Achieve Smooth and Crease-Free Makeup With the Best Eye Primer
Here Are the Highest-Quality Eye Primers Worth Considering in 2023
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer – Best Overall
Key Features
- 0.33 ounces of primer
- Ideal for all skin types including oily and dry
- Four shades available
- Perfect for textured and uneven skin
- Long-lasting
- Vegan and cruelty-free brand
The Urban Decay eyeshadow primer is our first pick due to the four different shades it comes in. The anti-aging one specifically is formulated for wrinkled and textured skin, which can be a hindrance in applying smooth eyeshadow. It helps in evening out skin tone so that you can enjoy radiant color at the first swatch. You just need a little product and spread it evenly on your eyelids and around the eyes where you will apply eyeliner. It has a wand applicator that makes it convenient to use. Harmful ingredients like parabens are not included in the product, and the brand is both vegan and cruelty-free, so you can buy with confidence.
Elizabeth Mott Eyeshadow Base – Best Applicator
Key Features
- Convenient applicator does not waste product
- Enhances eyeshadow pigment
- Prevents creasing and smudging
- Lightweight consistency, so suitable for oily skin
- Cruelty-free brand
Our second pick was easily the Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later eye primer because of its numerous benefits. It provides a good base for eyeshadow and enhances the color pigment. The formula helps prevent fallout and your eye makeup will not crease or smudge. All skin types including oily and dry skin will benefit from this product. The good thing is that the consistency of this primer is very lightweight. You just need to put on a small amount of product and you will get the perfect base without any heaviness or grease forming around your eyes. One of the best things about this is that it is good for your skin. It will help even out your skin tone and decrease discoloration.
NYX Eye Primer – Most Lightweight
Key Features
- 0.28 ounces of primer in one bottle
- Convenient brush applicator
- Prevents creasing and smudging
- Eye makeup lasts longer
- Ideal for all skin types and colors
- Cruelty-free brand
The NYX eye primer is another lightweight eyeshadow base ideal for both light and heavy makeup looks. It does a pretty good job at ensuring a smooth and pigmented eyeshadow which does not crease or smudge easily. The bottle comes with a small brush applicator which conveniently allows you to apply as much product as you like. Your makeup will definitely last longer if you use this prior to applying eyeshadow. The shade of this primer is pretty much neutral, and will be suitable for dark and light skin. The ingredients used in this product are safe for sensitive and oily skin. This company does not test their products on animals, so you can buy from them confidently.
Revlon Colorstay Eyeshadow Primer – 24 Hour Wear
Key Features
- 0.33 ounces of primer in one bottle
- Convenient applicator to control the amount
- Keeps eyeshadow in place for up to 24 hours
- Gel consistency, but non-greasy
- Ideal for all skin types and tones
- Cheaper than similar alternatives
The Revlon Colorstay eye primer is another one of our favorites because of its ability to keep your eyeshadow intact for about 24 hours. Unlike the other products in our list, this one has a gel consistency. This is good because it provides a smooth base to apply all kinds of eyeshadow, including matte and shimmery. It minimizes fallout and ensures good color pigmentation. Despite the gel consistency, it is not greasy and is suitable even for those with extremely oily skin. All skin types and skin tones will definitely benefit from this. What makes this product unique is the relatively lower price point as compared to other alternatives.
Key Features
- 0.24 ounces of primer
- Water-resistant and long lasting
- Ideal for all kinds of eyeshadow
- Good for uneven and textured skin
- Small amount of product needed
Anastasia Beverly Hills is a famous brand, and for good reason. Their eye primer made it to our favorites list because it is water-resistant. The product itself is very functional because it prevents creasing, helps your makeup last longer, and is ideal for both matte and shimmery shades. The applicator is not very convenient, however, as you will need a concealer brush to apply it. Still, it works pretty well on textured and uneven skin. Again, you only need to apply a little product to get the job done. The color of this primer is ideal for all skin tones. If you have sensitive skin, make sure you do a patch test before just to make sure it suits you.
How to Choose a Perfect Eyeshadow Primer: Buying Guide
Eye primers are the most essential eye makeup product because they can change the entire look. Most makeup brands are manufacturing eye primers, so it can be overwhelming to decide which one to buy. This is why our team has worked hard to prepare this guide so we can help make your decision easier.
