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- Best Primers with SPF
The Best Primers with SPF You Need this Summer
Summer is here and it’s a scorcher. Hot summers are great for so many things: picnics in the park, rooftop bars, lazing around lidos and getting an awesome tan. However, it’s horrendous for two reasons: sunburn and commuting.
If you’re anything like us, you’ll come bursting through the office doors at 8:50 a.m., roasting from the tube, fanning yourself to death in a bid to save your makeup. Come midday there are mere traces of foundation left on your face, your eyeshadow has creased and your winged eyeliner is indecipherable – were they supposed to be cat-flicks or…?
Our memories of summer don’t have to be of sweaty upper lips and melted makeup, not when you're wearing the best primer with SPF.
With our top 16 best primers with SPF, your makeup will stay flawless all day – yep, even through your commute – and they’ll even protect your skin when you’re tanning at your local lido.
Disclaimer: you will still need to wear SPF, otherwise, in the words of Coach Carr, "you will get sunburn and you will die". OK maybe that's not verbatim but you get it...
Paula's Choice Smoothing Primer Serum SPF 30
£14.12This luxurious option will be your new go-to for those days when you need a little extra boost. Combining superior UVA/UVB protection with soothing, plant-based antioxidants, the serum-like primer fights signs of ageing and protects skin from environmental damage. Even the most tired, fatigued and washed-out faces appear smooth, hydrated and younger-looking.
Dermalogica Skinperfect Primer SPF 30
£46.99 £58.36 (20% off)Non-greasy formula, lightweight texture and infused with a huge dose of collagen, this Dermalogica Skinperfect Primer boasts both makeup and skin care benefits. It feels velvety smooth against your skin and delivers a beautiful natural finish that blurs fine lines, enlarged pores and imperfections. And, of course, SPF 30 ensures your complexion is shielded from UVA and UVB rays throughout the day.
Stila Stay All Day 10-In-1 Illuminating Skin Veil
£36.00 £36.64 (2% off)For skin that looks lit from within, add a touch of illumination with Stila's ten-in-one beauty balm that works to brighten the complexion. This priming balm is enriched with skin-loving ingredients that help the appearance of skin tone and texture, while hydrating and nourishing
Colorescience Brightening Primer SPF 20
£40.00This luxury face primer is a great one to keep in your kit. Not only does it contain SPF 20 to protect you against UV rays, but it also utilises zinc and jojoba oil to brighten and nourish the skin. This is an antioxidant-rich formulation, which ensures your face feels moisturised all day long.
Colorescience Calming Perfector Face Primer SPF 20
£34.00 £40.00 (15% off)If your skin is easily irritated then you can also look to Colorescience to kit you out with a gentle SPF primer. As well as protecting skin with SPF20 suncscreen and giving makeup extended staying power, this formula also neutralises redness and soothes irritation.
Sculpted by Aimee Beauty Base Protect SPF 50 All In One Moisturising Primer
£22.08The Sculpted by Aimee Beauty Base Protect SPF 50 All In One Moisturising Primer is a multi-award-winning primer that creates a soft-focus effect on your skin and blurs out any imperfections. A few pumps of this SPF 50 primer and you’ll be on your way to smooth, silky skin with broad-spectrum protection and an even, matte finish.
Sculpted by Aimee Beauty Base Pearl All-in-One Moisturising Primer
£22.08If you prefer a glowy skin finish, then snap up this pearlescent edition from Sculpted By Aimee. It boasts the same hardworking three-in-one formula, except this time it leaves a stunning strobe-like effect over your complexion, making it perfect for the days your skin needs a pick-me-up.
Emma Hardie Protect & Prime Moisturiser SPF 30
£10.97 £20.00 (46% off)This Emma Hardie Primer is made with a dual-action formula that drastically improves the hold of your foundation, all whilst protecting against premature ageing (read our guide to anti-ageing skin care for more info!). Its non-greasy texture makes applying your foundation an effortless task and the final results are nothing short of flawless. With SPF 30, your face stays protected throughout the day.
Milani SPF BFF SPF 30 Primer
£14.50 £15.88 (9% off)Milani SPF BFF Face Primer adds the perfect touch to your makeup routine, gliding on to protect you from UV rays and locking your makeup in place all day without stickiness or residue.
Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Poreless Primer SPF 50
£39.00Another multi-award-winning formula, this Charlotte Tilbury primer delivers protection as well as a photo-ready finish. Packed with Charlotte's Magic 8 Matrix of oils and actives, the primer nourishes the skin whilst airbrush polymers create a filter-like effect that leaves your skin looking healthy and glowing.
Sensai Foundations Glowing Base SPF 10
£42.68Shield your skin from harmful UV rays with another do-it-all primer that contains SPF 10. There's no thick or heavy formula, instead it has a cream-gel consistency that melts into the skin and provides a glowing base for all your beautiful makeup looks.
Clarins SOS Primer UV SPF 30
£28.50Make sure your foundation looks flawless even when the temperature rises with the Clarins SOS Primer UV SPF 30. This product helps moisturise, prime and protect the skin all in one go, leaving you with a smooth finish. It’s the perfect solution to keep in your everyday makeup bag.
Inglot Cosmetics Under Makeup Base SPF 20
£19.00 £19.47 (3% off)This hypoallergenic Under Makeup Base from Inglot Cosmetics features SPF 20 sunscreen and will let the makeup remain fresh and vibrant while protecting the skin from the negative impact of the sun while perfectly moisturising and smoothing skin.
Hello Sunday The One That's Got It All Sun Primer SPF 50
£18.40 £23.00 (20% off)Discover this super moisturising primer enriched with SPF. It contains hyaluronic acid to deliver long-lasting hydration, along with other smoothing ingredients such as vitamin C, algae and bisabolol. The primer also protects the skin from blue light and is sweat resistant for even the hottest days.
Hello Sunday The Illuminating One Glow Primer SPF 50
£17.25 £23.00 (25% off)We can't get enough of Hello Sunday, so here's another stellar SPF primer choice. A slathering of this formula keeps skin protected from UVA/UVB, infrared, pollution and blue light plus laces it with a soft, subtle glow and dewy finish, making it easy to wear with or without makeup.
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 30
£17.00Make your skin feel moisturised and balanced, while also protecting against the sun’s rays and blue light from your laptop or phone. With an oil-free formula, it's suitable for all skin types. Use as a makeup-gripping primer under foundation when you want a little more coverage, or on its own if you want more of a natural look.
Need more tips on keeping your skin safe in summer?
Our top 16 best primers with SPF are all you need to keep your skin looking flawless throughout this sizzling hot summer. We also have a guide on the best moisturisers with SPF if you're looking to go makeup free this year.
Discover more summer skin care staples with The Best Light Moisturisers for Summer and The Best After Sun Products or shop spf for the face, spf moisturiser and our suncream sale for the best deals.
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Written by Hannah Liddle
Hannah has worked as a writer for over four years and knows beauty, skincare and makeup like the back of her hand.
Written by Rebecca Jenkinson
Rebecca is a content writer with over three years’ experience and a keen interest in cosmetics. Cosmetify allows her to combine her blogging skills with her passion for beauty.