This replenishing primer infuses moisture into your skin, keeping you feeling fresh all day.
This product is a hydrating, oil-free tinted moisturizer with lightweight coverage that evens skintone and leaves your skin looking fresh and healthy.
Laura Mercier’s Pure Canvas hydrating primer is a water based primer that helps to deeply hydrate the skin while extending the life of your makeup! This is exactly what you want a primer to do – fix the targeted issue and extend wear time. Some people swear by primers and some think they don’t do much. Regardless of what you think, doesn’t it seem hard to spend high end prices for a product that sits under your makeup?
Our favorite dupe for Laura Mercier’s Pure Canvas Hydrating Primer is the Colourpop Pretty Fresh Hydrating Primer. This Colourpop primer contains hyaluronic acid for lightweight, priming hydration and moisture! It can be worn under makeup or alone as it helps to smooth the skin and create a flawless base. It’s an affordable and worthy, cost-effective dupe for Laura Mercier’s primer!
Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Dupes
Laura Mercier’s Pure Canvas Hydrating Primer is a lightweight water based primer. Not groundbreaking but what makes it so special is the formula! It’s lightweight, hydrating, extends makeup wear and helps to create a smooth canvas. It’s exactly what you want from your primer. You may think hydrating is only for dry skin types but it works for all skin types and even oily skin users comment on how it helps to control their t-zone!
Colourpop Pretty Fresh Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Primer
This product is a hydrating, oil-free tinted moisturizer with lightweight coverage that evens skintone and leaves your skin looking fresh and healthy.
Colourpop’s Pretty Fresh Primer contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin to create a silky-smooth canvas. On it’s own, this primer is lightweight, hydrating, affordable and a great option overall. It can be used under makeup for a fresh complexion or alone as a moisturizer to smooth the skin. It’s a good dupe for Laura Mercier because simply, it hydrates, smooths the skin and extends the wear time of your makeup.
Pros:
- Affordable.
- Hydrating – contains hyaluronic acid!
- Works for all skin types.
- Packaging is sleek for a budget product. Also has a pump.
- Creates a silky smooth complexion.
Cons:
- Contains coconut oil which can cause some people to break out.
- Some reviews complained about the scent.
Where to buy it:
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydrating Primer
This multi-tasking hydrating primer is formulated with Hyaluronic Acid, a powerful humectant that boosts skin’s moisture content and helps skin appear smoother and plumper.
This primer is for those who want hydration and skincare benefits for their sensitive skin! Hyaluronic acid helps to hydrate and plump the skin while colloidal oatmeal helps to calm and soothe. It also contains micro-pearls to boost the appearance of the skin’s natural radiance. This primer can be worn alone for a healthy, hydrated complexion or under makeup for a smooth canvas. This isn’t the cheapest dupe but it’s more affordable than Laura Mercier and the primers are very similar.
Pros:
- Fragrance free, non-comedogenic and allergy tested. It helps to protect skin from irritants in your foundation.
- Hydrating finish gives a slight glow to the skin.
- Light-weight texture feels like a moisturizer.
- The best option for sensitive skin.
Cons:
- Not the best pore filling or oily skin primer.
- Not the most affordable.
Where to buy it:
NYX Hydra Touch Primer
This nutritious primer formula leaves your skin feeling softer with a luminous finish.
This primer is hydrating and creates a smooth glowing canvas for makeup! It’s packed with skincare ingredients, it’s affordable and NYX is cruelty-free. It’s a good alternative to Laura Mercier’s Pure Canvas primer because it has the perfect mix of hydrating and smoothing and blurring functions. This primer wins because it’s even pore filling and helps your makeup to last longer.
Pros:
- Affordable and easy to find on store or online.
- Hydrating, leaves a luminous finish.
- Smooths the skin.
- Fills pores and helps your makeup to last longer.
Cons:
- Not great for oily skin.
- Packaging is very basic.
Where to buy it: Amazon
E.L.F Hydrating Face Primer Natural Matte Finish
This creamy primer smooths and hydrates your skin, letting your makeup glide on – while giving it all-day lasting ability.
This E.L.F primer wins for affordability and has the perfect pore filling, smoothing, hydrating texture. The nice thing about this face primer is, it hydrates and smooths like Laura Mercier but it has a soft matte finish. It’s great for those who like a more matte look or have oily skin. It’s not the most luxurious product looks wise, but for something that goes under your makeup, it’s exactly what you want.
Pros:
- Super affordable.
- Cruelty-free.
- Soft matte finish blurs pores and smooths skin.
- Hydrates the skin without making it feel dewy.
Cons:
- Packaging isn’t very nice.
- Some people said the texture is runny / greasy.
Where to buy it:
Maybelline Master Prime Hydrate + Smooth Primer
This color-correcting face primer preps for makeup application by visually blurring away specific skin concerns, refining the look & feel of your skin.
This primer is formulated with a water soluble base and active ingredients to help lock in makeup. This primer smooths out the skin, creates a flawless base to feel weightless and non-oily. It’s good for all skin types and can be worn alone or under makeup. This is a good, no frills drugstore option that’s a good price.
Pros:
- Affordable and easy to find.
- Hydrates and creates a smooth base for makeup.
- Lightweight formula is good for all skin types.
Cons:
- Maybelline is not cruelty-free.
- Some people said this didn’t work for them.
Where to buy it:
Final Thoughts
So many swear by Laura Mercier’s Pure Canvas Hydrating Primer and while it’s probably a worthy splurge, you don’t have to spend that much to get a good primer! Colourpop Pretty Fresh Hydrating Primer is a great dupe that hydrates the skin and creates a smooth base for a fraction of the price. If you’re cruelty-free, Colourpop is the better option as Laura Mercier doesn’t have any cruelty-free certifications.
This product is a hydrating, oil-free tinted moisturizer with lightweight coverage that evens skintone and leaves your skin looking fresh and healthy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wear a primer alone as moisturizer?
Yes! All these primers can be worn alone on no makeup days for a refreshed and smoother looking complexion. They will help to hydrate and create a smoother base so they’re still a great option on days when you don’t want to wear makeup.
Does my SPF go before or after primer?
You always want your SPF to go on as the last step in your routine, before makeup application. So, definitely go SPF and then primer followed up by all your makeup. If you don’t want to layer SPF and a primer, look for a silky or silicone type SPF to wear as a primer! Supergoop’s Unseen and Glow Screen are great primers as they blur the skin and contain SPF.
If you’re having trouble layering your SPF and primer (i.e. pilling, foundation breaking up, etc) then go for something lightweight.
If I have sensitive skin, which primer is the best one for me?
Hands down the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydrating Primer. This one is formulated without fragrance and is non-comedogenic to help with sensitive, acneic skin. It’s even formulated to block the harsh chemicals from your foundation! It’s definitely the most skincare friendly option and so good for dry skin. You could say it’s a skincare, makeup hybrid but it’s also great for wearing alone. It’s pricier but so good for sensitive skin.