14 Best Hydrating Primers for Dry Skin, Tested by Experts

Backed by the Good Housekeeping Seal, this powerhouse makeup primer has moisturizing and anti-aging benefits: Its plumping, hydrating hyaluronic acid spheres instantly soften wrinkles and blur imperfections. After the first use, 81 percent of testers said their skin looked smoother, and more than 70 percent reported that it made their fine lines and pores look less visible in 10 minutes. One catch: We did find it somewhat hard to come by.

A cocktail of dry skin softeners such as glycerin, botanical oils (apricot, rice bran) and shea butter, this primer is top-rated on Amazon and a favorite among Reddit users. The color-correcting primer helps blur imperfections, prepping the skin for the next layer of makeup — whether you pair it with your favorite foundation or tinted moisturizer. We appreciate that it moisturizes without leaving your skin feeling greasy, and that it has an affordable price point at under $8. One five-star review calls this their favorite primer saying, "It’s lightweight on your face, moisturizing and helps your makeup stay on all day." Some Amazon shoppers do note that the primer irritated their skin and/or caused breakouts.

This bargain hydrating face primer from e.l.f. is a popular choice per Reddit and top-rated on Amazon with over 41,800 five-star reviews. It has a hydrating formula thanks to grapeseed oil and is branded as good for acne-prone, combination and oily skin types. "It keeps my skin from getting and feeling dry," one reviewer said, while another adds: "Makes my face feel so silky and smooth and makes my makeup look flawless." Note that some online shoppers found the primer to be irritating, so if you have sensitive skin, continue reading for our top pick.

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Beauty Assistant Catharine Malzahn says this primer "gives me an amazing lit-from-within glow that no other product I’ve tried can deliver." Malzahn applies the primer after sunscreen and before foundation to create an optimal blurring and illuminating effect. She has also worn the product with just powder for a classic no makeup-makeup look, and says "my skin looks super radiant and hydrated even during the drier winter months!" The product is popular among Sephora customers as well, but a few shoppers found the primer to leave their skin greasy.

A 2019 GH Beauty Award Winner, this unique primer is also a serum. Natural oils, vitamins and kiwi fruit water create an illuminating glow. It's an Amazon's Choice beauty product with five-star customer reviews calling it a "fabulous product" that's "definitely worth buying!" Aveeno says the primer is fast-absorbing, making makeup application fast and easy. You can also use the product as the final step in your skincare routine if you are using it more for its serum properties. Though it's a 2-in-1 product, it is slightly pricey.

Our experts are in the midst of testing this popular e.l.f. primer for our upcoming GH Beauty Awards, but so far consumer tester feedback has been positive. It's a go-to according to Amazon shoppers, 3,000+ of whom have left five-star reviews. Choose from eight shades ranging from fair to rich and achieve a glowing complexion. We appreciate that the product includes squalane and hyaluronic acid to help moisturize and hydrate skin. You can wear the Halo Glow on its own, under foundation or over your makeup as a highlighter. One satisfied customer writes, "It glides onto the skin effortlessly, giving a light wash of color to even out the skin tone." Some online shoppers say the primer left their skin looking oily and greasy.

Sabina Wizemann, Senior Chemist in the GH Beauty Lab, uses this 2-in-1 moisturizer and primer by Laura Geller, saying that it feels hydrating and comfortable on her dry skin. It also tightens and smooths skin for "an even foundation/tinted moisturizer application that stays put in place," Wizemann adds. Formulated for mature and dry skin, the primer contains nourishing ingredients like shea butter and jojoba seed oil, plus antioxidants to help brighten skin. The brand recommends that you apply the primer after your moisturizer and sunscreen. One online shopper shares that they had trouble dispensing the product, noting that the pump clogged.

Designed for sensitive skin, this fragrance-free primer "has been my ultimate choice for the past year," Wizemann says. It's formulated with essential fatty acids and vitamins to nourish skin and keep it healthy without causing irritation. "I like its smooth application, quick drying, and skin-plumping effects and it sets a solid base for makeup without causing a cakey appearance or accentuating fine lines," Wizemann says. The primer has a 4.7-star rating on the brand's site with one five-star review calling it "definitely my favorite beauty product." One online shopper did find the consistency to be too liquidy.

This Amazon's Choice primer is GH Beauty Director April Franzino's go-to product when she doesn't have the time for full makeup but wants a bit more polished look before heading out the door. "Its sheer tint evens tone and gives a little radiance boost and the gel-cream texture feels softening on my dry skin," she says. It contain a plethora of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and is formulated to color-correct, brighten and moisturize skin. One review notes that it was hard to get product our of the container.

Celebrity Makeup Artist Tomy Rivero recommends this affordable primer for people looking for a hydrating option "that doesn’t add any weight onto your skincare routine." While it has a thin consistency, the lightweight primer (and serum) is effective at moisturizing and smoothing skin to improve foundation application without breaking the bank. It's designed to absorb quickly into the skin and contains hyaluronic acid plus a variety of vitamins and minerals. One five-star review calls the primer an awesome product, saying that "my face looks moisturized, plump, healthy and glowy."

Rivero says this super rich primer is ideal for very dry, dehydrated skin that tends to flake. "It will deeply hydrate and replenish the skin while allowing the makeup to grab on for longer wear," he says. While it is pricey, the product has a 4.6-star rating on Sephora with close to 3,800 online customer reviews calling it a "holy grail product." We appreciate that it contains vitamins B, C and E to help replenish skin. It also has a fruity and floral scent.

Based on glycerin and shea butter, this luxurious Dior face primer is a go-to favorite of GH Beauty Lab Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D. "It seems to hydrate and plump my skin immediately and give it a soft-focus finish," she says. "This primer also has a slight tint — I usually wear full foundation, but some days I can get away with just wearing this by itself because it make my skin look so good! It has a nice after feel, too." While some may prefer a tinted primer for more coverage, this pricier option may not be the way to go if you're looking for a transparent primer.

Glo Skin Beauty's face primer contains skin-soothing plant extracts and oils like green tea, safflower and olive. "Great primer for dry skin that makes foundation apply so much easier and blends out seamlessly, making skin look glowy and healthy," one reviewer noted. The translucent primer also helps diminish the size of pores, per the brand's description. While the brand notes the primer can be used for most all skin types, it does say that it isn't formulated for very oily skin.

Over 6,000 Sephora shoppers rave about this trending Milk Makeup moisturizing gel primer and Commerce Editor Jacqueline Saguin echos the crowd's opinion. "I love the primer’s bounce-y, gel-like texture (it feels refreshing on my dry, eczema skin) and only need one pump to cover my face," she says. When used with Milk's setting spray, you're almost guaranteed to have a flawless look that stays put. We like that the primer contains hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to hydrate and smooth skin. However, some Sephora customers found that the primer made their foundation look patchy.

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