Aging has, for the most part, played out positively. Among the few qualms I have as a 31-year-old, however, is the tendency for foundation to settle into my newfound fine lines. Additionally, my skin texture is hardly as smooth as it was in my 20s, and the pores I’ve grappled with over the years are only widening. 

It wasn’t until I began noticing these changes in my late 20s that I seriously considered primer—and after trying the Silk Canvas Liquid Prime from Tatcha, I can’t go without it. Not all primers are created equal, of course—I’ve dabbled in duds—but I may have discovered a gem in the No Filter Poreless Base Smoothing Prime from Il Makiage. According to the brand, the formula delivers a “Photoshopped” finish, and shopper testimony corroborates the claim. 

Buy on Ilmakiage.com$49

The Il Makiage No Filter Poreless Base Smoothing Primer is a lightweight, imperfection-blurring gel-cream that creates a smooth base for ensuing foundation. Per shoppers, the primer also works alone, on bare skin, for a filter-like, pore-diminishing effect. The formula has a lightweight, buttery texture, and glides effortlessly across the skin, where it creates a satiny surface. Additionally, the formula prolongs makeup weartime and controls shine—two benefits that are particularly appealing as the sweaty months of summer rapidly approach.

The secret behind the primer’s blurring, skin-smoothing magic? Silicones, which fill in fine lines and diffuse light for a soft-focus finish. FWIW, silicones in and of themselves are non-comedogenic, despite their reputation for causing skin congestion. (They can, however, create an occlusive barrier—which, if not removed, can trap dirt and oil, leading to clogged pores and blemishes, hence the myth.) Interestingly, dimethicone, a key component of Il Makiage’s primer, is among the most common ingredients found in acne moisturizers, a 2023 study found. As for anecdotal evidence: One shopper, who uses Il Makiage’s primer daily, said they’ve had “no breakouts, clogged pores or any other bad reactions.” 

As for its filter-like finish and pore-whittling power? One shopper said the primer “smooth[s]”  large pores on their nose, and softens the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Similarly, a shopper in their late 50s said it makes “pores, lines, and wrinkles disappear,” while a 63-year-old shopper said the primer “gives tired skin a youthful look.” Another fan simply called it “a filter in a bottle.” Finally, a shopper and professional makeup artist shared: “If you want skin like a porcelain doll…this is your product.” 

For a skin-perfecting primer that’s makeup artist-approved, shopper-acclaimed, and absolutely on my wishlist, shop the No Filter Poreless Base Smoothing Prime from Il Makiage. 

Shop more skin-smoothing favorites from the brand, below:

Woke Up Like This Flawless Base Foundation

Buy on Ilmakiage.com$43

Power Redo Wrinkle Fix

Buy on Ilmakiage.com$69