Let’s Talk about Texture, Baby: It's all about the primers!

We first noticed the fine lines under our eyes. Then, suddenly, it was all — BAM! — forehead wrinkles. Sun exposure, dehydration, breakouts, and just plain getting older can all contribute to texture issues. Whether we’re not drinking enough Evian or we’re blowing out more candles than we used to, there’s an over-the-makeup solution for you. These tried-and-true favorites can be used under foundation as primers, but the best part is that they can travel with you and be used for touch-ups and emergency situations without disturbing your painstaking foundation application.

Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch

Housed in a classic little Clarins-red pot, this bad boy travels with us everywhere. Smile lines looking prominent? Dab a tiny amount of this in your problem areas and blend. Makeup caking? No problem. Blend this into the offending area for a smooth, poreless base.

Laura Mercier Secret Finish Mattifying

Don’t let the “mattifying” scare you away — this silicone-based formula works great to smooth pores for all skin types. Be sure to warm it up in the palm of your hand and press it into your trouble spots — don’t rub. If you’re very oily, this can also double as an under-foundation primer.

MAC Prep+Prime Skin Smoother

This creamy balm comes in mirrored compact form, which makes it great for on-the-go touch-ups. It’s recommended for use under foundation, but it also serves as a perfect touch-up for drier skin types, as the consistency is more salve-like than silicone.

Smashbox Targeted Pore and Line Primer

This product is often misunderstood, since it isn’t a base primer like other Smashbox primers. Rather, this is to be used on top of your makeup as a pore smoother. The consistency is thicker than the aforementioned primers, so be sure to warm a small amount on the back of your hand before lightly pressing into skin. Bonus: it’s packed with skin-healthy ingredients like Qusomes and Chinese Mushroom.

L’Oreal Miracle Blur

The drugstore brands are catching up! We love this instant skin smoother—it’s very similar to the Clarins Instant Smooth, but at a fraction of the price. The brand advises application under foundation, but we found that it works just as well for touch-ups.

Hooked on primers? Don't miss our review to help you find the best eyeshadow primer too!