid clogging the pores
  • Fragrance-free so it’s safe on sensitive skin
  • Formulated to deliver an all-day moisturizing effect

With moisturizing, smoothing, and pore-blurring effects, you’ll definitely feel and look younger when you put this on your face.

Not only is Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer affordable, you’ll also only need a small amount or a thin layer to get its smoothing, pore-minimizing effect.

And it even comes with hydrating properties, so you can save on your moisturizer!

Its non-comedogenic formula and silicone-based ingredients also mean you can use this on any skin type.

8
TOUCH IN SOL No Pore Blem Primer

Touch in SOL’s label itself highlights its pore-minimizing effect, and it's also formulated for oily skin without leaving it dry.

Key benefits: Minimizes the appearance of pores; non-sticky formula; controls shine and sebum production

Features:

  • Green tea tree extracts to revitalize the skin
  • Soluble collagen for smoother skin
  • Free of paraben and mineral oils

You're tackling not just one but three skin concerns while creating a smoother surface for your favorite foundation!

Pores tend to be more visible on naturally oily skin. If this is one of your concerns when wearing makeup, priming your skin before applying foundation is a must. 

For best results, choose a primer with a pore-minimizing formula like TOUCH IN SOL’s No Poreblem Primer.

Aside from healthy, natural ingredients, it also has silicones to create a moisture barrier for your skin.

So while it controls oil and sebum production on your skin, it also works its magic to keep your skin hydrated.

Best Silicone-Based Primer for Dry Skin

9
e.l.f. Hydrating Face Primer

This is the go-to primer to tackle dry skin, but it does more than bring moisture to your face!

Key benefits: Improves and balances complexion to prep for makeup; moisturizes the skin without making it greasy; sheer coverage for a more natural look

Features:

  • Grape-seed oil calms the skin and evens skin tone
  • Vitamins A, C, and E moisturize, nourish, and brighten the skin
  • Tridecyl trimellitate is an emollient that helps soften the skin

A well-rounded silicone-based primer with various benefits that won’t break the bank.

This primer is aptly named for its proven moisturizing properties without making your skin oily. 

E.l.f. has also been one of the most trusted drugstore brands, so expect reliable results while staying on your beauty budget!

E.l.f. Hydrating Face Primer doesn’t compromise on the ingredients either as it’s infused with grape-seed oil and vitamins that all work together to keep your face hydrated and nourished while balancing your skin tone.

A woman is applying makeup to her face with a makeup brush.

What Is a Silicone-Based Primer?

A silicone-based primer is a makeup product that contains silicone-based ingredients like dimethicone.

It’s applied before foundation and other makeup to create a smooth, even skin surface by filling in fine lines, wrinkles, and pores.

These primers help makeup adhere better, extend its wear, and provide a blurring effect for a smoother complexion.

If you have oily skin, you’ll likely find your next favorite primer on our list.

Many silicone-based primers have a velvety or creamy texture. But overall, they’re great for improving the skin’s smoothness because they tend to deliver a matte finish.

Quick Tip

Some formulations control oil and offer hydration, but they may not be suitable for everyone, especially those with sensitive or acne-prone skin.

Always do a patch test to ensure compatibility.

silicon gel gray blue transparent cosmetic sample texture with bubbles isolated on white background

Silicone Ingredients To Look For

To determine if a makeup primer is silicone-based, you can check the ingredient list on the product packaging. Silicone-based primers typically contain specific silicone derivatives. Here are some common silicone-based ingredients to look for:

  • Dimethicone: This is one of the most common silicone ingredients found in makeup primers. It creates a smooth, silky texture on the skin and helps in blurring imperfections.
  • Cyclopentasiloxane: This silicone provides a lightweight, silky feel and helps the primer spread evenly on the skin.
  • Dimethicone crosspolymer: It enhances the texture and spreadability of the primer, contributing to a smoother makeup application.
  • Polysiloxane: Polysiloxanes are a class of silicone compounds commonly used in makeup primers to create a silky, non-greasy surface.
  • Trimethylsiloxysilicate: This silicone ingredient aids in long-lasting makeup wear by improving adhesion and staying power.
  • Cyclomethicone: It’s a volatile silicone that helps the primer evaporate quickly, leaving a smooth finish on the skin.
  • Siloxane: Siloxane is a general term for various silicone compounds used in cosmetics.

