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Getting glossy and plump lips is a desire of almost every girl who is into makeup. Unfortunately, lips often lose their shine and become dull due to air pollution and consumption of adulterated food. That's when makeup tricks work as a savior.
When it comes to lip makeup, the majority of girls use only lipstick and lip liner. However, according to professional makeup artists, girls should also be using lip primer! Priming your lips using a high-quality lip primer before applying lipstick helps prevent the sensitive skin on your lips from damage. It hydrates and softens your lip’s skin by penetrating the deep layers.
There are so many products for lips available on the market, though, which makes finding the perfect one difficult. Thus, we have sifted through a lot of lip primers and curated a list of our favorite lip primers in 2024 just for you.
Reviewing the Top Lip Primers of 2024 in Detail
e.l.f. Primer and Plumper — Best Overall
Key Features
- Comes in stick form, which makes it easy to apply
- Gives your lips a glossy finish
- Contains a total of 1-ounce product
- Moisturizes and volumizes your lips instantly
Make your lips look fuller and sexier using this primer plus plumper combo. The primer is applied before lipstick to create a smooth base on your lips, making the lipstick last longer and smudge-proof. It also stops the lip color from transferring onto other surfaces (no more lip-stained coffee cups!). Furthermore, you can apply the plumper both before and after the lipstick, as it moisturizes your lips and adds a subtle plump tint.
Since this lips primer and plumper combo is designed for normal skin types, most people can use it just fine. What's more, it’s made from 100% vegan and toxic-free materials with cruelty-free methods, so you can enjoy this primer without any guilt.
Golden Rose Primer — Best for Hydration
Key Features
- Stick form makes it easy to carry and apply
- Translucent color makes it ideal for a professional look
- Perfect for all skin types and made from toxic-free ingredients
- Each pack contains 3g of product
This lip primer is highly nourishing, as it contains vitamin E that moisturizes and repairs your lip skin. You can apply it before using lipstick or wear it alone for more natural and healthy-looking lips. It makes your lipstick last longer, too, by making it smudge-proof.
Furthermore, it has a neutral shade, making it perfect for applying under various lipstick shades without changing their color. You can also use it with any type of lipstick, such as liquid lip gloss, crayon, lip tint, and more. What we love most, though, is it’s skin-friendly, free from toxic chemicals like paraben, cruelty-free, and dermatologically tested, which makes it suitable for sensitive lips.
Unicorn Snot Primer — Best for Going Out
Key Features
- Comes with 2ml of lip primer
- Has a sweet cotton candy flavor that makes your lips more attractive
- Long-lasting, hydrating, and gives a glossy finish
- Vegan and cruelty-free
This skin-friendly, vegan lip primer allows you to make your lips soft and shiny without causing any irritation. It also has a fantastic cotton candy smell that makes your lips luscious and attractive. Since it comes in a lip gloss-like container, you can easily carry it everywhere. The container also has a spongy doe foot applicator which helps in applying this primer evenly on your lips.
Additionally, it is long-lasting and suitable to use under any lipstick, as it has a transparent shade. You can also use it on your eyes for doing glittery eyeshadow to enhance any party makeup look. When applied to primed lips, though, the glitter lasts for hours and does not fall off your lips easily.
NYX Professionals Primer — Best for Sensitive Skin
Key Features
- 4ml
- Twist-open pencil style lip primer that is easy to use
- Can be used on all skin types
- Locks your lipstick for long hours
This lip primer pencil is easy to apply due to its crayon-like shape. You can conveniently hold it and accurately cover the narrow parts of your lips. Furthermore, it creates a smooth and perfect canvas-like base to lock your lipstick on for many hours. After applying this lip primer, your lips feel creamy and moisturized, making your makeup color even more attractive. Plus, thanks to the twist-open mechanism, you won’t have to sharpen this lip primer pencil.
Moreover, its smudge-free formula prevents the lip color from transferring off of your lips. Since this is a vegan, cruelty-free, and skin-friendly product, you can use it without guilt or worry of any skin reaction.
e.l.f. Primer — Best Ingredients
Key Features
- Cruelty-free lip primer, so you can use it without guilt
- Shea butter and coconut extracts make it highly moisturizing
- Suitable for all skin types
- Long-lasting hydration along with a golden shimmer
This fantastic lip primer is composed of highly nourishing ingredients like shea butter and coconut. It penetrates your lip skin deeply and repairs the damage caused by the harsh external environment. Additionally, your lips instantly feel moisturized, soft, and smooth after using this primer just once. Thanks to its golden shimmer, your lips will glow radiantly as soon as you apply it.
