Best Drugstore Primers to Hide Pores

My friends don't read my blog. They see it as why read the blog when they can just ask me their beauty questions? When they ask me beauty stuff, I usually respond with, "That's on the blog! You can search for it!" ;) Hehe. Cheeky.

Recently my friend asked me about the best drugstore primers to hide pores, I naturally directed her to the blog. But that original post is a couple of years old, so I decided to update it! Today I'm focusing on pores, and next week I'll focus on moisturizing primers. If there's an interest, I can share high-end primers as well! I'll be rating these on 1-5 scale, for effectiveness and lasting power.

I'll be reviewing these six primers from the drugstore.

This is what they look like out of the tube. 

There's something about that perfect dollop of the Master Prime--love it.

Maybelline Master Primer Blur + Smooth

• $9.99
• White and creamy in texture
• Best for water-based formulas
• Hides pores but does not mattify well
• 3.5

Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser

• $6.99
• Clear in texture, reminds me of Smashbox's version but slicker
• Tradition silicone primer that is a supposed dupe for Porefessional, but on my skin, that is not the case.
• overall: 4

L'Oreal Miracle Blur

• $24.99
• Very thick "skin tone" primer that's creamy
• I like it best over makeup or on bare skin. It's what I use sometimes in my pictures to make my skin look flawless. A little goes a LONG way. It does break me out if I wear it continually, due to silica.
• There is an oil-free version of this and a Moisture Blur version.
• 4.5 for me, but most others have given this a 3. The price is ridiculous for a drugstore product.

L'Oreal Youth Code Texture Perfector Pore Vanisher (Note: packaging has changed)

• $24.99--This has slightly more product than the Miracle Blur, although the MB has larger packaging.
• Creamy, "skin tone" texture
• This does a great job of blurring pores and is not as thick as the MB, BUT it separates so quickly. It isn't worth the price for that.
• 4 for performance, but 2 because it separates too quickly

Milani Prime Perfection Face Primer

• $9.99
• I accidentally included this one instead of another one by Milani--it's supposed to go on next week's post--but it is oil-free and does minimize pores.
• White and creamy in texture
• Water-based, so it hydrates and helps with pores
• Scented--sensitive skin won't like 
• 3

Boots No 7 Photo Fix Wrinkle Filler and Primer

• $19.99
• I got this at Target, but Walgreens has started selling Boots No 7 as well.
• creamy "skin tone" texture
• water-based but thick--I like this to help blur wrinkles
• 4

The circled area is what you will see zoomed in over 500% in the collage below, showing the primers in action.

Here is each product as worn on my skin with no makeup. This is a super-zoomed in image of my pores and freckles while smiling--the line you see is my nasolabial fold--between my nose and lip, as indicated in the previous picture.

Do you use a primer? Which one is your favorite?

Extra Elle:

• Got my roots done on Friday! I didn't have long since I had to go back to work, but my magical hair girl Marie made it happen!
• I've got a lot of deadlines due this week, so I'll be back Wednesday and Friday. There are over 2000 posts for you to catch up on! ;)