12 Eyeshadow Primers to Keep Your Lids Popping All Day Long
If you’re a makeup lover (and we know you are!), you’re probably used to experimenting with every primer under the sun, from eyelash primers to face primers and more. But if you’ve never tried out an eyeshadow primer, allow us to school you—because this is a lesson that will change your glam routine as you know it.
We chatted with makeup artist, content creator, and queen of gorgeous eye looks Jaleesa Jaikaran about what eyeshadow primers can do for you, plus what some of our favorite formulas are to keep your eye looks flawless for hours on end. Because, ICYMI, eyeshadow primers have so many benefits beyond just helping your makeup last.
About the Expert:
Jaleesa Jaikaran is a makeup artist and content creator whose work has been featured in major publications including Elle, Glamour, Teen Vogue, Refinery29, and more.
According to Jaikaran, “The natural creasing and oils on your eyelids will cause any eye makeup to fade. Using an eyeshadow primer helps it to last longer and, in most cases, give more vibrancy.” That means that swiping on an eye primer before eyeshadow will help boost color payoff to make bright shadows look brighter, and make any shade look more pigmented. Another benefit? As Jaikaran mentioned, the thin skin on your lids can produce oils that smudge makeup. “I love using a clear primer to help prevent oily lids throughout the day, especially if you're just doing liner or keeping the lid bare.”
1. Best For Daily Wear:
TOO FACED Shadow Insurance Eye Shadow Primer
With insurance built right into the name, we’re already feeling safer. This shadow primer by cult-favorite brand TOO FACED does it all, including neutralizing lid discoloration, providing waterproof protection, and intensifying the pigment of any shadow color. It also promises to lock eyeshadow in place for up to an impressive 24 hours.
2. Best For Selfies:
SMASHBOX COSMETICS Photo Finish Lid Primer
SMASHBOX products come with a big reputation—and one they totally live up to. This eyeshadow primer is designed to last all day without caking, creasing, or fading, and it even comes in a few different shades to color-correct darkness, redness, and more. Plus, it helps protect the delicate skin on your lids from the sun's rays.
Ipster chase_presson says, “Very impressed by this primer. Love that the color is great for creating a base for eyeshadows and covering veins/darkness on the eyelid."
3. Best Overall:
ELIZABETH MOTT Thank Me Later Eye Shadow Primer
If you’ve read our smoky eye tutorial, you already know that we love using ELIZABETH MOTT's hydrating primer to lock in bold pigments all day. This formula dries down quickly and transparently to a pearl powder finish that combats oiliness, evens your skin tone, and brightens your eyeshadow. Need another reason to love it? This formula is cruelty-free, paraben-free, and helps protect your lids from sun damage.
Ipster denahopkins says, “This is a miracle. My eyeshadow looks the same when I go to bed as when I apply it in the morning. It only takes a small amount. I LOVE IT.”
4. Best Anti-Aging:
URBAN DECAY Eyeshadow Primer Potion Anti-Aging
This nude shadow primer creates a brightened-up base for your favorite pop of shadow color. Plus, since it has dermaxyl and kalpariane built into the formula, it helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles and plumps, firms, and hydrates skin as it improves elasticity. Skincare + makeup = always a winning combo in our books.
5. Best Vegan:
THRIVE CAUSEMETICS Eye Lift 360° Waterproof Primer™
Have sensitive eyes or struggle to find formulas that are contact lens-friendly? No worries—this vegan formula is so good and gentle on your eyes, it’s even backed by dermatologists and ophthalmologists. Bonus: The formula is also powered by an Eye Revive Complex, which supports your skin's natural collagen production.
6. Best Lightweight Formula:
BAREMINERALS Prime Time Eyeshadow Primer
Nothing’s worse than an amazing eyeshadow job that fades into a blurry mess in just a few hours. Lock your look in place with this lightweight shadow primer that’s made with only clean ingredients and is never tested on animals. BAREMINERALS is a foolproof brand to reach for if you have sensitive skin, and that includes the thin skin around your eyes!
7. Best for a Range of Skin Tones:
NARS COSMETICS Pro-Prime™ Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
Real talk: Who doesn’t love NARS? If anything, this primer proved to us that we just can’t live without this brand’s powerful formulas. This primer comes in five different skin-matching shades, and it uses a polymer and mineral powder blend that grips the shadow color you play with and keeps it crease- and smudge-free all day long. It’s even fortified with deep-sea extract and an antioxidant rice extract to soothe your skin.
8. Best for Tired Eyes:
GUERLAIN Smoothing and Long-Lasting Eyeshadow Primer
Even if you’re not the type to wear eyeshadow frequently, you’ll still want to add this primer to your collection. Apply it just on its own to look a little more awake and refreshed, as the formula smooths out and brightens up eyelids without any additional product needed. It’s basically like your morning coffee in a primer form—minus the caffeine crash.
9. Best For Oily Lids:
ILIA Natural Brightening Eye Primer
People with oily or sensitive skin, this one’s for you. In this formula, a blend of mineral pigments go to work to keep excess oils at bay, while ingredients like healing aloe, de-puffing arnica, and rosehip will help heal irritated skin. Wear this versatile primer alone or with cream or powder shadows to brighten up pigments and keep your lids crease-free for hours.
10. Best Color Corrector:
LAURA MERCIER Eye Basics Primer
Because the skin around our eyes tends to be thin, any hint of discoloration has a habit of showing through, despite our best efforts to conceal it (*ahem* like those severe eye bags we got from staying up late scrolling through TikTok). Thankfully, this primer comes in a variety of colors like blue, peach, and more to correct discoloration on the eyelids and under the eyes. Pro tip: Peach brightens and lightens to correct tired, dehydrated skin, and blue minimizes purple and pink hues on the lids.
11. Best Drugstore Miracle Worker:
MAYBELLINE Master Prime® Long-Lasting Eyeshadow Primer
Whether you want your lids to be smoothed out, mattefied, or illuminated, MAYBELLINE has a primer for you. Even better, you can wear these alone or under your favorite shadow color. This primer comes packaged like a lip gloss so you can easily swipe it on with the sponge for even and precise application.
12. Best Two-in-One Primer:
STUDIOMAKEUP Eye & Lip Primer
If you’re trying to pare down your makeup essentials, get this eyeshadow primer that also works on the lips for setting your favorite lip color. This formula is enriched with vitamin E, chamomile, and pomegranate seed oils to hydrate and protect skin from the elements. And you can bet it also keeps your favorite colors in place for all-day, smudge-proof wear.
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