10 Guide To Korean Primers 2022 | Korean Primer Reviews!

by Jih Yun

Create a seamless palette for you to put your makeup on with these top Korean primers!

Primers are hugely underestimated when it comes to makeup. The common misconception is that, when you use high-end makeup, you don’t need a primer. I beg to differ as even that expensive makeup can use a good base

Primers help make your makeup last longer, and as with most Korean skincare and makeup products, Korean primers come chock full of other ingredients that help improve the texture and health of your skin. 

Top Korean Primers — Quick Summary

Top Korean PrimersBest For 
INNISFREE NO-SEBUM Blur PrimerOily Skin
TOUCH IN SOL No Pore Blem PrimerAll Skin Types
Too Cool for School All-in-One Egg Mellow CreamAnti-wrinkle & Skin Tightening
MISSHA M BB BoomerUsing Under BB Creams
TONYMOLY Egg Pore Silky Smooth BalmSkin Tightening
BANILA CO Prime Primer ClassicNormal Skin
Miguhara B.p CreamMinimising Pores
Etude House FIX & FIX Tone Up PrimerSun Protection & Toning

Best Picks For Top Korean Primers:

  1. MISSHA M BB BoomerReduces fine lines, sagging and wrinkles
  2. TONYMOLY Egg Pore Silky Smooth BalmHelps tightens your skin
  3. Etude House FIX & FIX Tone Up PrimerProvides sun protection

Read on for the reviews of the top Korean primers you can find:

Best Korean Primers

INNISFREE NO-SEBUM Blur Primer

Top Korean Primers For Oily Skin

Trust the K-beauty industry to take care of your skin in every single skincare product they make. If you have extremely oily skin, the Innisfree No-sebum blur primer is the right choice to give you a mattifying look.

soko glam primer

Key Features:

  • The active ingredient is the extract of the camellia sinensis leaf
  • It effectively controls the sebum production in the skin
  • Keeps skin free of oil all day long
  • Also contains titanium dioxide which offers sun protection
  • Contains Jeju green persimmon extracts
  • Firms the skin

Pros:

  • Gives oily skin a mattefying finish
  • Blurs the skin and hides imperfections
  • Alcohol-free formula

Cons:

  • Too much of the product can clog the pores

Related: Must-have K-beauty products

TOUCH IN SOL No Pore Blem Primer

Top Korean Primers for All Skin Types

The Touch in Sol No Pore Blem Primer is a versatile primer that can be used by all skin types, thanks to its hypoallergenic formula. It minimises the pores, tightens the skin and helps your makeup last all day long. 

Key Features:

  • Contains green tea extracts
  • Refreshes the skin and hydrates
  • Tightens the pores and gives a smooth texture
  • Contains collagen that makes the skin more elastic and supple
  • Hydrates the skin and keeps it moist all day long
  • Gentle formula that is safe for the skin
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Pros:

  • Hypoallergenic formula
  • Safe for sensitive skin

Cons:

  • Takes time to get absorbed into the skin

Related: Best Korean vitamin C serums

Too Cool for School All-in-One Egg Mellow Cream

Top Korean Primers For Anti-wrinkle & Skin Tightening

Infused with the benefits of egg whites, the Too Cool for School All-in-One Egg Mellow Cream instantly tightens the skin and keeps wrinkles and fine lines away. It nourishes the skin and brightens it, while helping your makeup last longer.

Key Features:

  • Active ingredients are albumin and collagen from egg whites
  • Has the properties of tightening the skin and minimising the pores
  • Makes skin firmer almost instantly
  • Increases the elasticity of the skin
  • Makes skin more supple and plump
  • Contains niacinamide as another active ingredient
  • Brightens the skin and fades pigmentation

Pros:

  • Instant firming of the skin

Cons:

  • Contains added colourants 

Related: Best Korean cleansing foams

MISSHA M BB Boomer

Top Korean Primers for Using Under BB Creams

The Missha M BB Boomer is specifically formulated to be used under BB creams. It does work well under your favorite foundations too, but we find that with a BB cream, your skin looks almost flawless. Not just that, this primer is also effective in keeping the skin hydrated and nourishes it with its active ingredients.

Key Features:

  • Meant to be used with BB creams
  • Contains adenosine and arbutin
  • Moisturises skin and tightens it
  • Contains extracts of moringa and squalene
  • Locks in hydration and keeps skin plump 
  • Reduces fine lines, sagging and wrinkles

Pros:

  • Works beautifully under BB creams

Cons:

  • Not suitable for sensitive skin

Related: Best Korean cleansing oils

TONYMOLY Egg Pore Silky Smooth Balm

Top Korean Primers For Skin Tightening

TonyMoly’s Egg Pore Silky Smooth Balm is a blend of all the good herbs you can lay your hands on, to keep your skin fresh and smooth all day long. From the packaging, I’m sure you have already guessed that one of the main ingredients is egg, which helps tighten your skin. 

