Creating a striking eye makeup look that is smooth, pigmented, and lasts all day is as much about how you prep your eyelids as it is about the eyeshadow palette you choose. Priming your lids before applying eyeshadow will make the shadows blend better and appear more vibrant, whether you use cream or powder, neutral matte shades, or festive glitter. An eyeshadow primer acts as a base for your eyeshadow, preventing it from creasing, fading, or melting off by midday. “They’re usually water-resistant and provide long-lasting wear, all while ensuring eye safety and comfort,” says cosmetic chemist Julie Pefferman.
We tested 29 of the most popular eyeshadow primers, taking notes on their application, feel, and how they affected the final look. These are the best products we tried for dry and oily lids, ranging from hydrating and brightening to waterproof formulas.
Why We Love It: With a smooth, balm-like texture, the Nars Eyeshadow Base blends easily and wears comfortably—it’s practically weightless, according to our tester Katherine. The colour is transparent and has enough slip to smooth out any texture on the lids, allowing eyeshadow to apply more evenly. Our tester appreciated the product’s no-fuss application, as it smoothed out her lid as promised while keeping her eyeshadow vibrant (with a firm grip) on top.
Who It’s For: Anyone looking for a lightweight product that goes on clear and doesn’t interfere with the colour of their eyeshadow should try this one.
While we appreciate that this eyeshadow primer includes a built-in brush, we wish the applicator handle was a little shorter—it feels quite long for the product’s size.
Katherine, tester: “The primer blended in well and felt light on my eyelids. I’ve never used an eyeshadow primer before, but this one will persuade me to start. It felt like a smooth balm on my eye and made everything else feel better.”
Why We Love It: Eyeshadow primers have a reputation for being goopy or heavy, but this one from MAC Cosmetics feels incredibly light on our lids. This formula is intended to help your eyeshadow last for up to 24 hours by preventing creasing while also maintaining the vibrancy of your shadow’s hue. It also contains vitamin E, which aids in smoothing; our tester Gibreel praised the formula for leaving her lids looking and feeling moisturised.
Who It’s For: Whether you have long days (or nights), this primer will keep your eyeshadow in place for the long haul.
Worth noting: Our tester noticed that the formula felt a little chunky when it first came out of the tube, but that feeling quickly dissipated when she spread it over her lids.
Why We Love It: Available in three skin-toned shades, this tinted eyeshadow primer conceals dark circles and redness, and the waterproof formula is ideal for those with oily lids. Lauren, our tester, reported that it feels smooth and lightweight on her lids and dries quickly, providing a neutral base for eyeshadow application. On that note, she didn’t notice the tint under even the lightest shade of eyeshadow.
Who It’s For: If you want your primer to do more than just conceal blemishes, this tinted option does it all.
Worth noting: It’s thicker than our tester anticipated, but still easy to blend. Remember that less is more.
Lauren, tester: “The product dried quickly, and I felt as if I wasn’t wearing anything.” “My eyelids felt smooth.
