After 7 hours of research evaluating 44 products, we picked Golden Rose Nourishing Prime & Prep Lipstick Lip Primer Base and Conditioner as our top choice.
A lip primer works like any other primer – it prepares your lips for lipstick, lip stains, or lipgloss and helps maintain a long-lasting color.
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We all want a lipstick that won’t feather no matter the weather and color that remains vibrant all day long. With the right primer, your lipstick should do just that.
When applying a lip primer, we first recommend exfoliating the lips with a good lip scrub. Once the scrub is washed off, use the lip primer, and then finish the rest of your makeup. By the time your makeup is complete, the lip primer will be dry and ready for lipstick or gloss application!
Below we’ve compiled a list of some of the best lip primers currently on the market!
Golden Rose Nourishing Prime & Prep Lip Primer
#1 Best Lip Primer Overall
- Perfect with any type of lipstick, lip stain, or lip gloss
- Provides an all-day hold
- Nourishes and hydrates
This “Golden Rose Nourishing Prime & Prep Lipstick Lip Primer Base and Conditioner” is super affordable, provides an all-day hold, and gives your lips lasting hydration.
Only apply one coat of this balm as your primer, if you use too much it may cause lipstick to clump.
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This colorless primer goes on like a lip balm. Simply apply to your lips and give the primer a few minutes to set, then add your favorite color lipstick or lipgloss! The formula prevents your makeup from fading, feathering, and running, while also nourishing your lips to give them a healthy, full look.
This primer is paraben-free and cruelty-free. It has also been dermatologically tested. The primer has a vanilla scent to it, is colorless, and applies very lightly like a lip balm. It’s also enriched with Vitamin E which enables it to nourish and hydrate your lips.
The Golden Rose Nourishing Prime & Prep Lipstick Lip Primer is set at a steal of a price and we highly recommend it for your everyday primer.
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NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Lip Primer
#2 Strongest-Holding Lip Primer
- Super smooth
- Holds color all day long
- Cruelty-freeip gloss
Get ready for your color to pop all day long with the NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Lip Primer. This primer creates an everlasting glowing hold.
If you have dry lips, use a little balm before applying this product, as it does not serve as an ultra-hydrating primer.
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This sheer nude primer applies very gently to lips. It preps and primes lips for a smooth color-popping hold. Apply this lightly all over your lips before applying lipstick, lip pencil, or lip gloss.
The product genuinely improves the texture of the lips and brings out the color of whatever lip product you’re wearing. It works especially great with dark colors. The formula prevents bleeding, feathering, and fading – it keeps your lipstick within the lip lines.
You can get this primer on Amazon right now for only $4.99. This is one of the cheapest primers on our list, and one of the highest-ranked thanks to its quality.
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Mary Kay TimeWise Age Fighting Lip Primer
#3 Best Anti-Aging Lip Primer
- Features both anti-aging and priming benefits
- Gets rid of fine lines
- Soft, creamy texture
The Mary Kay TimeWise Age-Fighting Lip Primer fights fine lines and wrinkles while keeping your lipstick on all day long. You can use this as an everyday moisturizer for your lips or as a primer.
A little pricier than some of the other primers.
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This primer almost works like a lip plumper; it fills in fine lines and leaves your lips looking lush. You can use this as an anti-aging cosmetic by applying it to your lips in the morning and at night to reduce fine lines and wrinkles on and around the lips. You can also simply use this as a nourishing lip primer by applying a light coat before lipstick or lipgloss.
Two key ingredients in this formula are sunflower seed oil and vitamin E derivative. The sunflower seed oil acts as a skin conditioning treatment that creates a soft, smooth, and supple appearance for the lips. The vitamin E derivative serves as an antioxidant.
This primer has so many beneficial values packed into one item. We think that, while it’s a little pricier than some of the other primers on our list, it’s a good value for all that it does.
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Elizabeth Arden Advanced Lip Fix Cream
#4 Best Lip Primer for Reducing Lip Lines
- Hydrates and nourishes lips
- Fragrance-free
- Visibly reduces lip lines
The clinically and dermatologist tested Elizabeth Arden Advanced Lip Fix Cream visibly reduces lip lines and creates soft, luxurious lips. It’s fragrance-free, and a tiny bit goes a long way.
Some users don’t like the texture of this product and say it feels too greasy.
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For this lip primer cream, all you need is a little dot of formula. Apply to either finger or directly onto clean lips, smooth on the lip line, then blend over lips. Make sure to let this product dry thoroughly before applying lipstick or gloss. Reapply throughout the day before reapplying lipstick.
This lip primer is a cream, so it’s a little thicker than other primer formulas. The primer is an herbal antioxidant that conditions lips and softens the appearance and texture. It is dermatologist, allergy, and clinically tested.
It’s $22.50, and a little goes a very long way. This is great as a primer but also works as a conditioner and lip line remover.
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Rimmel Kate Lip Conditioning Balm
#5 Best Drugstore Lip Primer
- Serves as a lip balm and primer
- Inexpensive
- Leaves lips with a nice shine
The Rimmel Kate Lip Conditioning Balm nourishes and hydrates lips while also acting as a primer. This triple-action lip balm keeps lips hydrated for up to 8 hours and gives lips a natural-looking glow.
When using strictly as a primer, you will need to reapply before reapplying lipstick or lipgloss.
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This primer/lip balm applies very smoothly and leaves lips incredibly soft and hydrated. It prevents lips from cracking or chapping and gives a natural healthy glow. Use this as an everyday balm and as your go-to primer.
This lip primer/balm nourishes while serving as a primer. It’s got an 8-hour hold and gives a healthy glow to lips. Use this as your everyday moisturizing stick to enhance the look and feel of your lips.
8.9/10
This primer and lip balm is extremely inexpensive and can be found at most drugstores. It’s set at a bargain of a price and is easily accessible – what else can you ask for?
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Anastasia Lip Primer
#6 Best Conditioning Lip Primer
- Creates ultra-soft lips
- Works as a 2-in-1 primer and conditioner
- Holds color all day
If you apply too much of this product it may cause your lipstick to clump a little.
The Anastasia Lip Primer can be used both as a lip primer and a nighttime conditioning treatment. The ultra-hydrating formula softens lips and leaves them hydrated.
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This Anastasia Lip Primer glides on smoothly. Use a simple basecoat before you apply lipstick or lipgloss or use this primer as a nighttime conditioning treatment to help soften and hydrate lips.
This primer works great with light and dark colors. It prevents feathering, fading, and bleeding. It’s an excellent primer for anyone who tends to have dry or chapped lips. It works almost like a lip balm with its nourishing conditioning elements.
To us, this is a great deal. Because it’s like a 2-in-1 and only costs $16, we think it’s quite a steal.
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Too Faced Lip Insurance
#7 Best Matte Finish Primer
- Cruelty-free
- Locks down lip color or gloss
- Moisturizes lips
This Too Faced Lip Insurance Primer locks down your lipstick to create an everlasting, matte finish. This primer works to moisturize and hydrate lips with its quick-drying formula.
The formula is quick-drying – but make sure you wait until it’s completely dry before applying your lipstick or gloss for your color to stay on longer.
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You don’t need to apply much of this primer in order for it to reach its full potential. The Too Faced Lip Insurance goes on smoothly, and hydrates and moisturizes while it keeps your lipstick from feathering, fading, or transferring.
The Too Faced Lip Insurance locks down lip color with its quick-drying formula. It is 100% vegan and cruelty-free. The silky-smooth formula provides ultimate hydration that keeps your lips looking vibrant.
At $20, you’ve got a primer that will hold your color for the entire day.
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