Key Features:

  • Contains egg extracts as the main ingredient
  • Tightens the pores and firms the skin
  • Contains a blend of herbs that include lemon, pepper and burdock
  • Smoothens the skin
  • Nourishes the skin and keep infections away
  • Brightens the skin
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Pros:

  • Comes in a cute packaging

Cons:

  • Comes in a jar, makes it difficult to dispense and use the product

BANILA CO Prime Primer Classic

Top Korean Primers For Normal Skin

Get a smooth, matte look for your skin with the Prime Primer Classic by Banila Co. The primer is light, with sebum controlling properties, while still keeping your skin hydrated.

Key Features:

  • Light in weight 
  • Spreads easily and gets absorbed quickly
  • Reduces the production of sebum and keeps skin looking fresh
  • Hydrates the skin
  • Can be used over makeup as well 
  • Leaves skin feeling smooth
  • Evens out the skin tone

Pros:

  • Effective in reducing the sebum production
  • Available in three variants, for dry skin, normal skin as well as oily skin

Miguhara B.p Cream

Top Korean Primers for Minimising Pores

The Miguhara B.p Cream comes in a tiny squeeze tube as a solution for your oily skin and blackheads. The primer has a blurring effect that blurs not only your blackheads, but also other skin imperfections, and leaves you with smooth, flawless skin.

If you have oily skin, fret not, cos this primer also absorbs the excess oil and gives your skin a mattifying finish.

Key Features:

  • Tightens the skin
  • Minimises the appearance of pores
  • Has a blurring effect
  • Diminishes the appearance of blackheads and other imperfections
  • Leaves skin with a matte finish
  • Reduces the shine on the face by absorbing oil

Pros:

  • Effective in minimising pores and blurring blackheads
  • Suitable for oily skin

Etude House FIX&FIX Tone Up Primer

Top Korean Primers For Sun Protection & Toning

The Fix&Fix Tone up Primer by Etude House not only tones your skin and makes it smoother, but also protects it from the harsh and damaging effects of the sun. Not just that, this toner comes in 4 varieties, so you choose the one you want depending on what results you wish to achieve.

Key Features:

  • Comes in four varieties
  • “Pores” is for minimising pores and tightening the skin
  • The “rose” variant is for toning the skin and brightening it
  • “Mint” primer is for soothing the skin and reducing inflammation and redness
  • The “Lavender” variant is for calming the skin and correcting the tone

Pros:

  • Protects your skin from sun damage with SPF 33
  • Variety of four to suit every skin issue

Which is the best Korean primer?

I tried and tested several Korean primers on different parameters. While all Korean primers in this list were great, the Etude House FIX&FIX Tone Up Primer stood out to me the most. 

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Etude House FIX&FIX Tone Up Primer is rated the best Korean primer. It not only covers up blemishes but also gives you sun protection as it has SPF 33. It comes in 4 different variants – Pores, Rose, Mint, and Lavender. 

The Pores variant minimizes pores and tightens the skin. The rose variant tones and brightens your skin tone. The Mint variant soothes skin and reduces inflammation. While the lavender variant calms the skin and corrects the skin tone.

Best Korean Primer: FAQs

What is a primer?

Apart from helping your makeup last longer, primers also smooth the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines, pores and wrinkles. They form a good base for your other makeup.

What to look for in a primer? 

Like any makeup product, you have to choose a primer based on your skin type. If you have oily skin, go for a primer that has sebum controlling ingredients. Dry skin can benefit from a moisturizing primer. For hyperpigmentation and wrinkles, choose primers that can color correct and tighten the skin. 

When and how to apply a primer?

Complete your skincare routine and apply a primer as your first layer of makeup. Even if you don’t wish to use makeup, you can apply a primer for that smooth and toned look. Take a small amount of the primer and dot it on your face. Spread it using your fingertips for good absorption. 

What are the benefits of using a primer?

A primer is extremely important for those who apply makeup often. Toner does two things for the skin – firstly, it protects the skin and secondly, it helps cover up blemishes, pores, and wrinkles. Applying a toner enhances your overall makeup look as it gives the skin a certain glow underneath the makeup. Korean primers are usually hydrating in nature and formulated with skin nourishing ingredients that help improve the skin texture as well! And finally a primer holds the makeup together by forming a layer between your moisturizer and the makeup.

How to choose the best Korean primer for your skin?

Choose a Korean Primer the way you would choose any skincare product- based on your skin type and the problems you want to address. 

Many Korean primers today come with ingredients that nourish the skin and improve its health, like added SPF for sun protection, sebum controlling properties for oily skin and hydrating ingredients for dry skin.

If you have scars and blemishes, opt for a primer that has blurring properties for covering imperfections. 

Always test a sample first and make sure it suits your skin type as well as matches your foundation before buying a larger quantity.

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