The 8 Best Hydrating Primers For Dry Skin in 2026
If you have dry skin, you know how irritating it might be to deal with, as you need to hand-pick your skincare products that won’t irritate. Choosing the best hydrating primer is a crucial step to ensure your skin and makeup look on point, but, if you choose the wrong one, it can lead to further dryness, flaky patches, and irritation. So what kind of primer you should use if you have dry skin?
Above all, your primer should help your makeup last all day even if it has a hydrating formula. Furthermore, it should have good skincare ingredients to help your skin with hydration, and any other concerns you’re facing. Finally, it should create a smooth, dewy base for makeup without looking cakey or drawing too much attention to dry patches.
Below, you’ll see a list of our favorite hydrating primers, that will keep your skin hydrated and ensure your makeup stays fresh and smooth all day.
Best Picks
1. Urban Decay All Nighter Longwear Face Primer
Urban Decay All Nighter Longwear Face Primer is a great pick if you want serious hydration plus makeup that stays put. The texture feels lightweight and smooth going on, but it gives your skin a cushioned, moisturized base so foundation looks more even instead of dry or cracked. It also helps blur the look of fine lines and makes skin feel a little more polished, like you got an extra step of skin prep.
Where it really earns its spot is wear time. On hot, sweaty days when makeup usually breaks up fast, this primer helps everything stay in place for hours without sliding around or separating. It is especially nice if you wear a fuller coverage base or you need your makeup to look fresh from morning to evening, because it supports the whole routine instead of fighting it.
Why we love it:
- It keeps makeup looking smooth even when you sweat, instead of turning patchy around the nose and mouth
- It gives dry skin a hydrated base without feeling greasy or heavy
2. Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer
Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer has been a major favorite for a reason. It is one of those primers that helps your makeup look fresher and last longer, even if your skin tends to get dry or textured through the day. The finish feels like a lightweight gel that smooths over the skin, giving you a hydrated base so foundation sits evenly instead of catching on dry spots.
It is also packed with skin loving ingredients like blue agave, cannabis seed extract, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and aloe water to support hydration and comfort while you wear it. Even with all that, it does not feel heavy, and it does not build up into a thick layer when you apply makeup on top. If you use the right amount and let it set for a few seconds, it grips makeup without making your base look cakey.
Why we love it:
- It makes foundation cling in a smooth, even way, especially around dry areas like the cheeks
- The gel texture hydrates without that greasy slip that can cause makeup to separate
3. No7 Airbrush Away Primer
No7 Airbrush Away Primer is a great option if you want hydration plus that soft focus, filtered finish under makeup. No7 is well known for skincare style makeup with anti aging benefits, and this primer fits that vibe. It is made with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and larch tree extract to help soften the look of dryness while also improving the look of fine lines and texture.
What makes it stand out is the way it balances comfort and smoothing. Many people love it because it helps blur imperfections and make foundation look more even, especially around areas where makeup can settle, like the nose, smile lines, and under eyes. It can also help keep shine in check, so you get a hydrated base that still looks polished, not greasy.
Why we love it:
- It gives a real airbrushed blur that makes pores and texture look softer right away
- It hydrates but still helps control shine, so your makeup looks balanced all day
4. e.l.f. Power Grip Primer
e.l.f. Power Grip Primer is a go to pick when you want strong hold without spending a lot. e.l.f. is known for affordable makeup that performs like products that cost much more, and this primer is a perfect example. It has a gel texture that smooths over the skin and helps makeup grip, plus it includes hyaluronic acid to support hydration so your base looks more fresh and less dry.
It is especially helpful if your foundation tends to fade or separate during the day, because it keeps everything anchored in place for hours. The finish can feel tacky as it sets, which is exactly why makeup sticks so well, but that same grip can be a downside if you hate any sticky feeling. The easiest fix is using a small amount and letting it set for about thirty seconds before applying foundation.
Why we love it:
- It locks foundation in place so it does not slide off around the nose and chin
- A thin layer gives a smooth, hydrated base that makes makeup look more even
Read more: Best e.l.f. Products.
5. stila One Step Primer
Stila One Step Primer is a fun option if you want hydration plus color correction in one step. Instead of being just one shade, it comes with multiple tones swirled together, and the formula feels more like a lightweight serum than a heavy base product. It is packed with skincare style ingredients meant to hydrate and moisturize, but also to brighten and help balance uneven tone, so your skin can look more even before you even add foundation.
The texture is creamy with a soft, silky slip, so it smooths over the skin and helps makeup apply more evenly. It does take a little more blending than a basic clear primer, because you want the tones to melt into the skin instead of sitting on top. Once it is blended in well, it helps makeup last longer and can make your base look more polished, especially if you deal with redness or dullness.
Why we love it:
- The multi tone swirl helps neutralize redness and dullness, so you need less foundation
- It gives a smooth, silky base that makes makeup glide on without grabbing dry patches
6. Honest Beauty Everything Glow Primer
Honest Beauty Everything Glow Primer is a great pick if you want hydration plus a soft glow that still looks natural on skin. Honest Beauty is known for skincare friendly makeup and cruelty free formulas, and this primer fits that style. It feels lightweight and fresh, almost like a hydrating lotion, and it gives the skin a brightened look before foundation even goes on.
