What to look for: Brands make it pretty simple to choose an anti-aging primer -- you'll typically see "ageless" or "anti-aging" on the label. In addition, look for ingredients like skin-tightening caffeine, antioxidant-rich grapeseed oil or anti-aging vitamins A, C or E, Quynh says. "These treat fine lines, wrinkles and age spots while adding hydration to the skin, making it ideal for applying makeup."

Try:

Hourglass No. 28 Serum Primer, $65: It's packed with 14 essential oils and 10 plant oils, as well as vitamins A, B5, C and E. Translation: It'll give you supple, smooth and nourished skin.

Clè de Peau Beautè Correcting Cream Veil, $76: This primer has the sweet scent of a summer cocktail, and a light, creamy formula that gives skin a semi-matte, luminous finish.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50 Daily Anti-Aging Primer with Sunscreen, $39.99: Not only does this colorless primer instantly reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, it contains mattifying powders to help keep skin shine-free all day long. Bonus: It's chock-full of antioxidants (like senna alata, a tropical leaf extract) and offers amazing SPF coverage.

What to look for: The buzzwords "oil-free" or "matte," says Quynh. A matte primer with a silicone base is best, adds Scantlin. "It will help minimize your pores, and seal them off which gives you a smoother appearance."

Try:

Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Mattifying Primer, $36. Fight unwanted shine with this smooth, skin-blurring primer. It glides onto skin and doesn't feel greasy like some other silicone-based primers do.

Rouge Bunny Rouge Mattifying Primer, $44. Intentional or not, this primer feels cool and refreshing upon application. It leaves skin feeling hydrated, with a velvety-soft, oil-free finish.

What to look for: Just like lavender shampoo prevents brassy hair, a lavender-tinted primer can work wonders on sallow skin. And don't worry about your face matching the shade of Katy Perry's hair. Lavender primer merely adds a "healthy hue" to your skin and cancels out any jaundiced tones, according to Quynh.

"A great brightening primer will have a lilac or pink tone to it to give you that extra color and add luminosity back to your skin," adds Scantlin.

Try:

Clinique Superprimer Face Primer - Colour Corrects Sallowness, $27. Different from other primers in that it has a more powdery finish, this lavender primer feels ultra-smooth upon application and creates a non-greasy, yet slippery, base for makeup to adhere to.

Tarte Clean Slate Flawless 12-hour Brightening Primer, $30. This radiance-boosting primer blends out to a soft, slightly shimmery pale pink shade that makes skin look amazing, even without foundation. To sweeten the deal, it's waterproof.

Dior Airflash CC Primer, $50. Oh-so-easy to apply, this brightening, smoothing, mist-on primer showers skin with a dose of refreshing minerals and plumping hyaluronic acid.