Top 20 Water-Based Primers for a Dewy, Hydrated Complexion

Chanel describes this primer as the perfect 'skin-perfecting tool,' designed to reduce redness, tighten pores, even skin tone, and brighten the complexion instantly. It also controls oil without compromising the dewy, hydrated finish on the skin.

Ingredients:

• Chanel Le Blanc De Chanel Multi-Use Illuminating Base primarily contains a blend of silicones, giving your skin a smooth, flawless finish, almost like a fresh layer of skin.
• However, this formula may not be suitable for sensitive skin or those allergic to silicones.
• Additional pore-unblocking ingredients help minimize shine caused by excess oil.

Benefits:

• For those with sensitive skin, larger pores around the nose, and oily skin, I expect a primer that controls oil, reduces pores, and ensures makeup longevity in high humidity.
• The Le Blanc De Chanel Multi-Use Illuminating Base delivers on all of these fronts.
• Unlike silicone-based primers, this one doesn't clog my pores.
• The hydrating power of this primer is also exceptional, helping to tackle my dry skin and the flakiness around my nose.

Price: 1,000,000 VND

Becca Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector is the ideal water-based primer for those with oily skin and enlarged pores. Becca promises a flawless base that lasts up to 12 hours. With its thick texture that absorbs quickly, a small amount is enough to achieve perfect priming. For additional oil control, especially in the T-zone, apply an extra thin layer in that area.

Ingredients:

• This primer controls oil and tightens pores, giving a smooth, matte finish. It acts like blotting paper, keeping your skin fresh and oil-free.
• What's unique is that you can apply this primer after foundation to enhance your base, completely covering pores and fine lines.
• Becca Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector contains Water, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylene Glycol, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, and Oleanolic Acid.

Benefits:

• Effectively absorbs excess oil, ideal for oily skin types.
• Tightens pores and conceals fine lines for a smooth appearance.
• Ensures long-lasting makeup, with wear lasting up to 12 hours.

Price: 830,000 VND

Hangover Replenishing Face Primer is a highly popular primer that stands out for its gentle design, smooth texture, and delightful coconut scent. This product has easily captured the hearts of many with its ability to hydrate, control oil, and provide a seamless, dewy finish that integrates effortlessly with the skin.

Ingredients:

• With coconut extract and added probiotics, it’s sometimes considered as a skincare treatment as well.
• Research shows that after one week of use, 100% of users reported visibly more hydrated skin.
• 100% of users also observed that their skin appeared firmer and brighter.
• This primer is made with high-quality coconut water and probiotics, ingredients that are great for your skin. Unlike some other professional products, it won’t clog pores or cause breakouts, and it’s free from silicone, allowing your skin to breathe.

Benefits:

• Enhances skin elasticity, provides intense hydration, and ensures long-lasting makeup wear all day.
• Often compared to an energy drink for your skin, this primer imparts a natural, healthy glow that can be worn alone or under foundation, bronzer, and powder for a smooth, lasting finish.
• Boosts skin elasticity, hydrates deeply, and keeps your makeup intact throughout the day.
• Free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates.

Price: 475,000 VND

Not all skin is the same, which is why Lorac created the “I’m So Sensitive” Soothing Face Primer. With a name like “I’m So Sensitive”, it's clear that this primer is designed for all skin types, including the most sensitive ones.

The “I’m So Sensitive” Soothing Face Primer comes in sleek black packaging, with a slim tube that’s easy to carry on the go. Its formula, similar to a moisturizing cream, works to smooth and hydrate the skin. The primer is lightweight with no tacky or heavy texture, absorbing quickly into the skin without leaving any residue. Its gentle formulation is perfect for sensitive skin, offering hydration and a smooth base for makeup without causing irritation.

Ingredients:

• A gentle, oil-reducing primer that’s free of silicone, parabens, and fragrance, enriched with antioxidants, vitamins, and plant extracts to calm and smooth your skin.
• Extremely light and hydrating, this water-based primer creates a natural, smooth finish for long-lasting makeup.
• Perfect for all skin types, including sensitive, oily, and acne-prone skin.

Benefits:

• Free of silicone
• Paraben-free
• Super lightweight and deeply hydrating
• Water-based primer that promotes long-wearing makeup with a natural, smooth foundation.
• Delivers antioxidants, vitamins, and plant extracts to soothe and smooth your skin.

