Many times, our carefully blended eyeshadows end up smudging and creasing, causing concern. And, the magic fix to this lies in using the best eyeshadow primer you can get your hands on. Just like face primer helps your makeup stick, eyeshadow primer does the same for your eye makeup. Yet, their formulation sets them apart from regular face primers, as the latter is thicker and tackier in texture. 

Our contributor Maya Adivi, a certified makeup artist, says, “The goal of face primers is to fill in spots and make the skin smoother, so cream-based foundations can glide on more easily. On the eyes, eyeshadow primers need to help intensify powder eyeshadow and help it stick better. In other words, face and eye primers have different jobs, so their formulas are very different and they’re not interchangeable. If you wish to enhance the lasting power of your eyeshadow, using an eyeshadow primer is a great idea.”

Specially formulated eyeshadow primers create a thin barrier between your skin and the makeup, without causing any unnecessary or uncomfortable buildup on your eyelids. Here, we have experimented with various eye primers, and with our hands-on experience, we can confirm that using this barrier not only boosts your eyeshadow's appearance but also ensures it stays put throughout the day.

No matter, if you like a natural or dramatic eye look, an eyeshadow primer, makes your eyelids pop and keeps your makeup flawless. It's essential to pick the right one for your skin type. We've listed some great options and detailed everything you need to know about eyeshadow primers. Check out our top picks below.

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  Editor's Pick

  Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Eye Primer

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This cruelty-free product by Elizabeth Mott is among the best eyeshadow primers out there. It not only boosts the color of your eyeshadow but also feels super light and sheer on your eyelids. What caught our attention was its easy-to-blend mousse-like texture. This makes it super easy to reapply without any concerns about creases. Enriched with pearl powder, the primer delivers a radiant finish, thereby brightening up the area around your eyes and providing a smooth makeup base.S

2

Best Crease-proof

Milani Eyeshadow Primer

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Once more, we've found a lightweight, crease-proof eyeshadow primer specially designed for oily skin. This eye primer by Milani is quite budget-friendly and a little quantity of it goes a long way in enhancing your eye makeup. The brand stands out for its inclusive approach, catering to all ethnicities, skin types, and shades. Their invisible primer is one such that delivers a skin-like finish in a single stroke. Plus, the product adds a burst of vibrant color to your palette, enhancing the intensity of your eyeshadow effortlessly. It will be a perfect fit in your collection, to relish professional-level eye looks.

3

Best Cruelty-free

Pretty Vulgar Eyeshadow Primer

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Unlock the potential of your eye makeup with this Pretty Vulgar Uncaged Eyeshadow Primer. This translucent base, enriched with mineral-rich clay, is your secret to long-lasting, crease-free makeup. Clean and cruelty-free, this lightweight primer not only prevents creasing and fading but also enhances color payoff. It's a makeup artist's dream, that absorbs excess oil for a flawless finish. Elevate your eyeshadow game with this gluten-free gem that ensures your vibrant looks stay put all day. Embrace a primer that not only cares for your skin but also lets your eyeshadow shine, unbridled and uncaged.

4

Revlon Colorstay Eyeshadow Primer

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This eyeshadow primer from Revlon features a unique non-drying cream formula, guaranteeing a crease-free finish. It's designed to endure for a solid 24 hours without smudging with its innovative ColorStay technology. It's packed with nourishing ingredients like shea butter, aloe, and cucumber extracts that create a silky base for your eyeshadow application. Despite its slightly creamier texture, it doesn’t get cakey and lives up to its promise by delivering a crease-free finish. Plus, its universal shade suits all skin tones beautifully, making it a versatile choice for everyone.

5

Best for Fine Lines

Urban Decay Anti-Aging Eyeshadow Primer Potion

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Urban Decay is a well-known brand for its outstanding eye primers, and its anti-aging potion certainly lives up to the hype. This nude primer, which includes dermaxyl, is perfect for individuals with fine lines, particularly those with mature skin, as it effectively evens out textures. It's packed with Kalpariane which enhances skin hydration, making it firmer and plumper while boosting elasticity and suppleness. Additionally, a 2011 study revealed that this brown algae possesses specific anti-aging benefits, further enhancing the primer's credibility. Moreover, it incorporates advanced polymer technology, enhancing both its texture and performance to achieve an ideal eye prep.

6

Best for Oily Lids

COVERGIRL Lid Lock-Up Primer

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This water-resistant primer for eyeshadows by COVERGIRL is a game-changer for your eye makeup. It not only intensifies the color of your eyeshadow but also prevents smudging and rubbing off. With its instant-dry formula, you can skip the long waiting time before applying eye makeup. What’s impressive is that its formulation seamlessly bonds with eyeshadow pigments, ensuring a smooth finish that stays put. During our product testing, we found that applying this transparent primer was such a breeze due to its user-friendly applicator tip. Plus, it's a great ethical choice as it's not tested on animals.

7

Best Long-lasting

NYX Ultimate Shadow & Liner Primer

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Makeup products by NYX are renowned for their professional quality and affordable prices, including their vegan eye primer, which is a standout choice. What makes it even more amazing is that it comes in 4 adaptable shades and can be worn alone, making it incredibly versatile. We were immediately impressed by its easy-to-use doe foot applicator, enhancing shadow and eyeliner vibrancy and longevity. The primer boasts a creamy texture with a subtle blurring effect, creating an ideal canvas for various eye looks. You can also wear it beneath eyeliner for intense eyes.

