Makeup primer is a super-thin, silky and invisible balm that, when smoothed over your face, temporarily fills in tiny creases and pores and smoothes out flaky patches. It absorbs oil, cuts shine and leaves skin velvety-smooth. Effect-wise, it makes makeup look better and stay on way longer.

You don’t need to be putting on a “full face” to use primer. It’s great under tinted moisturizer or even just a dusting of face powder. When you apply it you’ll see it leaves a lovely, velvety glaze on skin and feels nicely hydrating.

Primer works best on clean, freshly moisturized skin. Wait five minutes for your moisturizer to sink in before applying it otherwise it will slide off. Use just a pea-sized amount of primer for a thin, even layer. If you apply too much makeup will slide off, not stick. After you apply it, wait a full minute for it to dry and set on skin before getting started on your routine

Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser, a lightweight and breathable pore-blurring primer, leaves skin with a smooth matte finish and is perfect for those with oily skin. Master Prime Blur + Pore Minimize Primer is, too!

Our Maybelline MUA’s recommend Master Prime Hydrate + Smooth Primer for dry skin. Facestudio Master Prime color correcting primer comes in five variations which tackle everything from hydration to sun protection to redness.

Setting sprays are not interchangeable with primers. Setting sprays are used to "lock" in makeup and keep it looking fresh and staying smudge-free all day. Primers are used to create a smooth, friendly face base for all future makeup you apply over it.

Primer is very much like a skincare product in that it has to serve YOU. When looking for a great primer, consider your needs. Do you have oily or dry skin? Do you need help with redness or large pores? There's lots of options to help solve your needs.

Setting spray is more democratic. Much like hairspray, it's used to lock in your makeup look and doesn't reflect your skin needs in the same way primer does.

Makeup primers prep your skin by creating a smooth, even canvas to use with or without makeup.

Makeup setting sprays lock in your look, or in the case of glass skin spray, enhance it. Get complexion perfection when you start with one of our primers and finish with a setting spray.

If you're using primer and setting spray, the primer is 100% the first step of your makeup routine. Apply before foundation, before concealer, before any makeup.

Setting spray is the last step, the final misting you spritz onto your face when you're happy with your look and want to lock it onto skin tight.