13 Best Primers for Oily Skin and Large Pores

Not only is this one of my favorite face primers, it's one of my favorite everyday sunscreens too. The fluffy SPF 40 formula (it contains a combo of mineral blockers, including zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) makes my skin super smooth and matte but not dull looking—plus it has a sheer, neutral tint at blurs discoloration too.

THE REVIEW: "I've been using this for years, and while I've occasionally tried other new products, I keep coming back to it," says on tester. "It's got the perfect amount of light coverage for me and gives my skin a natural matte finish.

Anyone with oily skin who is into natural skincare will love this primer from Vapour. It uses oil-absorbing plant extracts to keep your skin looking matte for hours along with jojoba oil and organic cranberry extract to smooth uneven texture.

THE REVIEW: "I like this primer so much sometimes I just wear it alone," says a tester. "It goes on smooth with no streaking and no residue. It just makes skin look even, clear and healthy."

There's a reason this primer went viral on TikTok...it's the best bang-for-your-buck option on the market. Scoop out tiny bit, massage it between your hands to activate the ingredients, and then smooth it over your face. Your skin will look matte and poreless and your makeup will look freaking flawless all day and night.

THE REVIEW: "This is definitely a "buy again" purchase! It goes on incredibly smooth and leaves your skin supple and blurred. It makes my makeup look fabulous."

This four-in-one primer with sunscreen for oily skin (and TBH, all skin types) is a must for the summer season. Rub a nickel-size amount over your entire face to blur the look of large pores, keep excess shine at bay, protect your skin with chemical sunscreen filters, and minimize inflammation with antioxidants too.

THE REVIEW: "This is my go to face product for summer," says one tester, adding that "it has a nice matte finish with a skin blurring effect too."

This drugstore face primer from Maybelline New York is truly the ultimate multitasker. The 4-in-1 formula has a whipped texture that mattifies skin and blurs pores and the sheer tint (it comes in six versatile shades) helps even out your skin tone and minimize the appearance of breakouts. You can wear it alone for a no-makeup makeup look or as a base for more full-coverage makeup products.

THE REVIEW: "This product definitely gives you a matte and blurred effect," writes one tester. "My skin looked really nice and filtered after I put it on—and it feels lightweight too."

Smoothing on a pea size amount of this primer is basically like taking the airbrush tool to your face. It instantly blurs the look of large pores, fine lines, and uneven skin texture while keeping excess oil in check and creating a grippy canvas for your foundation and concealer too.

THE REVIEW: "This primer is phenomenal! It blurs my pores without clogging them up and really makes my makeup last too."

Not only does this primer keep your oily skin looking shine-free and your makeup intact all day long, but the formula is made without questionable ingredients like parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrance, or dyes. It's pretty much as a clean as primers come.

THE REVIEW: "I’ve been switching to cleaner products and a lot are unfortunately a bust, but this primer works exactly how you’d expect. Highly recommend!"

Not a huge fan of using skincare and makeup products that contain silicone? Go with this primer for oily skin from Laura Mercier. The water-based formula is made without silicones like dimethicone, but still mattifies skin and minimizes marks and uneven texture thanks to blurring powders and conditioning microalgae.

THE REVIEW: "It does it all: mattifies, blurs pores and fine lines, and makes your makeup really stay all day long," says one reviewer, adding that it's "easy to apply with fingers and dries down fast."

There are a ton of great lightweight primers for oily skin out there, but this one from Neutrogena is hands down my favorite. It has the same texture as a face serum so it soaks into skin in seconds and can be easily layered with your existing skincare and makeup products. Plus it's made with oil-absorbing rice protein to sop up excess sebum throughout the day.

THE REVIEW: "I have decently oily skin and this kept me from running through blotting papers and having to top off my makeup with powder foundation every few hours," says one tester.

Yes, this primer for oily skin does the obvious (aka create a smooth canvas for makeup and keep your skin from turning into a grease-slick), but it also shields your face from the harmful effects of pollution and blue light. It's all thanks to a combo of silk extract (it creates a lightweight, protective veil on skin) and antioxidant-rich green tea extract.

THE REVIEW: "This is legit the best primer I have ever used," says one reviewer. "I was worried at first because of the price tag, but it is totally worth it. My make up lasts all day, it controls shine, and it doesn’t dry me out either."

Smoothing on a pea size amount of this primer is basically like taking the airbrush tool to your face. It uses tea tree oil to eliminate acne-causing bacteria, plus little oil-absorbing spheres that mattify skin and diffuse light to minimize the look of pores and rough texture on contact.

THE REVIEW: "I used to have a hard time finding a primer that didn't break me out—and then I found this formula," writes one reviewer. "This stuff is pretty great."

The easiest way to prevent a makeup meltdown is with this primer for oily skin. It provides all-day shine-control (bless you, mattifying blue agave extract) and extends the wear-time of your foundation and concealer so you makeup looks just as good at 9 p.m. as it did at 9 a.m.

THE REVIEW: "This primer is amazing and it keeps my makeup looking fresh after 10+ hours of wear. Highly recommend this one."

If the thought of layering another lotion or cream on top of your oily, congestion-prone skin makes you shudder, give this clear gel primer for oily skin a try. The lightweight texture soaks into skin quickly and looks invisible (seriously—there's zero residue) while keeping shine in check for hours.

THE REVIEW: "When I use this primer before makeup my face has a perfect glow that's not shiny or greasy...I can really see a difference," says one tester.