Since it has a transparent shade, you can wear it under any lip color. Plus, it is made from 100% vegan and skin-friendly materials and is free from harmful chemicals like paraben and phthalates
How to Find the Right Lip Primer: A Buyer's Guide
After being bombarded with the top lip primers on the market, selecting one might still be quite confusing and challenging. If that’s the case, we’ve compiled this detailed buying guide to help you choose the most suitable and top-quality lip primer within your budget.
What Are the Pros of Using a Lip Primer?
A lip primer creates a smooth base for applying lipstick evenly on your lips. Plus, it locks the color of your lipstick onto your lips and prevents the lipstick from fading or smudging across your face.
It also hydrates the lips and repairs the damage caused by the pollution and continuous use of makeup products. Furthermore, you get instant glossy, plump, and attractive lips after applying primer.
If applying a lot of makeup isn’t your thing, you can also use just a lip primer to give your lips a rosy tint while doing a no-makeup makeup look. Therefore, adding a high-quality lip primer to your makeup kit is highly beneficial.
How to Select High-Quality Lip Primers
If you want to buy a premium lip primer, you’ll need to consider a few things before making a decision. The following are the factors that play a major role in the efficiency and safety of using a lip primer:
Ingredients
Make sure to purchase a lip primer that is composed of skin-friendly and toxic-free ingredients. Some poor-quality primers include harmful chemicals like paraben, phthalates, silicone, and more, which can cause skin cancer. For your safety, you’ll want to avoid investing in such cheap products.
You can also find some vegan lip primers that do not include any animal derivatives, meaning you can use them without any guilt. In addition, many lip primers include some naturally skin-repairing ingredients, like shea butter and coconut. These ingredients hydrate the lips deeply and make them glow naturally.
Lip finish
Another crucial factor to check before picking a lip primer is the lip finish or the appearance of lips after applying it. Most lip primers give a glossy finish that is perfect for shimmery lipstick color but not for a matte lipstick. What’s more, using a neutral or nude shade lip primer is beneficial, as it allows clear visibility of the lipstick color. You can also find golden or rose-tinted lip primers that are perfect for styling a no-makeup makeup look.
Lipstick suitability
A lip primer should be selected after checking its lipstick compatibility, as many products are specially made for a specific type of lip stain. For example, some lip primers are only suitable for use under a lip gloss and have a non-greasy and hydrating base. On the other hand, you can find some products that are suitable for every type of lipstick including lip crayon, lip tint, and more. Besides, some specialized lip primers are used to apply non-fading glitter makeup on your lips. Consider your needs and wants when choosing your primer.
Fragrance
Some lip primers have a specific flavored smell, like cotton candy fragrance. Applying such products on your lips gives you luscious lips. You can also find a vanilla-based scent in some primers. Many people, however, do not prefer fragrant cosmetics, so there are many non-fragrant lip primers available.
Skin suitability
If you have susceptible skin, make sure to buy a dermatologist-approved or clinically tested lip primer. It should be hypoallergenic and does not lead to irritation or inflammation of the skin, meaning you can use it without worrying about allergies on your skin.
Quantity
It is essential to check the quantity of lip primer provided in a single container. Some products are extremely small, forcing you to purchase a new pack after just a short period of time. Our research concluded that the majority of high-quality lip primers have at least 4ml of product, which is enough to last for one to two months even if you use it on a regular basis.
Brand
The brand also plays a major role in determining the quality of a lip primer. You should prefer buying a cosmetic product like lip primer from a well-known and reputable company. Their products are manufactured by safe methods and do not include any harmful chemicals. Besides, a branded lip primer delivers a more satisfactory user experience than one manufactured by an unknown company.
What Are Cruelty-Free Lip Primers?
It is our utmost responsibility to protect our environment and fellow creatures. That's why we should promote the usage of cosmetic products that follow cruelty-free methods. Cruelty-free labeled lip primers are not tested on animals, thus, using them is one way to prevent the exploitation of nature.
How Much Does a Lip Primer Usually Cost?
A high-quality lip primer usually costs $4 to $8. Therefore, make sure not to spend much more than that. You don’t want to spend too little though, as cheap lip primers have poor quality and can ruin your lip skin. You should always check the brand logo and details mentioned on the lip primer before purchasing it to avoid purchasing a knock-off product.
