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The best illuminating primers for glowing skin, tried and tested
Achieve flawless dewy results, whatever your skin type
Tested by Maria KumarBeauty and Grooming Testing Manager
If you’re looking for a flawless finish (that’ll be all of us then!), an illuminating primer could be the step your routine is missing.
Primers work by smoothing and evening out skin tone, creating the ideal base for applying foundation. The best illuminating primers go one step further, adding more of a radiant glow with the clever use of subtle luminescent particles. It can be a particularly useful product for brightening mature skin and can provide a little extra confidence on non-makeup days too.
The best illuminating primers
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To help you decide which one to add to your beauty kit, the Good Housekeeping Institute recruited a panel of 180 testers across a range of ages, skin tones and types to try a range of the market-leading primers and give us detailed feedback on how effectively they sat under makeup and kept them looking fresh all day. We've also included some of our editors' top picks below – these are the latest releases our team have tried and loved.
Save face with one of our best illuminating primers.
Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer
Score: 93/100
Part of the brand’s silicon-free “Pure Canvas” primer collection, this water-based formula is an excellent all-rounder. Our panel found it smoothed the skin's texture, creating an ideal base for even makeup application.
Testers reported that their complexions felt brighter, resulting in a radiant, natural-looking glow. And at 50ml, this one was the largest tubes in our round-up.
Key specifications
| Type | Water based |
|---|---|
| Size | 50ml |
Score: 92/100
Although one of the more expensive products we tested, this was the only primer that offered a choice of seven shades. Soothing, smoothing and hydrating, our panel found it easy to apply and mix with other products, providing a nice glow without looking glittery.
Panellists also praised the quality packaging, handy pump dispenser and subtle scent. Blending into skin easily, it gave a healthy-looking dewy finish, making it useful on makeup-free days too.
Key specifications
| Type | Water-based |
|---|---|
| Size | 30ml |
Score: 86/100
This water-based primer is infused with oil beads, which are designed to dissolve in warm hands — something some of our panel initially struggled with.
However, once they’d got the knack of applying it, they found the formula gently illuminating without being shiny. Skin felt softer and more even and it created a subtle glow under foundation — particularly highlighting the cheek area.
Key specifications
| Type | Water-based |
|---|---|
| Size | 30ml |
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Blur Primer
Score: 86/100
Inspired by the iconic Touche Éclat concealer pen, this makeup-perfecting primer claims to have the same brightening effect. Filling in pores and smoothing the skin's texture, our panel found the gel formula sank in quickly, ready for foundation application.
One tester described it as having a “luxurious velvet” texture, while another said it had a “glass-like” effect. Adding a slight shimmer, everyone agreed that skin looked brighter and more radiant after use.
Key specifications
| Type | Silicone-based |
|---|---|
| Size | 30ml |
Score: 80/100
Evening out skin tone and discolouration, this fast-absorbing, golden formula provides an intense glow — so go easy for a more subtle sheen. Testers found the pearlescent nature best suited to highlighting the cheeks, as opposed to using all over.
Key specifications
| Type | Water-based |
|---|---|
| Size | 30ml |
Score: 77/100
If you're looking for a subtle dewy glow, MUA's primer oil left testers' skin with a lovely, light-reflecting finish. It also scored highly for its smoothing texture and our panel loved how “radiant” their skin looked after use.
Some found the consistency a little greasy, so it may be best for drier skin types in need of a bit of extra hydration. Overall, the panel loved the illuminating formula, although not everyone was on board with the gold flakes.
Key specifications
| Size | 15ml |
|---|---|
| Type | Silicone-based |
Score: 72/100
This fast-absorbing gel formula was praised for being hydrating, while a little drop goes a long way, making it good value for money.
It was easy to layer under foundation and the majority of our testers found it kept their makeup looking fresh for longer. The illuminating effect wasn't quite as strong as other products on our list, so it's better suited for those looking for a more natural glow.
Key specifications
| Type | Water-based |
|---|---|
| Size | 30ml |
Editors' picks
This primer makes sure your mascara, glossy lip and glam look stay put, thanks to its ultra-grippy properties. The sticky formula glides onto skin and only needs 30 seconds to settle before you can apply your base makeup on top. It’s smoothing, hydrating, and keeps your makeup looking fresh and dewy throughout the day. There’s a good reason why it’s one of the brand’s bestselling products.
It’s multipurpose too – people on TikTok have been spraying it on their neck and wrists, alongside their perfume, to make the scent last longer. Luckily, the brand recently released a jumbo version to make this versatile primer go further.
Packed inside this glam glass pot is a formula full of skin-enriching ingredients, ideal for layering underneath makeup. Shea butter and hyaluronic acid are the most moisture-locking heroes of note, providing long-lasting hydration throughout the day and stopping makeup from drying out and looking crusty.
The primer adds a gleam and glow to all complexions, so it’s even great for wearing on no-makeup days as a moisturiser.
How we test primers
The Good Housekeeping Institute asked 180 women across a range of ages and skin tones to put 15 illuminating primers to the test. They tried them for a minimum of two weeks, giving us feedback on ease of application, texture, finish, design and, most importantly, how effectively they help makeup in place.