Price: 790,000 VND

Becca First Light Priming Filter 30ml is a face primer from the well-known American brand, Becca, famous for its high-quality, effective makeup products loved by beauty enthusiasts. This primer is one of their best-selling items. You can also choose between the Becca Backlight Priming Filter 30ml and the Becca First Light Priming Filter 30ml.

Ingredients:

• This product features a unique blend of cold light technology and a pearl complex, combined with lavender and essential oils, providing excellent benefits such as soothing, hydrating, and leaving your skin soft and glowing.
• The Vitamin E in the formula nourishes the skin and helps combat signs of aging. This primer also protects your skin from sun damage.

Benefits:

• The Becca First Light Priming Filter, with its lavender hue, adds a radiant, refreshed glow to your face. Used as a base under makeup, it helps your makeup stay intact, maintaining its vibrant finish throughout the day.
• If you're struggling with skin imperfections like acne, dark spots, or pores, the Becca First Light Priming Filter will help blur these imperfections. The primer also creates a luminous, dewy finish, giving your skin a glowing, healthy appearance.
• This primer is suitable for all skin types, including oily and dry skin, ensuring that everyone can enjoy its wonderful effects.
• No need for complicated makeup steps; this primer is an efficient solution that enhances your natural radiance and gives you confidence all day long!

Price: 960,000 VND

The Clinique brand was founded in August 1968 with a commitment to creating allergy-tested products that are 100% fragrance-free—a crucial consideration in today’s polluted environment. Clinique is a dermatologist-developed brand, and before launching new products, they conduct trials with 600 volunteers. The brand is now part of the Estée Lauder Companies and is available in over 135 countries with 17,000 stores worldwide.

Ingredients: Free from Fragrance, Gluten, Nickel, common allergy-causing preservatives, Lanolin, Parabens, topical antibiotics, MCI/MI, Propylene Glycol, irritants/acids, and dyes. The product is safe for teens and lips.

Benefits:

• The Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Instant Perfector is designed to minimize pores with advanced ingredients that help balance oil production, reduce pore size by 50%, and decrease excess oil production on the skin.
• The lightweight texture allows for easy absorption, quickly absorbing excess oil and removing dead skin cells, leaving your skin clean, refreshed, and ready for a smooth, natural-looking foundation.

Price: from 800,000 VND

Givenchy Mister Mat Mattifying Foundation Primer is the perfect primer for those with oily skin. Formulated with plant-based extracts, it effectively controls excess oil while providing essential hydration. The unique texture blends both cream and powder, absorbing quickly without clogging pores, leaving your skin feeling fresh and breathable.

Ingredients:

• Features a combination of plant extracts that control oil and provide hydration for your skin.
• The cream-powder formula absorbs quickly, offering a lightweight feel and ensuring clear, breathable skin.
• Contains a subtle pearl-like shimmer with a soft green tint, which enhances your complexion, leaving you with a glowing and radiant look.

Benefits:

• Givenchy Mister Mat Mattifying Foundation Primer smooths the skin, creating a velvet-like finish. It can be worn alone or as a base under makeup for a flawless appearance.
• The lightweight, hydrating formula, enriched with silicone gum and plant extracts, controls oil production, offering long-lasting matte effects while allowing your skin to breathe.
• The subtle pearlescent glow helps to brighten dull skin and minimizes the appearance of large pores, leaving you with a fresh and healthy-looking complexion.

Price: 836,000 VND

Smashbox Photo Finish Oil Free Foundation Primer Pore Minimizing is a rich, oil-controlling primer with a creamy texture that effortlessly blends into the skin. This primer provides a smooth matte finish and is sweat-proof, so you don’t have to worry about it melting away even during intense activity.

Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Silica, Isononyl Isononanoate, Isododecane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Lauroyl Lysine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phytosteryl/ ...

Benefits:

• With this primer, you can instantly smooth away fine lines and visibly minimize pores, leaving your foundation looking flawless and even.
• The oil-controlling formula quickly absorbs excess oil, ensuring a long-lasting matte finish without any shine.
• The lightweight texture won’t leave your skin feeling clogged or dry, providing a comfortable, breathable base for makeup.