These ingredients are often listed near the beginning of the ingredient list as they are the primary components of silicone-based primers.

If you see one or more of these ingredients listed prominently, it’s a good indication that the primer is silicone-based.

Quick Tip

Other types of silicone can be easily identified by looking for their commonly used suffixes:  “-cone,” “-methicone,” and “-siloxane.” Keep that in mind if you’re looking for silicone-based products.

Knowing this can also be life-saving if you have specific allergies that require you to avoid any silicone-based primer for your face.

young happy and attractive black african American woman wrapped in towel applying makeup cosmetics using fingers putting base primer looking and smiling to the mirror in female beauty concept

Benefits of Using Silicone-Based Primers

People have been afraid to use makeup and skincare products with silicone-based ingredients for a long time.

But it’s time to debunk those myths because several studies have shown the benefits of adding silicone-based ingredients to skincare and makeup products.

Acts as a Barrier

Silicone is a well-known occlusive component. That means it has properties that act as an added barrier for the skin.

So you’ll find plenty of silicone-based primers that promise to protect your skin from environmental pollutants.

There are also silicone-based primers that are waterproof and sweatproof, which mean silicones extend makeup’s wearability.

Speeds up Wound Healing and Reduces Scarring

A study found that silicone gel mimics the occlusive function of the outermost layer of the epidermis and prevents high to extreme water loss in an open wound. 

It regulates the production of collagen cells to reduce “undesirable physical and aesthetic properties” of scarring.

Moisture Retention

While not a moisturizing agent per se, silicone’s barrier-like features help lock in products with hydrating properties.

So if dry skin is a key concern, look for silicone-based primers with the words “moisturizing” and/or “hydrating” on the labels.

Improves Skin Texture

Because of silicone’s composition and properties, it’s commonly found in products that promise to make your skin smoother and softer.

Combined with their moisture-locking abilities, silicones can reduce the visibility of fine lines, pores, and wrinkles.

A person is holding a bottle of primer on their hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

How To Properly Apply Silicone-Based Primers to the Face?

Always start with a clean face, so use your favorite cleanser and toner before applying a primer or any makeup.

Remember to apply all skincare products like moisturizer and sunscreen before the primer.

Read the primer’s label on the recommended amount per application. For silicone-based primers, it’s usually advised only to use a small amount.

Quick Tip

It’s best to apply the primer using your clean fingers to ensure you’re covering every part of your face. Also, the warmth from your hand will make it easier to spread the product.

Is There a Silicone-Based Primer Suitable for Sensitive Skin?

Some silicone-based primers are formulated to be gentle on sensitive skin and may even contain soothing ingredients. To find the best option for your sensitive skin, look for products labeled as “suitable for sensitive skin.”

Conduct a patch test to ensure it’s compatible with your skin type.

Can I Use a Silicone-Based Primer With Other Makeup Products?

Yes, silicone-based primers are designed to be used in conjunction with other makeup products.

They create a smooth canvas for makeup application, help it adhere better, and extend its longevity. Simply apply your primer before foundation, concealer, or any other makeup.

However, silicone-based primers work best with silicone-based foundations. This ensures that your makeup doesn’t separate or look patchy on your face.

Can Silicone-Based Primers Clog Pores and Cause Acne?

While silicone-based primers are often non-comedogenic, meaning they are less likely to clog pores, individual reactions can vary.

To minimize the risk of breakouts, it’s recommended to choose a primer labeled as non-comedogenic and do a patch test to ensure it doesn’t irritate your skin.

Most importantly, apply it on clean skin, and thoroughly remove your makeup before getting to bed.

A happy young woman wearing a shade of red tank top is looking at her face in the mirror while applying primer

Choose the Best Silicone-Based Primers for Your Skin Type

Despite the misconceptions about silicones, silicone-based primers offer a quick fix so we can look and feel flawless whenever we need to. And they’re the best primers for silicone-based foundations to maximize the mattifying effect.

But the fantastic characteristics of silicones can be a double-edged sword if you do not maintain a good skincare routine. 

To reduce the likelihood of clogged pores and acne breakouts, make sure you apply silicone-based makeup on clean skin and incorporate the best skin-cleansing products if you’re set on using silicone-based primers for good.

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