We Tested 29 Eyeshadow Primers—These 10 Are the Best

Best Overall

NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

5

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Our Ratings

• Application
  5/5
• Feel
  5/5
• Look
  5/5

The brand is arguably most known for its award-winning complexion products, but we believe this eyeshadow primer from NARS deserves more attention. The thin, lightweight consistency blends onto the eyelids with ease to create a smooth, soft canvas for eyeshadow. While the original shade is completely transparent making it an excellent choice for all skin tones, the shade Light has a slight beige color to it which can help blur the appearance of veins on the eyelids.

Eyeshadows apply effortlessly on top, and it helps to prevent creasing and fading throughout the day. Our tester shared that because of its transparent finish, it didn’t affect the color integrity of her eyeshadows which she appreciated.

If we could change one thing about it, it would be the length of the wand. While our tester loved the doe foot applicator, she explained that because the wand is so long, it makes controlled application a bit tricky. However, because of the translucency, this isn’t a big concern.

Price at time of publish: $47

Shades: 2 | Translucent: Yes | Long-Lasting: Yes | Cruelty-Free: No

Best for Oily Lids

e.l.f. Cosmetics Putty Eye Primer

4.7

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If you’re thinking that this is a face primer, you’re right. But we don’t always play by the rules, and you don’t have to either. It was formulated to be a matte primer for the face, but the brand claims that it makes a great eyeshadow primer—and we agree.

Our tester shared that the smooth, creamy texture blended over her eyelids easily and dried down quickly to a comfortable matte finish. Because of the matte finish and not overly emollient texture, it’s a great option for people with oily eyelids. It helps to combat oil, serve as a base for eyeshadow, and help keep the makeup intact. We also love that it can be used on the face and eyes, helping to cut down on the amount of products you’ll need in your makeup collection.

Our one con with this product is that it doesn’t come with an applicator, so you’ll have to dip your fingers or a brush into the formula. But if you use clean fingers and you regularly wash your brushes, you shouldn’t be overly concerned about this.

Price at time of publish: $10

Shades: 1 | Translucent: Yes | Long-Lasting: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Color-Correcting

Rare Beauty Always An Optimist Weightless Eye Primer

5

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Our Ratings

• Application
  5/5
• Feel
  5/5
• Look
  5/5

Discoloration on the eyelids is extremely common, but it can be super frustrating when creating an eyeshadow look. That’s why tinted eyeshadow primers, like this one, are great for people who have veins or hyperpigmentation in the area.

Aside from the creamy consistency and the velvety, comfortable dry-down, our tester raved about the color of this primer. She explained that the peachy hue worked to brighten up the area while simultaneously providing enough coverage to effectively even out her eyelids. She also noted how much she appreciated the packaging design. Because the tube has one flat edge, it won’t roll around on your vanity and potentially break.

One thing to note is that many online reviewers say this primer begins to crease after a few hours—so if you have oily lids, keep this in mind.

Price at time of publish: $18

Shades: 1 | Translucent: No | Long-Lasting: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Brightening

ILIA Natural Brightening Eye Primer

4.7

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Our Ratings

• Application
  5/5
• Feel
  5/5
• Look
  4/5

Sure, eyeshadow primers are meant to serve as a base for makeup and help to increase the longevity of your look, but why not throw other benefits in there too? This primer has a subtle pearlescence to it which gives the eyelids a brighter, more light-reflective look. It even looks pretty alone on the lids. But don’t worry, you can still apply matte shadows on top and achieve your desired finish.

The lightweight texture and fast absorption were what stood out most to our tester, and she also noted that once dry, she couldn’t feel it sitting on her eyelids.

It’s worth mentioning that while our tester didn’t experience this, some online reviewers shared that this primer caused a slight burning sensation upon application. Like with any makeup, it’s always wise to patch-test first.

Price at time of publish: $24

Shade Range: 1 | Translucent: Yes | Long-Lasting: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Coverage

bareMinerals Prime Time Eyelid Primer

4.7

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Our Ratings

• Application
  4.5/5
• Feel
  4.5/5
• Look
  5/5

In addition to helping increase the longevity of your look, eyeshadow primers are great for acting as a base for shadows. But the latter can mean many things. Translucent primers can be great for providing a smooth texture for eyeshadows to evenly blend over, or a tacky texture for more chunky shadows to adhere to. But tinted primers can help to address discoloration while also providing an additional layer of color that can boost the vibrancy of the shadows you apply on top. This tinted primer has a creamy beige color that works to cancel out discoloration as well as make eyeshadows appear more vivid. While it can certainly be used on all skin tones to up the intensity of whatever eyeshadow is applied on top, we would love to see the brand release more shades so that people can more closely match their skin tones if they desire.