It does more than a basic hydrating primer because it is made to moisturize and support a smoother, more radiant finish. It uses a blend of extracts like watermelon, apple, and lentil, along with two types of hyaluronic acid to help the skin look plumper and more awake. Mica adds that subtle light reflecting glow, so your base looks healthy instead of flat. It is also made without ingredients many sensitive skin users try to avoid, like parabens, PEGs, mineral oil, and synthetic fragrance, which can make it feel like a safer choice if your skin is easily irritated.
Why we love it:
- It gives a lit from within glow that still looks like real skin, not glitter
- The hydration plus light reflection makes dry areas look smoother under makeup
7. Estée Lauder Futurist Aqua Brilliance Primer
Estée Lauder Futurist Aqua Brilliance Primer is a great choice if you want a hydrating base that also makes foundation look more polished. It feels silky and lightweight as you apply it, and it gives the skin a fresh, plump look without feeling greasy. The finish is smooth and refined, so makeup tends to glide on more evenly, especially when your skin is dry or your foundation usually clings.
What makes it special is that it does more than hold makeup in place. It is made with skin friendly ingredients like beetroot extract, caffeine, glycerin, squalane, and cucumber fruit extract to support hydration and help the skin feel more comfortable. Many people love how it smooths texture and makes foundation look more flawless, like your base got a subtle filter. If there is a downside, it is that the finish can look a bit more luminous, so if you prefer a fully matte look you may want to set your t zone lightly.
Why we love it:
- It gives a smooth, hydrated canvas that makes foundation look more seamless and less textured
- The squalane and glycerin help dry skin feel comfortable instead of tight under makeup
8. Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer
Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer is the kind of product you reach for when your skin looks tired and makeup just is not sitting right. It has a lotion like, comfort first feel that instantly makes dry skin look fresher and more awake. The finish is softly dewy, not shiny, so it gives you that healthy glow without making your face look greasy.
It is infused with coconut water plus probiotic based ingredients and skin revivers to help hydrate, smooth, and brighten while your makeup is on. It also helps foundation look less flat and more skin like, especially when your cheeks feel tight or your base tends to crack around the mouth. If there is a downside, it is that very oily skin might find it too glowy, but for dry skin it is a reliable, flattering prep step.
Why we love it:
- It makes foundation look more skin like, especially on dry cheeks and around the nose
- The dewy finish brings life back to dull skin without feeling oily
What does a hydrating primer actually do
A hydrating primer preps the skin so makeup sits better and looks smoother. It adds moisture and comfort, which can help reduce the look of dry patches, tightness, and that chalky foundation finish. Many formulas also help create a smoother surface, so your base makeup applies more evenly instead of catching on texture.
It is not the same as moisturizer, but it works with your skincare. Think of it as a bridge between skincare and makeup. Moisturizer hydrates your skin over time, while a hydrating primer helps makeup look better right now and often helps it last longer, too.
Who should use a hydrating primer
Hydrating primers are best for dry skin, dehydrated skin, and anyone whose makeup tends to look patchy by midday. If your foundation cracks around the mouth, clings to the cheeks, or looks rough on the nose, a hydrating primer can make a visible difference. It is also helpful in winter, on airplanes, or any time your skin feels tight.
Even if your skin is not fully dry, you might still like one if you use matte foundation or powder often. Matte products can make skin look flat, so a hydrating primer underneath can bring back a more natural, healthy finish.
Hydrating primer vs gripping primer, what is the difference
A hydrating primer focuses on moisture and comfort, so it makes skin feel soft and helps makeup glide. A gripping primer focuses on hold, so makeup sticks longer and fades less. Some primers do both, but usually one benefit is stronger than the other. If your main issue is dryness and texture, choose hydration first. If your main issue is makeup sliding off, choose grip first.
You can also mix and match based on your face. Many people use a hydrating primer on dry areas like cheeks, then a gripping or smoothing primer only on the t-zone. That way you get comfort where you need it and longer wear where you need it.
How do I apply a hydrating primer the right way
Start with skincare and sunscreen, then let them absorb for a few minutes. If your skin is still very wet or slippery, primer can pill or slide. Use a small amount first, about a pea size for your whole face, then add more only where you need it. Press it into the skin instead of rubbing fast, because pressing helps it sit smoothly.
Wait a short moment before foundation, especially if the primer feels tacky or lotion like. That little pause helps layers settle so your base looks even. If you want the most natural finish, apply foundation in thin layers and build only where you need coverage.
Can a hydrating primer replace moisturizer
Usually no, especially if you have dry skin. A hydrating primer can add comfort, but it is not meant to be your main skincare step. Moisturizer supports your skin barrier and helps keep skin balanced over time. Primer is there mainly to improve makeup wear and finish.
That said, if your skin is normal and you are in a humid climate, you might be able to use a very moisturizing primer as a light base on some days. But if you notice tightness, flaking, or makeup breaking up, you will get better results by keeping moisturizer in your routine and using primer on top.
