Sunscreen tops all other products in our beauty routine, because it’s easier to prevent damage than reverse it. Last week, I posted about some of the best options for makeup with SPF, including tinted moisturizers and super lightweight foundations for summer that are perfect to give your sun protection an extra boost.
NEW POST: The Best Drugstore Primers With SPF 2024
Image credit: Olay
Today, let’s talk about best drugstore primers with SPF that not only help your makeup go on smoother and last longer but also give you an additional layer of protection against sun damage. As I said before, the more the merrier when it comes to SPF!
Ahead, I’ve rounded up the best drugstore primers with SPF that smooth skin, blur imperfections and prolong makeup wear while defending against UV damage. There’s one for every skin type in this list, whether you have dry, oily or acne-prone skin.
1. Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Mattifying Primer SPF 20 ($5.98)
This new mattifying primer by Maybelline is an amazing & affordable option for oily and combination skin! It smooths skin texture, lightly blurs pores and controls shine for a matte finish while helping your makeup stay put. Not only does this primer enhance the overall look of your makeup but also keeps the grease and shine in check.
It can be worn with or without foundation for a smooth matte look. However, you can’t rely on this primer as your only sunscreen. Even though it provides broad-spectrum SPF 20, that’s below the standard recommendation for sunscreen which is at least SPF 30.
2. NYX Bare With Me Cannabis Sativa Daily Moisturizing Primer SPF 30 ($17)
Infused with Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, this lightweight primer smooths onto skin without any greasiness and preps skin for flawless makeup application. It also provides soothing hydration without being heavy or tacky and broad-spectrum SPF 30 protects against both UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays. The non-comedogenic formula dries transparent, no white cast or flashback. Cruelty-free.
3. Milani SPF BFF SPF 30 Face Primer ($12.99)
Smoothing and lightly hydrating, this SPF-infused primer creates an even canvas for applying makeup and extends its wear time too. It dries to a soft matte finish that’s not at all tacky or chalky. Even better, the formula is enriched with antioxidants and moisture-rich glycerin along with broad-spectrum sunscreen. Fragrance-free, vegan and cruelty-free, it’s great for normal to dry and combination skin.
4. Pacifica Mattify & Protect Daily Priming Lotion SPF 35 ($15.22)
Designed especially for oily skin, this sheer primer leaves skin perfectly prepped for smooth makeup application while providing broad-spectrum SPF protection and skin-brightening benefits (with vitamin C and Niacinamide). The formula contains oil-controlling ingredients and dries to a smooth matte finish that plays nicely with makeup. It can also be used without makeup for its suncare + skincare benefits.
5. Maybelline Face Studio Master Prime Blur + Defend Primer SPF 30 ($7)
This light pink primer has a satiny-smooth feel and blurs the appearance of pores while helping makeup glide across skin more easily. The formula isn’t the least bit heavy or greasy but sets to a slightly pearlescent finish, making it best for normal to dry and combination skin (those with oily skin might find this emphasizes shine).
Plus, it offers SPF 30 but not broad-spectrum so you need to use it with an actual sunscreen or daily moisturizer with SPF to ensure adequate sun protection.
6. Bliss Block Star Invisible Daily Sunscreen SPF 30 ($20)
Although this is a sheer mineral sunscreen, it also works really well as a pill-free makeup primer with SPF. Super lightweight and silky, the silicone based formula has a pore-blurring primer like texture that helps blur imperfections on the skin (there’s no coverage though!) It has a subtle tint that blends in easily on almost all skin tones without any white cast or chalkiness.
Once blended out, it has a smooth matte finish that layers beautifully under makeup sans pilling! Suitable for all skin types, this sunscreen is also boosted with an antioxidant blend to provide an extra layer of protection from environmental stressors. Non-comedogenic, cruelty-free and vegan.
7. Revlon ColorStay Prep & Protect Primer SPF 34 ($8)
This smoothing primer creates a shine-free base for makeup with a soft matte finish and helps it last longer as well. It’s also lightly hydrating without a heavy feel and shields skin with broad-spectrum SPF 34 protection. Even better, the formula is fragrance-free and also includes some antioxidants. This primer has a slight beige tint that can be an issue for deeper skin tones when worn alone (the slight white cast isn’t noticeable when you wear foundation over it).
8. Olay Sun Facial Sunscreen + Makeup Primer SPF 35 ($11)
True to its name, this product protects like a sunscreen and preps like a primer. Between the barely-there feel and non-drying matte finish formula (oil-free), this one is suitable for all skin types. It feels like nothing on skin, yet loaded with antioxidants Niacinamide, green tea and vitamin E for additional anti-aging benefits besides SPF. You can check out my full review here.
There’s also another option called Olay Sun Facial Sunscreen + Shine Control Broad Spectrum SPF 35 that’s nearly identical to the primer version but feels a bit more matte and absorbs excess oil so you won’t turn you into a greaseball by lunchtime. This one is best for combination to oily and acne-prone skin.
9. Physicians Formula Natural Defense Primer Oil SPF 15 ($10)
This is a lightweight, fast-absorbing primer oil that hydrates and smooths skin for makeup application while adding a healthy glow. Despite being an oil, it doesn’t feel or look greasy! That said, in summer time, this would be best only for dry and mature skin types that need more moisture but in winter this would be a great option for anyone experiencing dryness.
Infused with broad-spectrum SPF 15, it also defends against harmful UV rays and blue light but that’s below the standard recommendation for sunscreen which is at least SPF 30.
So, these are the best drugstore primers with SPF that make it easy to squeeze in an extra dose of sun protection for summer and all year round!
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