Price: 858,000 VND

With the Primed & Poreless Skin Smoothing Face Primer from Too Faced, you can simplify your makeup routine, eliminating the need for both concealer and foundation. Thanks to its formula enriched with mulberry extract, vitamin A, vitamin C, and Retinol, this primer provides a smooth, flawless finish without clogging your pores.

Ingredients:

• Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E: Reduces shine, visibly minimizes imperfections, smooths skin texture, and minimizes pores.
• Free from parabens. This product is vegan, free of harmful chemicals, and gluten-free.
• This primer creates the perfect matte base for makeup. Scientifically formulated with hyaluronic acid, a form of retinol, and gentle vitamins C and E, it delivers a perfect smooth texture.

Benefits:

• Primed & Poreless Skin Smoothing Face Primer offers excellent oil control while keeping skin hydrated for a youthful, radiant look.
• This primer is suitable for all skin tones, so you don't have to worry about mismatched shades.

Price: 660,000 VND

Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Face Primer is one of the most beloved primers among beauty enthusiasts, especially those with oily and sensitive skin. It effectively covers stubborn imperfections, including enlarged pores, and controls oil throughout the day. This oil-free primer provides a smooth, matte finish that is easy to blend and doesn't feel heavy on the skin.

Ingredients: CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, DIMETHICONE, DIMETHICONE/VINYL DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, ISONONYL ISONONANOATE, SILICA, DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, ISODODECANE,…

Benefits:

• The primer’s primary benefit is its ability to fill in large pores, leaving the skin smooth and flawless.
• It also works well to cover uneven skin tones, blemishes, and small imperfections.
• The matte finish is non-sticky and ideal for everyday use, offering oil control without looking greasy.
• The oil-controlling properties of Benefit The POREfessional Face Primer last for about 5-6 hours.

Price: 682,000 VND

Using a primer is one of the most important steps in achieving a flawless makeup base. This primer not only brightens and evens out the skin tone but also provides hydration and a smooth texture. It plays a crucial role in ensuring that your makeup stays intact and looks beautiful throughout the day.

Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Isododecane, Polysilicone-1, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glyceryl Stearate, Nylon-12, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Laureth-12, Alumina, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide.

Benefits:

• NYX Professional Makeup Angel Veil Skin Perfecting Primer is an oil-controlling primer with a gentle formula that is fragrance-free, colorless, and contains ultra-fine powder particles that blend seamlessly on the skin.
• The fine powder particles help brighten the skin naturally, providing a perfect base for makeup, enhancing powder longevity, and allowing for easier application. Its superior oil control keeps your skin fresh and matte all day.

Price: 490,000 VND

BareMinerals Prime Time Oil Control Face Primer is a must-have oil-controlling primer that holds a special place in the hearts of many beauty enthusiasts. Not only does it effectively control excess oil, but it also helps quickly conceal fine lines, hide imperfections or uneven skin tones, and shrink pores for a smoother finish.

With this primer, you can skip foundation or powder, making your routine simpler. The product has a lightweight, liquid texture, so you don’t need to use much per application, which helps save money for other beauty essentials.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua/Eau), Silica, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol Crosspolymer, Sclerotium Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Calcium Silicate, Dimethicone, Vp/Va Copolymer, Amodimethicone, Zinc Pca, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Sodium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol.

Benefits:

• This primer gives your skin a silky smooth surface and prepares it for a flawless foundation. It excels at absorbing excess oil, reducing shine, and minimizing the appearance of pores while also smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles.
• Its mineral-enriched formula fills in rough skin patches, leaving the skin feeling soft and velvety.

Price: 528,000 VND

Innisfree No-Sebum Primer is a primer made from mineral powder and peppermint extract that helps smooth out pores and fine lines while providing moisture for a flawless makeup base. In early 2019, Innisfree revamped the packaging and logo of several of its best-selling products, including the No-Sebum line. While the formula remained unchanged from the 2018 version, the new packaging is more streamlined and modern, and the price remains the same.

Ingredients:

• This oil-controlling primer is made with peppermint and natural minerals, offering a safe and skin-friendly formula.
• It boosts hydration, promotes clearer skin, and inhibits bacteria growth. Rose extract tightens pores, leaving skin smoother and more even-toned.
• Its ultra-fine powder particles effectively absorb oil, keeping your skin fresh and oil-free throughout the day.

