Hydration Is the Base

The best base is not a primer at all. It is properly hydrated skin.

A dedicated primer is a bonus on top, not a replacement for this step. If you only have time for one thing before foundation, moisturize. A primer is optional; hydration is not.

The catch is patience. Go on before moisturizer has sunk in and the wet surface causes pilling and streaking, where foundation rolls into little flecks.