12 Best Eyeshadow Primers 2023: Prime the Eyes for Shadow
Do you want your eyeshadow to last all day?
There are many different types of primers out there, but not all will work with your skin type—this list of the top 5 best eyeshadow primers that you can find on Amazon. You’ll find reviews and information about each product to help you make an informed decision. It enables you to get the most out of your makeup routine by providing reviews and recommendations for products that suit your needs.
Best Eyeshadow Primers 2021
Best Eyeshadow Primers Overall
1
NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Eyeshadow Base Primer
NYX Professional Makeup Eyeshadow Base Primer is a cream eyeshadow primer in shades to ensure a smooth eyeshadow application, prolong the wear of your eyeshadow and even intensify the pigments. Intensify pigments and prime your lids for any look with this eyeshadow base; Use a light shade to brighten your eyeshadow color or the black primer to deepen, or go natural with the skin tone primer base shade. Complete your look with a full range of NYX Professional Makeup eye makeup products from eyeliner palettes to mascara, eyeliners, concealers, setting sprays, and eyebrow products.
What we like:
- Keeps eyeshadow in place all day.
- Makes the colors more vibrant and pigmented.
Best on Budget
2
NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP HD Eyeshadow Base
NYX Professional Makeup HD Eyeshadow Base is the ultimate eye shadow primer formulated to make your lids look smoother and more flawless. This lightweight eye shadow base will intensify pigments and prolong the overall wear of your eyeshadows so you can rock your look in confidence. You’ll never have to worry about creasing or fading again! This product is excellent for all skin types and tones. It’s also vegan-friendly! Complete your look with the full range of NYX Professional Makeup eye makeup products, from eyeshadow palettes to mascara, eyeliners, concealers, setting sprays, and eyebrow products.
What we like:
- Creamy texture that’s easy to apply.
- Protects your eyeshadow from creasing and fading.
Best for Mature Eyes
3
COVERGIRL Lid Lock Up Eyeshadow Primer
If you’re looking for a way to keep your eyeshadow in place, COVERGIRL Lid Lock Up Eyeshadow Primer is the perfect product for you. This quick-to-dry formula pairs perfectly with a range of eyeshadow kits and palettes. It’s easy to use and will ensure that your makeup stays put all day long! You can use this product on its own or under other shadows, too. The result is a vibrant color that lasts for hours without creasing or fading.
What we like:
- Eyeshadow Primer locks eyeshadow in place for 16 hours.
- This primer is oil-free and non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog pores or cause breakouts.
- Helps to prevent creasing and fading
4
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion is best way to prepare for a flawless look that lasts all day. The nude eyelid primer creates a smooth canvas for eyeshadow, prevents makeup from creasing or fading, and keeps lids looking vibrant all day long. Creamy, nude primer dries invisibly to prep for the perfect bold or natural look on all skin tones, skin types, and eye shapes. Vegan, cruelty-free formula is great for oily lids & crepey skin around the eyes.
What we like:
- Keeps eyeshadow from creasing or fading.
- Protects your eyeshadows from smudging and budging.
Best for Oily Lids
5
LOKFAR 2 Pack Matte Eyeshadow Primer
LOKFAR 2 Pack Matte Eyeshadow Primer is best eyeshadow primer for oily lids. It’s a highly pigmented eyeshadow primer to create colorful and vibrant eye makeup. The super creamy consistency allows you to create fluid, effortless designs in the blink of an eye. Challenge yourself and dare to break the rules of conventional makeup to create designs with increased vibrancy, sass and attitude with the colored popping bright shades.
- Keeps eyeshadow in place all day.
- Protects your eyelids from creasing and cracking.
- Look glamorous with a full face of makeup.
- Feel confident knowing you’ll look good at the end of the day.
6
Angel Eyes Eyeshadow Primer by True + Luscious
If you’re looking for a product that will keep your eyeshadow in place, Angel Eyes Eyeshadow Primer is the perfect solution. It’s made with ingredients like vitamin E and jojoba oil to help nourish your skin while also keeping it matte all day long. This primer can be used alone or under eye makeup to create a blank canvas for flawless application. Available in 4 shades to complement all skin tones and enhance your natural beauty.
What we like:
- Keeps eyeshadow on all day long, no matter how many times you blink.
- Gives a smooth base for any eye makeup application.
- Makes your eyes pop with gorgeous color.
- Keeps your eyelids looking smoother and younger than ever before.
