10 best eyeshadow primers for locking your look in place
The best eyeshadow primers – or the best eye primers, as they’re often otherwise referred to – are one of those products you don’t realise how much you need until you run out. Put simply; prepping and priming your eye area is crucial if you want your eyeshadow look to last all day (not only if you’ve got oily skin) — while also staying beautifully smooth and creaseless.
“Eyeshadow primers are fantastic at increasing the longevity of your eye makeup — particularly if you have oily eyelids or are sweating throughout the day," explains makeup artist, Jesse Walker. "They can also increase the intensity of your powder shadows, meaning you can use less product whilst still achieving strong colour payoff.”
So, if you don't like the sound of your meticulously applied eye makeup looks slipping and sliding around by lunchtime — or you want to make the pigments in a bold metallic or glittery look really pop — you should definitely consider adding an eyelid primer or eye base to your make-up bag. Not sure where to start? We’ve answered your FAQs, spoken to experts and rigorously tested the market’s hottest releases to help you level-up your makeup routine.
Your eyeshadow primer questions, answered:
Meet the expert:
- Jesse Walker, MUA
How we test eyeshadow primers at GLAMOUR:
We've been testing makeup products – from the best mascara to cream blushers – for over five years at GLAMOUR. Eyeshadow primers, as and when new releases drop, included. We've tested the products featured in this guide for a minimum period of a week, and considered three main factors.
First, how easy they were to apply. Eyeshadow primers should sweep across the eyelids easily, without pulling your skin or causing any irritation. Top points for oversized, cushion-y doe-foot applicators which made the process a joy. Second? We noted the smell, how quickly they dried, and whether eyeshadow was actually easy to apply on top of them. Any products which clumped or caused our eyeshadows to look ~less than perfect~ were discounted.
The last, and perhaps the most important scoring criteria, was whether they helped our eyeshadow to last. ‘Cos that's the entire point, no? Eyeshadow primer should ensure your shadow looks just as it does upon eyeshadow application, hours later. They should be smudge-proof. They should ensure shimmer doesn’t drop to your under eye. They should serve a crease-free look as minimum.
We tested each primer from morning 'til the end of our nights out, noting whether they worked with different eyeshadow types and whether each actually lasted until removal.
Aside from these three main scoring criteria, we noted whether eyeshadow primers were vegan, cruelty-free, whether the packaging was recyclable, whether they come in different colours, and value for money. The results are in.
Ahead, our full edit of tried and tested cream eyeshadow primers.
Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Eye Primer
- Size: 0.29 oz.
- Shades: 1.
- Cruelty-free? Yes, vegan and cruelty-free.
- At a glance: An ultra-gripping primer formulated with 93% naturally derived ingredients.
Why we love it: "Milk Makeup’s eyeshadow primer is genuinely one of the very best eyeshadow primers out there – and the grippiest we've tried. No surprises, TBH, if the brand’s much-loved Hydro Grip face primer is anything to go by.
“The doe-foot applicator makes it easy to apply – just swipe it over lids and pat into skin with a finger, wait a couple of seconds and you’re good to go. Eyeshadow will not budge, smudge or crease and the 90% natural formula is bolstered with moisture boosting hyaluronic acid and cannabis seed extract to stop lids drying out.”
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
- Size: 10ml.
- Shades: Two - Original or Sin.
- Cruelty-free? Undisclosed.
- At a glance: An invisible eyeshadow primer which is super easy to apply with fingers.
Why we love it: “The OG of eyeshadow primers, Primer Potion is up there with Urban Decay’s setting spray in terms of iconic products. Despite being around for years, this primer still delivers time and time again. Completely invisible once applied to lids, a little goes a long way so one tube will last ages, and the creamy formula uses polymer technology to keep shadow and liner locked in place. Plus, it’s easy to apply and blend with fingers.”
Too Faced Shadow Insurance 24h Eyeshadow Primer
- Size: 6ml.
- Shades: 1.
- Cruelty-free? Yes.
- At a glance: “A translucent primer formulated to help enhance eyeshadow longevity and colour,” according to LookFantastic.
Why we love it: "Lightweight and translucent, of course Too Faced’s primer offers 24 hours of non-creasing, fade-resistant wear. Their products are all so long-wearing.
“Formulated with binders that work to lock in pigment, it also stops oil from breaking through shadows, preventing it from looking streaky or creasing. Plus, it’s enriched with a blend of gentle but powerful ingredients that work to protect against pollution and blue light – all whilst nourishing skin. I loved it.”
NYX Professional Makeup Eye Shadow Base
- Size: 0.28 oz.
- Shades: 1, High Definition.
- Cruelty-free? No.
- At a glance: An affordable eyeshadow primer which will make your shadow pop.
Why we love it: “You can always count on NYX Professional Makeup to really deliver professional level products at super affordable prices. Its eyeshadow primer is up there with the best – and at just a fraction of the price of most – and not only does it smooth and even out lids, it conceals imperfections and seriously amps up the vibrancy of eyeshadow.”
MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot Eye Shadow
- Size: 10g.
- Shades: 15 shades.
- Cruelty-free? Undisclosed.
- At a glance: A rich and highly-pigmented primer that doubles-up a cream eyeshadow on its own, and eye primer.
Why we love it: “MAC's paint pots offer a beautiful base for eyeshadow, or work as beautiful eyeshadows themselves, which gives great value for money. The shade range is amazing – and when the shade is chosen correctly, they help to level-up the pigment of the eyeshadow you want to layer on top.”
- Size: 8ml.
- Shades: 1.
- Cruelty-free? Undisclosed.
- At a glance: A long-lasting, waterproof and crease-proof eyeshadow primer.
Why we love it: “Fragrance-free, colourless and hydrating, Beauty Pie’s offering works to hydrate skin and prep eyelids for shadow and liner application. It’s formulated with a blend of brightening pigments that help cover and even out redness, veins and any other discolouration and it has a matte, flexible finish so it’ll never look chalky or flat underneath makeup.”
Save when you shop for the best eyeshadow primers with these Beauty Pie promo codes.
Laura Mercier Eye Basics Primer
- Size: 5.1g.
- Shades: 6.
- Cruelty-free? Undisclosed.
- At a glance: A colour-correcting, creamy primer which has a great shade range.
Why we love it: “It’s fair to say that Laura Mercier is the queen of primers, so it’s only right that she would create an excellent eye primer that can supercharge the pigment on top. This glides on with ease and added blend of botanicals work to strengthen the delicate skin around the eye contour area. It provides a flawless base and really does prolong the life of eyeshadow.”
- Size: 9.6ml.
- Shades: 1.
- Cruelty-free? Undisclosed.
- At a glance: A balm-like primer which nourishes with Vitamins C and E.
Why we love it: “With its silky and balmy texture that glides beautifully over the eyelids, there's something really rather luxe about this premium priming formula. A really blurring and smoothing base, it creates the perfect canvas for all kinds of eyeshadow looks — and it's even infused with vitamins E and C, to help keep your lids nourished and evenly toned.”
Elizabeth Arden Advanced Eye Fix Primer
- Size: 7ml.
- Shades: 1.
- Cruelty-free? Undisclosed.
- At a glance: “An invisible shield between eyelids and eyecolor, so shadows, liner and powders stay put, stay fresh and colour-true longer,” according to Elizabeth Arden.
Why we love it: “Elizabeth Arden’s Advanced Eye Fix Primer creates an invisible barrier between your eyelids and any product you apply on top – whether that’s cream or powder shadow or eyeliner – in order to help keep things in place and prevent movement or creasing during the day. Just make sure that you allow it to dry for around 30 seconds before applying makeup in order to reap the full rewards.”
Rare Beauty Always an Optimist Weightless Eyeshadow Primer
- Size: Undisclosed.
- Shades: 1.
- Cruelty-free? Undisclosed.
- At a glance: A regularly-out-of-stock eyeshadow primer which hydrates lids during use.
Why we love it: “Selena Gomez really did tick every box when she launched her debut brand, Rare Beauty, and alongside the incredible foundation, mascara, concealer and blushers, sits this eyeshadow primer. Truly weightless, it hydrates eyelids and prevents eyeshadow from fading, smudging and creasing. It’s suitable for sensitive eyes and we love that it dries down quickly.”
What to look for when shopping for a new eyeshadow primer:
Everything that we listed in our “how we test” section is important to look at when shopping for an eyeshadow primer – but often, you won't know how each product performs under those criteria until you've purchased. That's why our guide is useful. Things to look out for yourself? See below.
| Pot size | How many applications will you get from your eyeshadow primer? Is it good value for money? Will you use it daily and power through a small spot? Consider your usage. |
| Shade range/colours available | Most eyeshadow primers come in one, clear or transparent formula – but the latter might not be suitable for darker skin tones. Other eyeshadow primers come in lots of shades. As a general rule of thumb, primers with more pigmentation and contrast against your skin colour will help your eyeshadow stand out, while muted tones will be perfect for a longevity boost or everyday wear. |
| Finish | Again, as a general rule of thumb, smooth eyeshadow primers will make application similarly smooth, while tacky eyeshadow primers will act as a magnet and help your eyeshadows last longer. What do you care about most? |
How should you apply eyeshadow primer?
There's not one best way to apply eyeshadow primer – but the fact that most of the products we've featured come with a doe-foot applicator makes it pretty fool-proof. Apply your base products but ensure little foundation or concealer sits on your eyelids. Then, use the doe-foot applicator to apply an even amount of product across your entire lid. You can then use your ring finger to blend it in and ensure any excess product is banished. An alternative method? Use an eyeshadow brush to blend the product in the same way you would a cream eyeshadow.