Benefits:

• This high-coverage primer evens out your complexion, hiding imperfections like pores, fine lines, and blemishes for a perfect base.
• It helps makeup adhere better, making your foundation and powder last longer.
• The primer keeps makeup in place, preventing it from fading throughout the day.
• It minimizes the appearance of pores, leaving the skin smooth and even.

Price: 260,000 VND

During hot summer days, oil and sweat are often the enemies of makeup, especially for women. How do you keep your makeup intact and fresh? Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water offers a great 3-in-1 solution. This product comes in simple yet stylish packaging in a clear plastic bottle with bold graphics and an easy-to-use spray nozzle that delivers a fine mist.

Ingredients:

• Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water is a multi-purpose product combining a makeup setting spray, a mineral mist, and a hydrating spray all in one.
• The formula is free of alcohol, fragrance, oils, and silicones, providing a soothing and refreshing experience while delivering instant hydration and cooling.

Benefits:

• This 3-in-1 product is incredibly convenient for on-the-go use.
• Free from fragrances, oils, and silicones.
• Provides excellent hydration.
• The setting spray locks makeup in place, keeping blush, bronzer, and highlighter exactly where they should be.
• The hydrating mist leaves your skin feeling dewy and soft, making it easier to blend foundation for a natural, flawless finish.
• Smashbox is the perfect choice for modern women, providing smooth, soft skin and creating a natural, radiant makeup base.

Price: 280,000 VND

Neutrogena Shine Control Primer is an affordable and highly effective oil-controlling primer from the well-known brand Neutrogena. With its lightweight, fluid texture, it spreads easily across the skin, creating a smooth surface for foundation to apply evenly and naturally. The primer controls oil for up to 5 hours, after which its effect gradually reduces. Despite this, your skin will still maintain a fresh, natural glow without excessive shine. This product is ideal for those with normal, healthy skin. If you have sensitive or acne-prone skin, consider trying another product from the list.

Ingredients:

• Neutrogena Shine Control Primer is enriched with rice extract, making it gentle on the skin and safe for daily use.
• Perfect for use in hot weather, this primer keeps your makeup looking fresh without clogging pores or increasing oil production.

Benefits:

• It smooths the skin and minimizes the appearance of pores.
• Brightens the complexion, keeping the skin looking fresh all day long.
• Helps conceal imperfections and improves skin texture.
• Controls oil and prevents shine, allowing your makeup to last longer.
• Protects the skin from environmental stressors, promoting healthier skin.

Price: 220,000 VND

Maybelline New York was founded in 1915 and is one of the world's leading cosmetic brands, originating in the USA. In 2007, Maybelline New York entered the Vietnamese market and quickly became a trusted name in makeup. Maybelline consistently incorporates advanced technology to create trend-setting products. Their diverse range includes everything from mascara and powders to eyeliners, brow products, foundations, BB creams, and lipsticks.

Ingredients:

• Silicon Elastomer: creates a smooth surface, providing flawless, plump skin.
• Silica: controls oil and keeps your base matte and fresh.
• Prunus Cerasus Extract: an antioxidant-rich cherry extract that hydrates and nourishes the skin.
• Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate: helps keep the skin hydrated and prevents a cakey finish.
• Free from fragrances and mineral oils, this product won’t clog pores or cause breakouts.

Benefits:

• Effectively minimizes pores and smooths out fine lines.
• Improves makeup longevity, helping it stay in place for longer.
• Ensures foundation blends smoothly into the skin, preventing a cakey appearance.
• Controls shine while maintaining adequate hydration for the skin.
• Protects sensitive, acne-prone skin from irritation during makeup application.

Price: 160,000 VND

E.L.F Studio Mineral Infused Face Primer is a primer that not only effectively controls oil but also acts as a foundation, so you can use just one layer of this product on your skin without needing a separate foundation. If you apply foundation or powder after this primer, it won’t feel heavy or clog your pores, but rather your makeup will stay breathable and shine-free, preventing the makeup from caking or patching. This primer is versatile enough for any weather, keeping your skin from getting oily throughout the day.

Ingredients:

• Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Silica, Penoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben.
• The E.L.F Studio Mineral Infused Face Primer is ultra-light, giving you a natural, barely-there look with a flawless finish.
• The formula is safe, as it’s free from fragrances and contains silicone-based ingredients. However, it may not be ideal for oily skin or T-zone areas (nose and forehead), as it could cause excess shine.