8

Best Budget-friendly

Wet n Wild Megalast Eyeshadow Primer

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This newly launched eyeshadow primer is not only beneficial but also super-affordable, and won't break the bank! An impressive feature of this Wet n Wild Megalast Eyeshadow Primer is that it boasts a remarkable 16-hour staying power. Its ultra-creamy texture, infused with vitamin E and antioxidants, works wonders for almost all skin types. The product dries clear, delivering a perfect base for eyeshadows; even loose glittery ones. Just a small amount is enough to make your eyeshadow adhere and last longer. We find it to be a great steal as it’s not only affordable but also packed with antioxidants and doesn't have any parabens, making it a healthy choice for your makeup routine.

9

Best for Brightening

ILIA Natural Brightening Eye Primer

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This sheer coverage eye primer is a perfect wake-up call for tired eyes. It can be used alone or alongside shadows, and liners to bring instant brightness. This natural brightening eye primer from ILIA not only provides a base for both cream and powder shadows but also contains mineral pigments that enhance eye area illumination and control excess oils, ensuring vibrant colors that stay in place. It is packed with healing aloe, rejuvenating rose hip, and de-puffing ingredients like arnica, which has been scientifically proven in a 2003 study to reduce swelling, making it highly effective. Thus ILIA's eye primer is not just a purchase; it's a safe choice for your eyes!

10

Best Luxury Choice

Laura Mercier Eye Basics Primer

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This one is a medium-coverage product that manages to conceal redness, veins, and other discolorations to offer a flawless canvas for your eyeshadow. The primer is infused with botanicals like flax, wheat, and linen which soothes and protects the delicate eyelid skin. Scientifically backed by the Balkan Medical Journal, the infused eyebright extracts are renowned for their medicinal properties in treating eye disorders. Apart from that, it's approved by dermatologists and ophthalmologists. Our experts also verify its ability to prevent creasing and enhance eyeshadow hue. We believe this eye primer from Laura Mercier will be a great luxe addition to your makeup kit.

11

Best Lightweight

MILK MAKEUP Hydro Grip Eye Primer

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We're always drawn to versatile products like the Hydro Grip Eye Primer. This primer from Milk Makeup is an absolute gem as it pairs seamlessly with eyeshadows, eyeliners, concealers, and foundations. It also ensures the vibrant color lasts a remarkable 8 hours. With a 93% natural and vegan formula, it's enriched with hyaluronic acid, aloe water, and niacinamide for moisture. Furthermore, the primer feels super light on the skin. Our experts loved its angled applicator that makes applying it in tricky areas easy. Plus, it offers a soft focus effect, blurring fine lines around the eyes for a flawless finish.

12

Best Coverage

Benefit Cosmetics Stay Don't Stray Eyeshadow Primer

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Our list wouldn't be complete without mentioning Benefit Cosmetics. Their Stay Don't Stray is a dual-action power primer that works 360 to ensure your concealers and eyeshadows stay in place. With this premium brand, you can definitely expect your primer not to crease and pop your eyeshadows. The primer is packed with sodium hyaluronate for hydration and vitamins E and C to combat aging signs. It is specifically tailored for oily lids without any oil ingredients. Besides, we love how its "Dip & Dab" wand makes application a breeze. We find the product to be ideal for achieving a natural, no-makeup look.

Choosing a good eyeshadow primer can be tricky, but it's all about understanding your needs. Here are some 5 personalized tips from our experts to guide you. 

1. Know Your Skin

Your eyelid skin is delicate, so pick a primer that suits your skin type. If your skin is normal to dry, opt for a moisturizing primer like the Wet n Wild Megalast Eyeshadow Primer. For oily skin, look for primers that control sebum production like Thank Me Later Eye Primer or Covergirl Lid Lock Up Primer. “

2. Consider Coverage

Think about the coverage you need. If you want to hide discoloration, and veins go for the Laura Mercier Eye Basics Primer without second thoughts. For a natural look, Thank Me Later Eye Primer is the best eye primer. If you prefer full coverage, then try the COVERGIRL Lid Lock Up Primer.

3. Check Ingredients

Always read the ingredients before buying. Look for hydrating components like aloe or hyaluronic acid to keep your skin plump. Likewise, avoid harmful ingredients like parabens or lead. from our top picks, the MILK MAKEUP Hydro Grip Eye Primer is a great option with clean, and natural ingredients.

4. Special Concerns

If you have specific concerns like fine lines or uneven skin tone, choose a primer that addresses these issues. Urban Decay Anti-Aging Eyeshadow Primer Potion is excellent for anti-aging effects, while NYX Ultimate Shadow & Liner Primer offers a soft focus effect, blurring imperfections.

5. Brand and Budget

Stick to well-known brands that fit your budget. Also, quality is key, so make a smart choice.

Here's a quick guide on applying eyeshadow primer.

Step 1: Start with a clean face. Use a face wash or cleanser, especially around your eye region. Then pat your skin dry gently and go with your regular serum and moisturizer. 

Step 2: Now take a small amount of eyeshadow primer. Apply it all over your eyelids using your ring finger. Blend it gently for even coverage. “

Step 3: If you plan to apply eyeshadow or eyeliner under your eyes, dab a bit of primer there too. This prevents your makeup from smudging downward during the day.

Step 4: Once the primer is evenly applied, apply your eyeshadow or eyeliner directly over it. The primer creates a smooth base for your eye makeup and makes the colors pop.

Step 5: After completing your eye makeup, take a finishing powder and lightly sweep it over any areas where the primer is still visible. This sets your makeup up and ensures it stays in place all day.

Contributor: Maya Adivi, Certified Makeup artist, Click here for blog