Best for Dry Skin
7
Maybelline Master Prime Primer Base
Maybelline has the perfect face primer for you. The color-correcting face primer gives you an instant luminous look and feels while prepping skin for foundation application. This lightweight formula smoothly and moisturizes the skin without leaving any greasy residue. It’s the perfect product if you want to create a flawless base before applying your makeup! Apply this color-correcting face primer preps for makeup application by visually blurring away specific skin concerns, refining the look and feel of skin.
What we like:
- Keep your makeup fresh all day long.
- Create a smooth, matte base for any look.
8
Revlon Illuminance Crème Shadow
Revlon Illuminance Crème Shadow is the perfect product for you. It’s long-lasting, light-reflective, and easy to blend. You can use it on your eyelids or even as an all-over face highlighter! Best part about this cream shadow is that ophthalmologists test it, so it’s safe for sensitive eyes. This eye makeup kit comes with 8 different color palettes packed with a mirror so you can always be ready to add some color to your lids. With just one swipe of the creamy formula, you’ll get a sheer wash of color that’s perfect if you’re looking for something subtle or want to build up the pigment in thin layers until you get the look you want.
What we like:
- Gives a luminous glow to make your eyes pop.
- Lasts all day without creasing or smudging.
Best for Sensitive Skin
9
Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Eye Primer
If so, you know how difficult it is to find a makeup primer that doesn’t irritate your skin. That’s why the Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Eye Primer is an eye primer for the face that delivers an immediate, smooth effect on your skin and leaves a matte finish. This pore minimizer primer is perfect for layering under makeup as it protects against creasing and revitalizes the appearance of your skin. It also balances your complexion!
What we like:
- Primer that will keep your eyeshadow on all day long.
- Eye primer with a lightweight, creamy texture.
- Keep your makeup looking fresh and new for hours.
10
Perricone MD No Makeup Eyeshadow
Perricone MD No Makeup Eyeshadow is the perfect product for anyone with sensitive skin. It’s formulated with Acyl-Glutathione to brighten and awaken the eyes. Light-reflecting pigments provide a soft, satin finish with a pearlized effect. Dispense 1-2 drops into eyelids and use fingertips to gently smooth and blend. This product will leave your eyes looking refreshed without any harsh chemicals or irritating ingredients that can cause redness or irritation on sensitive skin types.
What we like:
- No more messy makeup application.
- Less time spent in the morning getting ready.
- Waterproof and sweat-resistant formula lasts all day.
Best for Acne Prone Skin
11
Wet & Wild Photofocus Eyeshadow Primer
If so, you know how frustrating it can be to find a suitable eyeshadow primer. You want something to keep your makeup in place all day long without making your face feel greasy or oily. It’s perfect for people with acne-prone skin because it brightens eyelids and locks down eyeshadow color while keeping your face feeling fresh and clean all day long. Plus, this product is cruelty-free!
What we like:
- Keeps your eyeshadow in place all day.
- Helps to reduce creasing and fading.
- Gives you beautiful, vibrant color.
- Look like a professional makeup artist when you wear it.
12
TOUCH IN SOL No Pore Blem Primer
Touch in Sol is a Korean makeup brand that offers high-quality products at affordable prices. Their No Pore Blem Prime is one of their most popular primers, and it’s easy to see why! It’s perfect for oily skin, and it will keep your makeup on all day long. Plus, this primer has collagen, which helps tighten pores and smooth out fine lines. This product also hydrates the skin to have a flawless face without any dry patches or flaky areas. You can even use this as an under-eye concealer if you need some extra coverage!
What we like:
- Eliminates the appearance of pores
- Reduces shine for up to 8 hours
Frequently Asked Questions
Is eyeshadow primer important?
A primer can help your eyeshadow stay in place. It allows colors blend and lasts a long time. It also makes colors pop, like iridescent ones. A primer can also help with powders under the eye or around the creases of your eyes.
Are eyeshadow primers worth it?
There are a lot of good eyeshadows on the market. People often don’t need a primer to use them, but if your eyelids have been nicely prepped from exfoliating and moisturizing, a primer can help. The most important thing to know is whether you have oily lids or dry lids- no primer will deliver great coverage on an oily lid, but a good unscented eye shadow base made especially for “oil slicking” will work wonders if you have dry lids.
Which is a better eyeshadow base or primer?