Benefits:

• This is a “silicon-based” primer, meaning it has key ingredients like Cyclomethicone and Dimethicone, which leave the skin with a smooth, silicone-like finish, unlike “water-based” primers.
• You only need a small amount to apply a thin layer. Using too much can result in unwanted shine.
• This primer is best paired with “silicon-based” foundations for the most seamless, flawless makeup application.

Price: 132,000 VND

Prepare your skin for makeup with this primer that nourishes and moisturizes, leaving your skin soft and smooth. It helps you apply makeup faster and more evenly, saving you makeup products. The Estée Lauder Matte Perfecting Primer Normal also protects your skin and conceals imperfections. Just apply a thin layer before makeup, and it will instantly smooth your skin, creating a protective barrier that prevents makeup from clogging pores. It also saves you a third of your foundation and other makeup products while protecting your skin all day.

Ingredients:

• The Estée Lauder Mattifier Shine Control Perfecting Primer comes in a 30ml tube. It contains green tea extract and vitamin E, which are fantastic for nourishing, protecting, and anti-aging, improving skin hydration and elasticity.
• This primer effectively controls oil, reducing shine and is ideal for oily, acne-prone, or combination skin.
• Green tea extract helps reduce acne, inhibits bacterial activity, and fades dark spots and freckles through its fine, deep-penetrating formula.

Benefits:

• Controls oil and reduces shine.
• Balances and gently nourishes the skin.
• Minimizes the appearance of pores, acne, and blemishes.
• Perfect for normal to oily skin types.
• Keeps makeup in place all day, giving your skin a radiant, youthful glow.

Price: 1,200,000 VND

M.A.C Prep + Prime Natural Radiance is a primer designed to be applied before foundation. It acts as a protective barrier for the skin while helping your makeup last longer, controlling oil and minimizing imperfections. The product comes in a sleek black plastic bottle with a pump dispenser, and the bottle is adorned with shimmering particles, giving it a luxurious and modern look.

This primer helps to create a smooth, long-lasting base that can hold up for up to 12 hours. It reduces the appearance of pores by up to 80%. For those with acne-prone or uneven skin, this primer smooths out rough patches, leaving the skin soft and even. M.A.C Prep + Prime Natural Radiance excels at creating a silky-smooth finish, perfect for even the most imperfect skin. The formula also contains fine, pearlescent particles that reflect light, giving your skin a radiant glow. This feature is especially ideal for those who want to shine under the lights at night or glow in the summer sun.

Ingredients:

• M.A.C Prep + Prime Natural Radiance has a gel-like texture and contains pearl powder that imparts a subtle shimmer, brightening your complexion immediately upon application.
• The product also includes vitamin E, vitamin C, and caffeine derivatives that provide hydration, antioxidants, and instant skin soothing benefits.
• Thanks to these powerful ingredients, the primer delivers a natural, dewy finish that leaves your skin looking radiant and hydrated.

Benefits:

• Brightens the skin and enhances the overall makeup look.
• Contains skin-loving ingredients.
• Convenient, travel-friendly packaging.
• Suitable for both day and night use.
• The pump dispenser ensures hygiene and delivers the perfect amount of product.
• More accessible compared to similar high-end options like Tom Ford Illuminating Primer.

Price: 1,000,000 VND

Vichy Aera Mineral BB is a premium oil-controlling primer specially formulated for sensitive skin. It provides long-lasting oil control and keeps your skin feeling fresh and breathable for up to 24 hours. This BB cream creates a flawless base for makeup, offering a natural skin tone boost while subtly covering blemishes. It has a high coverage without clogging pores.

Ingredients:

• Hydrating components that make the skin feel smooth, plump, and naturally radiant.
• Vitamin C that enhances antioxidant protection, brightens dull skin caused by free radicals, and helps to defend the skin from pigmentation issues, strengthening skin resilience.
• Offers sun protection with SPF20 and shields the skin from environmental stressors like pollution.

Benefits:

• Provides natural coverage for blemishes.
• Effective coverage without clogging pores, ensuring they stay clear.
• Hydrates the skin for 24 hours.
• SPF20 protection from harmful UV rays.
• Protects the skin from environmental pollution like smoke, dust, and harsh weather conditions.

Price: 1,000,000 VND