Editor's Pick: Maybellline Master Prime Review

Take your color correcting up a notch with Maybelline’s Master Prime makeup primers. We recently received complimentary samples of the drugstore beauty brand’s skin care-inspired primers to test and review. See our results, below.

ICYMI: Color correcting is one of our Skincare.com beauty editors’ favorite makeup techniques. Created to mask skin imperfections and blemishes, color correcting can be a great way to customize your makeup look, according to your skin concerns. And speaking of skin concerns…Maybelline’s collection of Facestudio Master Prime daily makeup primers were made with skin concerns in mind. From Blur + Illuminate (pink) to Blur + Redness Control (green) to Blur + Smooth (white), we review the drugstore beauty mogul’s Master Prime collection, ahead.

Recommended For: Illuminating dull skin types.

Illuminate the look of dull skin with Maybelline’s Facestudio Master Prime Blur + Illuminate makeup primer. Formulated with SPF 30, the daily makeup primer can help brighten the appearance of dull skin and blur skin imperfections—such as fine lines and uneven skin tones—all while promoting a more flawless makeup application.

Why We Love It: When Maybelline sent our Skincare.com beauty editors complimentary samples of their Facestudio Master Prime collection, I was particularly excited to give the Blur + Illuminate a try as I have normal-to-dry skin that can use a little illuminating pick-me-up here and there. Upon application, I noticed that my skin’s imperfections faded  away and the dry, dull areas of my complexion appeared brighter with a natural-looking faux glow. In addition to creating the perfect base for a faux glow makeup look, the lightweight, water-based primer can protect the skin with  SPF 30—you can’t beat that!

How To Use It: To use Maybelline’s Facestudio Master Prime Blur + Illuminate, simply apply the lightweight primer to your fingertips or a damp beauty blending sponge and dab onto a cleansed (and moisturized) complexion. Wear it on its own or follow up with a little faux glow makeup application.

Maybelline Facestudio Master Prime Blur + Illuminate, $9.99 (prices may vary)

Recommended For: Evening out the skin tone and neutralizing the overall appearance of redness.

Looking for a makeup primer that can neutralize the appearance of redness and temporarily blur skin imperfections? Look no further than Maybelline’s Facestudio Master Prime Blur + Redness Control daily makeup primer. Formulated with color correcting technology, the lightweight, water-based Blur + Redness Control primer uses green pigments to temporarily reduce the appearance of redness on the complexion and even out the skin tone for flawless-looking makeup application.

Why We Love It: Any time a cosmetic or skin care product promises 2-in-1 action, I can get behind it. After testing out Maybelline’s Facestudio Master Prime Blur + Redness Control, one of the things that stood out to me the most was how quickly it was able to neutralize the look of any redness on my complexion and blur various skin imperfections. Ideal as a step one to color correcting, this drugstore makeup primer goes on smooth and left my skin looking and feeling softer, smoother, and ready for makeup application.

How To Use It: After cleansing, moisturizing, and applying SPF to your skin, apply a small amount of the Facestudio Master Prime Blur + Redness Control from Maybelline to your complexion using clean fingertips or a damp beauty blending sponge to evenly distribute the product on your complexion. Go “bare” faced and wear it on its own or follow up with your favorite foundation and the rest of your daily makeup application.

Maybelline Facestudio Master Prime Blur + Redness Control, $9.99 (prices may vary)

Recommended For: Smoothing out the appearance of uneven skin.

Keep your makeup in place, blur skin imperfections, and smooth out the appearance of uneven skin with Maybelline Facestudio Master Prime Blur + Smooth. Formulated with skin hydrating glycerin, this lightweight, water-based makeup primer can smooth out the look of skin for even makeup application, blur fine lines, and can help your face makeup stay put throughout the day. In addition, this drugstore makeup primer is non-comedogenic—meaning, it won’t clog your pores.

Why We Love It: Get the most out of your makeup application by incorporating a facial primer into your daily beauty routine. If you’re looking to smooth out the appearance of your uneven skin and blur skin imperfections, reach for Maybelline’s Facestudio Master Prime Blur + Smooth makeup primer. After Maybelline sent our Skincare.com editors complimentary samples of their Facestudio Master Prime collection, I tried the Blur + Smooth out on my dry, winter skin and am pleased to report that the rough patches on my complexion appeared to be smoothed over and the fine lines around my mouth and corners of my eyes were blurred for flawless makeup application.

How To Use It: After cleansing your complexion and applying SPF, use a beauty blending sponge or your fingertips to apply the Facestudio Master Prime Blur + Smooth face primer to your skin. Wear it on its own or follow up with your favorite skin care-inspired foundation and the rest of your daily makeup look.

Maybelline Facestudio Master Prime Blur + Smooth, $9.99 (prices may vary)

Recommended For: Creating a smooth surface and prepping the skin for eyeshadow application.

Want your eye makeup to stay put throughout the day? Reach for Maybelline’s Master Prime Long-Lasting Eye Shadow Base. This easy-to-use eye primer can smooth out the appearance of your eyelids and create a base for your eye makeup, all while promoting long-lasting wear. 

Why We Love It: I’m sure we can all agree that there is nothing more annoying than perfecting your eyeshadow look, only to have half of it melt off halfway through the day. To avoid this beauty mishap from ruining my day, I reach for an eyeshadow primer, such as the Master Prime Long-Lasting Eye Shadow Base. Formulated to prime and smooth the look of eyelids for eye makeup application, this drugstore eye base is ideal for anyone looking to hold their cat eye in place. On top of that, it’s super easy— read: foolproof— to use. Of all the eyeshadow primers that I have tried, I like this one in particular for its affordable price point, easy-to-use applicator brush, and ability to hold my eye makeup in place for all day wear. 

How To Use It: After cleansing your complexion and priming your skin for makeup application, use the Master Prime Long-Lasting Eye Shadow Base applicator wand to apply the priming elixir over the eyelid. Then, follow up with the rest of your eye makeup application and you’re good to go!

Maybelline Master Prime Long-Lasting Eye Shadow Base, $7.99 (prices may vary)