What Are the Benefits of Using an Eye Primer?
Just like you need a primer before applying your foundation, you need a base before applying your eyeshadow as well. Moisturizers or face primers may work on the eyelids as well, but they rarely prevent your eye makeup from creasing. The goal is to create a smooth base, even if you have very textured or wrinkled skin. This cannot be achieved by a moisturizer alone. Therefore, you need an eye primer to even out your skin texture, so you can enjoy the full pigment of your eyeshadow.
Another advantage of eye primers is evening out the skin tone. A lot of women suffer from discoloration on or around the eyelids, which can be difficult to cover with eyeshadow alone. Eye primers also help prevent your eye makeup from creasing or smudging. Sometimes sweat or other kinds of moisture can ruin your makeup. Primers are designed to counter sweat and give you that aesthetically pleasing smooth look all day long. Your eye makeup will definitely last longer with an eye primer.
How to Choose an Eye Primer Suited to Your Needs
It is vital to first analyze your specific needs before you even browse for an eye primer. There are tons of options available in the market, and once you have an idea of what exactly you are looking for, you can decide better and quickly. Here are a few things you should keep in mind.
Skin type
Your skin type will determine the kind of primer you choose. Most brands advertise their primers to be ideal for all skin types, but you should look a little deeper. If you have oily skin, make sure the consistency of the primer is lightweight. A heavier gel-like consistency may be better for dry skin. Moreover, if your skin is very sensitive, keep an eye on the ingredients and make sure you do not see any parabens or alcohol. Always do a patch test before you start using any product.
Applicator
Most eye primers do not need to be applied in large amounts. Therefore, you need an applicator that helps you control the amount of product you need. Wand or small brush applicators are ideal because they are easy to use and they do not lead to any unnecessary product wastage. They also allow you to apply the product conveniently.
Budget
It is important to keep your budget in mind and make sure you do not get ripped off. Believe us, you can find good quality products in almost all budgets. Look at different brands and only buy a product that you think is charged fairly for the amount of product and benefits you are getting.
Shade
The shade of your eye primer will have a huge impact on the pigmentation. Different skin tones need a different shade, so it is better to purchase from a brand that is providing different shades. A lot of manufacturers advertise their primers to be ideal for all skin colors. However, this will only be the case if the primer is transparent, so be mindful of the shade. Some brands also provide different shades for matte and shimmery eyeshadow.
How Did We Formulate Our Top Picks?
Our team has worked hard and made sure that we only provide you with the best products in the market. Here are some of the factors that we kept in mind when shortlisting eye primers from different brands.
Reviews
We judge the quality and functionality of a product by going through the reviews of customers who have already purchased and used the product. These are reliable resources so we trust them. We only included those eye primers that overall had a very positive response from consumers.
Brand
The brand is, of course, an important consideration. We want to make sure that when you purchase a product, you are not stuck with it in case you are unsatisfied. Our team gives preference to those brands that care about their customers and provide a good refund or return policy in case of an unsatisfactory sale.
Cruelty-free
We strongly believe it is our duty to keep the environment safe for all. We are strictly against brands that test their products on animals. This is why we recommend you to buy from vegan and cruelty-free brands and boycott those who are not. It is worth taking the extra step and we have included only those brands that are cruelty-free.
Price
The prices of eye primers depend a lot on the brand. You can find very reasonable ones from drugstore brands, but other renowned brands are charging higher prices. The overall price range varies from $4 to $25. It is true that the expensive ones are more specialized and have better results, but you do not necessarily have to spend that much. Drugstore brand eye primers do a pretty good job as well, so if your budget is low, they are the ones for you.
People Also Asked
A: Yes, the entire purpose of an eye primer is to provide a good base to your eyeshadow. Most primers need about 20 to 30 seconds to absorb into your skin and dry completely. You can apply your eyeshadow after this as usual.
A: The main difference between the two is the consistency. A face primer will crease your eyeshadow even more and your eyeshadow will not blend effectively. An eye primer, on the other hand, is designed to make your eye makeup last longer by providing a smooth base.
A: If your liquid eyeshadow does not come with a built-in priming ability, you most definitely need an eye primer. It will help prevent creasing and give you a smooth base even on textured skin.
