This article on the best primers for women over 50 was updated in April of 2024.
Before you apply your makeup, are you using face primers for women over 50?
*Affiliate Disclosure
A while back, during my Facebook LIVE beauty event, I shared one of the secret weapons in my makeup bag — primer. Along with a promise to talk more about this magical little product. So, without further ado, here’s a “primer” on why makeup primer is a must-have in the makeup bags of women over 50. We will also go over the best primers for women over 50 and why you need one!
Primer is The Secret to Flawless Makeup After 50
You apply a primer after your moisturizer and before your foundation. A primer is just what it sounds like; similar to priming your walls before you paint them, a primer allows the foundation to apply smoothly.
Today’s primers are designed to make your skin look smooth, silky, reduce the appearance of pores, and hold your makeup in place for hours.
The Best Primers for Women Over 50
Best Rated on Amazon: Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Face Primer
This amazing face primer has over 30k reviews on Amazon! Wowza. It’s mattifying, pore minimizing, and long-lasting. A great choice for women over 50! This is great, not only for your face but for your eyelids as well. One reviewer raved, “My eyelids are so oily that without this, eyeshadow is sometimes gone by lunch. With the eye primer, it stays in place through evening.”
My Pick for a Primer After 50: SISLEY-PARIS Instant Eclat Glow Primer
I personally use Sisley-Paris’ Instant Eclat, an illuminating primer that erases shadowy areas and signs of tiredness. This non-greasy formula contains kiwi, Butcher’s Broom, and Padina Pavonica extracts to help moisturize, energize, tone, and plump the complexion. It’s an amazing primer for women over 50. I highly recommend it. Get it for $100 here: Sisley-Paris Instant Eclat at Bloomingdale’s.
Best Face Primer for Women Over 50- Best for the Money: Maybelline Master Prime
Designed to hydrate and smooth, this weightless primer is capable of refining the look and feel of your skin, while keeping your makeup in place from morning until evening. And at less than $10, this primer is a great one to try out if you have never used one before! You can purchase it here: Maybelline Master Prime.
Best Drugstore Primer: Revlon PhotoReady Pore Reducing Primer
Another primer at a lower price point is Revlon’s Photoready primer. This product smoothes and softens your skin while reducing fine lines. It also tones your skin, allowing the perfect blank canvas for your makeup masterpieces, darlings. At just around $20, this face primer is another wonderful option if you have never used a primer before and would like to try it out. Click here to purchase: Revlon PhotoReady Pore Reducing Primer.
Ideal for all skin types: LancôMe Women’s La Base Pro Makeup & Face Primer
This next face primer for women over 50 is fabulous if you’re looking for a more powerful formula to reduce fine lines, the look of pores, and smooth your skin’s overall texture. This primer is formulated to produce great results on any skin type… and in as little as one minute! Not to mention, your skin will be left feeling silky and comfortable with a velvety matte finish all day long. Get this primer for around $42 here: LancôMe Women’s La Base Pro Makeup & Face Primer.
Wrinkle smoothing primer: Nars Instant Line and Pore Perfector
If you’re looking for seamless skin, another cost-effective option is this primer, which smoothes the appearance of fine lines while reducing large pores to deliver that sought-after smoothing effect. The best parts? It won’t dry out your skin and it can be used before or after makeup application! Snag it for $24 here: Nars Instant Line and Pore Perfector.
What Are Your Favorites?
Have you tried a makeup primer? What do you think the best primers for women over 50 are? Do tell!
What experiences have you had with primer after 50? Please share in the comments. Sharing is caring, darlings!
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I actually have recently started using a primer, I know in my 60’s and I’m finally doing it. And I love it how it makes my skin feel and my makeup stay all day. I can definitely tell and see a difference. Thanks Honey.
My email was not accepted to enter a chance to win primer.
Mereditholson828@gmail.com
Hi Meredith, thank you for letting us know. We have added your email to our entry list. Good luck!
Honey,
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Hi Honey, first of all I love your make-up tips and reflections on life. My personal favorite primer is Too Faced Hangover RX….this product goes on so smooth and really perks up my skin, so I don’t need to use a lot of foundation. However, I think it retails around $30.00. I am going to try the NARS , I do like to mix it up a bit and have a choice or two of different brands for the same product.
I always check your latest blog to start my great day…..