Aside from the even coverage it provides, our tester loved the silky texture and the quick-drying formula.

Price at time of publish: $19

Shades: 1 | Translucent: No | Long-Lasting: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Lightweight

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Amplifying Eye Primer

5

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Our Ratings

• Application
  5/5
• Feel
  5/5
• Look
  5/5

The feeling of heavy product sitting on the skin is a makeup pet peeve for many, but with this ultra-lightweight product, you won’t have to worry about that. The formula is soft and airy to the touch, and it blends across the eyelids with almost no effort required.

Our tester shared that the doe foot applicator made for a mess-free application, and once applied, she couldn’t tell that there was product on her eyelids. She also noted that while the primer has a milky, off-white color out of the tube, it dries down to a colorless finish on the lids.

If you have oily eyelids, this is a great option for you. But if you have dry lids, be sure to moisturize before applying it as some reviewers found it to be a bit too matte and dry once applied.

Price at time of publish: $21

Shades: 1 | Translucent: Semi | Long-Lasting: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Long-Lasting

Benefit Cosmetics Stay Don't Stray Eyeshadow Primer

4.7

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Our Ratings

• Application
  4.5/5
• Feel
  4.5/5
• Look
  5/5

No one likes to put time and effort into a gorgeous eyeshadow look—especially for an event—only to have it fade and crease just a few hours later. So, finding an eyeshadow primer that delivers on its long-wearing claims is essential.

This tinted primer works to cancel out discoloration on the eyelids while enhancing the vibrancy of your eyeshadow, and most importantly, keeps your look locked in. If you need your makeup to stay put for a special occasion, this is a solid choice.

Our tester explained that she appreciated the level of pigmentation because while it doesn’t completely blank out the eyelids, it does provide enough coverage to create a pretty even canvas. And due to the fact that it’s not full coverage, the shade is flexible and works for a variety of skin tones. However, we do think that adding one lighter shade and one deeper shade to the lineup would be ideal.

Price at time of publish: $32

Shades: 1 | Translucent: No | Long-Lasting: Yes | Cruelty-Free: No

Best Waterproof

Laura Mercier Eye Basics Primer

4.8

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Our Ratings

• Application
  4.5/5
• Feel
  5/5
• Look
  5/5

If you have oily lids or you live in a rainy, humid climate, chances are a water-resistant eyeshadow primer could save you from some makeup mishaps. In addition to being water-resistant and crease-proof, it has a light, creamy texture that glides onto the lids with ease.

Our tester appreciated how easy it was to apply and how it dried down quickly to a comfortable finish. She shared that she couldn’t feel it sitting on her lids, and her eyeshadow applied smoothly over it and stayed in place.

While we appreciate that the product comes in a variety of shades, our tester noted that the tint seemed to disappear once applied, making the purpose of having several shades confusing.

Price at time of publish: $45

Shades: 6 | Translucent: Semi | Long-Lasting: Yes | Cruelty-Free: No

Best Budget-Friendly

Ruby Kisses 24 HR Eyeshadow Magic Primer

5

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Our Ratings

• Application
  5/5
• Feel
  5/5
• Look
  5/5

If you’re looking for an affordable product to keep your eyeshadow locked in while intensifying the color payoff, you can’t go wrong with this colorless primer. The thin, transparent formula blends across the eyelids smoothly before drying down to a soft matte finish.

Our tester appreciated the even consistency and the fact that it dried down quickly, but what sold her was that she saw a noticeable difference in the color payoff of her eyeshadow when applied on top of the primer.

Some online reviews say that the packaging feels a bit cheap and the applicator is harder than they would prefer, but it’s not a deal-breaker for us considering that it delivers on its claims and comes with an affordable price tag.

Price at time of publish: $7

Shades: 1 | Translucent: Yes | Long-Lasting: Yes | Cruelty-Free: No