I’m a beauty writer, and these are the best primers

Milk Makeup’s primers (including its hydro grip) are impressive, and this pore eclipse mattifying primer is one of the best. It has a creamy texture that I like to use on areas of excessive oiliness, such as my forehead, nose and chin. I’d recommend allowing a couple of minutes for it to be dry before applying makeup as usual.

It makes an instant and dramatic difference to visibly larger pores, creates a smooth canvas for foundation and concealer to be applied on top, and keeps my makeup in place for significantly longer than usual. I needed fewer touch-ups throughout the day, and the primer didn’t pill under my favourite liquid, cream, gel or powder products.

If you’re looking for the best budget primer, I’d recommend 17’s vitamin enriched primer. It has a rich texture that’s closer to a balm than a cream, and it feels far more premium than the price tag would suggest.

The shea butter and vitamin E formula make it ideal for dry skin types, but if you have combination skin (like me), I found it worked best when I skipped using any moisturiser first, as this primer felt too heavy otherwise. It has a subtle citrus scent, which is pleasant, but those with sensitive skin may want to exercise caution. My only other gripe is that it spreads more easily when warmed up between your hands.

Danessa Myricks creates some of the most innovative and long-wearing primer formulas on the market. While its tinted blurring balm powder has a legion of fans, its universal shade is another great choice. It’s a solid balm that applies seamlessly to skin and settles down into a powder finish, making it a very effective way to control oiliness, especially around my nose.

My preferred way to apply this product is to swipe the pan with my fingers, rub them together and then smooth over my face (from the centre, with an upwards motion). However, it also came in handy as a setting powder – simply take a fluffy brush and swirl it around the pan and apply it like you would a traditional powder. It’s an easy way to touch up throughout the day.

Elf’s power grip primer is popular for good reason, and not just because it’s affordable. If, like me, you're prone to angry, red breakouts across the lower half of your face, this primer will prevent your carefully applied concealer from sliding off throughout the day. Elf’s power grip initially feels thick, with a sticky gel texture that needs to be spread across your skin.

I’d recommend giving it a few minutes before going in with your foundation – I usually use this time to fill in my brows. Think of it as a glue for your makeup. Two pumps are plenty, as any more will leave a tacky finish that’s too difficult to work with.

Saie is focused on glow-giving products, and this multi-purpose gel is great if you want a radiant, dewy complexion without your skin looking too wet. It has a lightweight gel texture, is fast-absorbing and doesn’t leave you looking greasy.

I tested the roseglow shade, which has a sheer pink payoff featuring micropearl particles from mica, which give skin a healthy glow without any glitter. I like to wear it two ways: either on the high points of my face as a highlighter, or all over for a luminous complexion beneath my foundation.

Vieve’s portfolio of primers, highlighters and complexion products offers dewy skin in various formats. If you want to have a healthy glow but no glitter, shimmer or stickiness, try the brand’s super skin nova primer.

Upon opening the jar, I was initially sceptical that it would be too balmy for my oily combination skin, but it’s actually a very thin cream with a whipped texture. It has a warm orange hue that dissipates onto skin and leaves a subtle radiance behind, without emphasising texture or pores. I’ve found myself reaching for this product on repeat.

This elegant formula feels more like a lightweight luxury moisturiser than your typical makeup primer, with a non-sticky, non-greasy creamy texture that adds a luminous but unpigmented glow, making it a great option for mature skin.

I love the addition of SPF25 and UV filters for an added dose of protection (but don’t rely on this in place of your usual suncare), and the velvety finish helped my foundation and concealer sit smoothly, especially around areas with increasing fine lines and enlarged pores on my nose.

No7’s airbrush away radiance boosting primer has a creamy texture and includes mica, which reflects light and gives a brightening, radiant finish.

It’s particularly good if your skin is looking dull or sallow, and you need a quick fix for the day. It dries down very fast, so you don’t need to spend ages rubbing it in, and it didn’t exacerbate my redness-prone cheeks. However, the sheer pink payoff may not flatter areas of redness.

Grown Alchemist’s skin defense primer has a clever gel formula that mattifies and blurs while evening out skin tone. If you’re looking to add radiance or luminosity to your complexion, this isn’t the primer for you, but it does a great job of blurring areas of enlarged pores.

I found that just a small 5p-size amount creates a smooth, even base to control oil production throughout the day. It has quite a strong botanical scent, but it caused no bother on my acne- and redness-prone complexion.