Primer is the best thing you can put on your face to make your make-up glide on and last a long time. I don’t find much difference in the brands themselves, all of them do a good job. I like the primers that also do a 2nd job, that of erasing redness in your skin for example. Just don’t apply too heavily.
Can’t seem to enter for the primer? Thanks Honey!
Hi Rose, you have been added to the list. Good luck!
I have a few different primers. What I would like to know is if there is a primer that not only smoothes your wrinkles and “blurs” or fills in your pores but one that tightens & firms your skin (especially neck and under eye area); and while we’re at it why not throw in an SPF for UVA and UVB?
Does a primer like that exist or is that too much to ask? How about a foundation, is there a foundation out there with all those things?
Yes please o want to know the answer to that question as well. Please tell my girls that I wish they had magic in a bottle that’s what I need for wrinkles and lines and everything else .
Enjoy your lines. Keep smiling. warmly, Honey
Enjoy your lines. Enjoy your life. Warmly, Honey
Is there a primer or concealer that will not melt off my face. I have dark circles an 50 and Hispanic I don’t look 50 because of great genes. Praise God i just can’t keep my concealer from melting off my face. Help please
To be fair to you this is my suggestion because this is what I would do. Go into the makeup department of a department store and talk to a professional make up person.Explain your problem and relie on her advice. If she sells you a product that melts off your face, return it and don’t be afraid to take it back. Buy another one and continue this process until you receive satisfaction. This is exactly what I would do. Warmly, Honey
I found the Primer for you, by accident. It will be on my site on Thursday in the advice column story on https://www.honeygood.com. Let me know how it works. Warmly, Honey
Something I found that makes my makeup last all day is spray-on rose water tonic (Trader Joe’s). Spray it on your face after cleansing but before putting your moisturizer on (let your face dry before adding moisturizer). My makeup lasts all day without using primer.
I bought it yesterday darling. thank you and a happy happy New Year to you and yours. Warmly, Honey
I bought it. Thank you for sharing. Happy New Year. Warmly, Honey Send me any question and I will answer in my Ask Honey Advice Column every Thursday on https://www.honeygood.com. Happy New Year. Warmly, Honey
@Monique Herriman I know it’s WAY past when you asked, but if you’re still interested in the “blur” type primers etc., maybe look into the Milk line. They come in several different tones etc, but don’t be put off by the fact that they’re sticks. If you don’t like swiping them on, I’ve found they work just as well with a brush or beauty blender… I love their glow blur primer, and it works beautifully with their highlight stick. They even have foundation sticks, dual lip & cheek sticks… EVERYTHING! Their whole line is based on sticks, they’re short and fat and last forever, so it really is cost effective too. Can be found at Sephora and the like, because it’s on the higher end spectrum…. But my all time favorite primer is Tacha’s Silk Canvas. It’s expensive. Very high end. A little goes a long way. But there is NO OTHER beauty product (this is cosmetic that doubles as skin care) that I feel makes my skin look just as beautiful WITHOUT makeup as it does with it. It looks as though I’ve applied a veil even BEFORE I get to the makeup part. AND THEN, it makes your colors POP! Extends the life of ALL your makeup because you now need to use less and it all looks brighter and better on your face and it blends better. It makes your skin like a literal silk canvas! Try it for yourself if you don’t believe me. I wish there was a way for me to pay for it if you didn’t like it. THAT’S how sure I am that you will love it too!
I am going to take your advice and purchase Tacha Silk Canvas. Thank you for your advice. Warmly, Honey
My question about primers is what about applying SPF? Is that before or after the primer?
Apply any skin care items and let them dry before applying the primer. This includes SPF!
I have been using Elf primer. Very happy with it. Makes my face feel so smooth. I’m 83 years old.
I use SPF Supergoop for the face as my primer. I was looking for a sunscreen when in Hawaii several years ago as I had left mine home in Australia. The consultant was very knowledgable and suggested I try the supergroup and said she uses it as her primer. I found it to be very successful so every time I come to usa I stock up and have never had sunburn on my face since and my makeup looks smooth and well finished.
I am 85 years old. I have been using the Lancome primer about 8 years. I love it. I tried the Revlon primer once when I was on a money diet. NOT FOR ME. I threw it away, didn’t save any money.
Oh, I’ll have to give the Lancome primer a try! I have not personally tried the Revlon but it had 4k great reviews on Amazon so I thought I’d include it for people on a “money diet.” Thank you for your comment and I’m so glad you found something that works for you!