Why trust the Good Housekeeping Institute?
We’ve been testing products for over 100 years here at the Good Housekeeping Institute, exactly as you use them at home, so we know what separates a great buy from a disappointing one. We test all the buzziest new beauty launches in our lab, analysing their ingredients and assessing their claims, from the best retinol to the best hot brushes.
Our beauty testers have chemical science qualifications and have worked in product development so know what goes into a top-performing primer, while our beauty editors have written about hundreds of skincare, haircare and makeup products and have been hands on with all the most iconic and innovative buys on the market.
Who should use an illuminating primer?
"An illuminating primer can suit all skin types but is particularly great for lacklustre complexions,” explains Dr Sonia Khorana, dermatology ambassador for Hero Cosmetics.
It can help to smooth and even out a flat skin tone, giving you a brighter, glowing appearance.
Those with oily skin may prefer to choose a matte primer to help tackle shine.
What causes dull skin?
If you're prone to dull skin, at best your complexion lacks radiance, at worst it can look dehydrated and even grey. While glow primers can go a long way to boosting skin's appearance, it’s important to consider the underlying causes.
According to Dr Khorana, dullness can be down to a variety of factors, including inadequate sleep, lack of exercise, too much screen time, an unhealthy diet, environmental aggressors, a build-up of dead skin cells and natural ageing.
While we can control lifestyle factors such as diet and lack of sleep, cell turnover will naturally decrease with age. “As we get older, our skin cell cycle gets slower, which results in an accumulation of dead skin cells that can make your complexion look dull,” Dr Khorana explains.
UV damage can also accelerate the breakdown of skin collagen, contribute to dull looking skin and increase premature signs of ageing, which is why you should never skip your SPF.
British weather isn’t on our side either. “Dry skin during the autumn and winter months when the air holds less moisture can also make skin appear lacklustre,” says Dr Khorana.
Water-based vs silicone primers
When selecting the right primer for you, there are two formulas to consider. Lightweight water-based primers offer hydration without clogging, making them best suited to dry, sensitive or acne-prone skin.
However, if your foundation is silicone-based, you’ll want a compatible silicone primer. Slightly more mattifying, silicone-based formulas are recommended for oily skin.
What order to apply primer in
Primer should be the last step in your morning skincare routine. For the best results, apply with your fingertips. Here's a quick reminder of the order we should be applying our products in:
- Cleanser
- Toner
- Serum
- Eye cream
- Moisturiser
- SPF
- Primer
- Makeup
The verdict on the best primers
Our winning primer, the Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Illuminating Primer was the ultimate smoothing, hydrating and radiance-enhancing product, based on our testers’ feedback. The generous 50ml means you won’t run out anytime soon, either.
For a particularly long-lasting finish, you may want to invest in a luxe option such as the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Blur Primer. Our testers loved how much it hydrated skin, leaving it looking glowy and feeling velvety soft.
If you’re after something a little more budget, the Revlon Photoready Rose Glow primer was well-received by our panel for its illuminating properties. At the time of writing, it’s £10, so you really can’t go wrong.
Florence is our Senior Beauty Writer, specialising in expert-tested beauty and grooming reviews — from toothbrushes to the latest skincare launches. She’s committed to sharing recommendations for products that truly work and make people feel confident and healthy. Prior to this she was at Tropic Skincare, where she worked closely with biochemists in the lab, delving into the functions of each fresh, natural ingredient and conveying its efficacy to her audience in easy-to-digest terms.
With over five years’ experience in beauty and health journalism, Florence has written for ELLE, Women’s Fitness, Sister Magazine, National Geographic Traveller and many more, with a strong sustainability angle thread through much of her work.
When she isn’t packing for a trip away, working out, eating out or reading up on retinol serums, you’ll probably find her experimenting with her film camera and building her portfolio of portraits. Florence’s photography can be found at florencereeves-white.com, her Instagram is @florencereeveswhite and her twitter is @floreadsnwrites
Madeleine is our Lifestyle Writer, specialising in expert-tested reviews and round-ups on the latest beauty Beauty and Health & Wellness products. From skincare to protein powders, Maddie is committed to providing honest and helpful reviews to help guide readers to the best product for them. Maddie has a BA in English Literature and Language, which stemmed from her lifelong interest in reading and writing. She started her post graduate life at Hearst UK within a marketing capacity, which quickly turned into a desire to fulfil a writing career.
When she is not writing about the latest expert reviewed products, you can find her rifling through vintage shops or car boots, reading a print magazine, or capturing portraits on her film camera.
Maria is our Beauty and Grooming Testing Manager, and since joining in mid-2022, she has managed the testing for mutiple categories including scalp scrubs, collagen supplements and retinol serums. In addition to her master's degree in chemical engineering and a diploma in cosmetic science, she recently received her MBA from the London College of Fashion, focusing on case studies within the beauty industry. Prior to joining the company, she worked within the global technical team at the Estee Lauder Companies for over six years, collaborating with the chemists and engineers to launch luxury beauty products at scale and to quality. She has also worked as a formulation scientist within the pharmaceutical industry and takes this evidence based approach into all her product testing.
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