It would depend on what you need for your look, but usually, eyeshadows are more efficient. Lighter shades often look more natural for every day looks like school or work. Darker colors can be good, too, because people with dark skin show them off better. They also make blue or green eyes stand out less if there is some gray in the color that is lighter than the other color.
Is eye primer the same as eyeshadow primer?
Eye primers are good for two things. One is to help your eye shadow stick better. The other thing is to protect your skin from the oil in some of the skincare products you use, like retinol creams. It can be hard to say which one is more important because everyone uses their eye primer differently.
How do I choose eyeshadow primer?
Eyeshadow primers are a thing that helps your eye makeup stay on. There are three types: cream, powder, and stick. Cream-based eyeshadow primers have a clear or tinted base that allows your eye makeup stay put all day long by acting as a protective film on the eyelids. Powder-based eyeshadow primers also have a protective film property, but they work more like traditional powder.
Do you put concealer on your eyelids before eyeshadow?
Yes. Put on concealer before you put on eyeshadow. This will make your eyelids look good, and it will reduce under-eye creases throughout the day. Plus, this gives another layer of coverage to hide any skin problems that you might not be able to cover with makeup yet. Concealer can also act as a protective barrier between your skin and the eyeshadow so that it doesn’t cause health problems in your eye area faster than usual.
Is eyeshadow primer different than face primer?
Eyeshadow primer is a special kind of lotion you put on your eyelids before putting on the eyeshadows. It keeps the eyeshadows from coming off, and it helps them stay on longer. Face primers are like lotions for your face, too. But it depends which one you want to use, so try both out! They help keep powders from going all over your face to look weird.
Eyeshadow Primers Buyer Guide
Once you see all the eye primers, it becomes a bit confusing to choose one primer out of all the available options. Some important factors need to be considered before selecting the primer to see how it performs on your skin and whether it is right for your requirement. Keep the following features in mind when buying the primer to get the most out of it:
1) Texture & Ingredients
The texture of the primer should be light weight and smooth so that it does not crease on the lips. It should dry out quickly and control oil to give you long lasting color. Look for tinted primers which add vibrancy to the eye shadow color and brighten the under eye area. Stay away from primers which contain harmful chemicals which can cause redness and irritation.
2) Skin Type & Concern
There are many different types of primers available in the market and they should be chosen according to the skin type. If you have oily skin, look for primers which control oil and give a clean look. Go for hydrating formulas if you have dry skin. The primers should also be selected according to the type of eye shadow you are going to use.
3) Staying Power
The main purpose of a primer is to enhance the staying power of eye shadow and prevent it from creasing or fading. Test the primer to see how it performs. You can go for a sample of a primer first to check its staying power. A primer should generally last for more than eight hours with the eye shadow.
4) Price
Good eye shadow primers generally cost anywhere between 5$ to 35$ depending on their brand. Choose the one which fits your budget and gives decent results. You can buy packs of multiple tubes to save some money but always check the expiry date of the product before buying.
5) Customer Reviews
You should read the customer reviews of the primer before buying to see what the other users are saying about the product. This gives you an idea about the pros and cons of the primer and how it works on different skin types. Since all products work differently on different skin types, read these reviews only for an overview and then try a sample before buying.
Here are some general tips and tricks which you should keep in mind when buying and using an eyeshadow primer:
- Oily lids can make any eyeshadow slip from its place because of the oil but using a primer can delay the fading if you let the primer dry properly before applying the eyeshadow.
- Do not buy a primer which contains harmful chemicals as the eyelid skin is very thin and these chemicals can irritate your eyes.
- Use a very small amount of primer for the eyeshadow as it is sufficient for the eyes. Using a large dollop can slip from your eyes and the eyeshadow can start creasing.
- Prepping your eyes with an eyeshadow primer which gives a creamy and effortless look to your eyes and this tip should be used with both powder and cream eyeshadows.
- Buy only good quality eye primers as using a cheap primer can harm your eyes and cause redness and irritation.
- You can also use a tinted eyeshadow primer for prepping the brow area for an awakened look as it contains light-reflecting ingredients.
So these are some of the most popular eyeshadow primers available in the market which are used by celebrities and beauty enthusiasts alike for enhancing the staying power of their eye makeup. These primers are good for bringing more vibrancy to the colors of the eyeshadows and keep the eyeshadow in place. This eyeshadow primer buyer guide will help you find the right primer for your makeup. Choose the one which stays for long hours on your eyes without fading.
