Best splurge-worthy eyeshadow primer
Hourglass Beauty/ Sephora
If you’re a veteran artist or someone who wants to really invest in their eye makeup tools, you should consider the Hourglass Veil Eye Primer. Infused with skin-loving ingredients, this primer doubles up as skincare. The lightweight formula contains vitamins E and C as well as hydrating agents that leave your eyelids brightened, moisturized, and primed. It also reduces the appearance of creases and gives you a natural finish.
“I tried this and it doesn’t crease at all! I was in the heat, worked out, and wore it for at least 12 hours. I have oily eyelids and am so glad I found this,” a reviewer on Sephora said. While the $30 price tag may deter some, one customer said that they only finished their tube after five months of wearing “this five days a week for at least 12 hours a day and it’s held up!” Get the Hourglass Veil Eye Primer for $30 at Sephora.
Best eyeshadow primer for oily skin
Smashbox/ Sephora
When it comes to eye makeup, “Oil is your enemy, as is anything slippery on the lid,” celebrity makeup artist Mary Irwin told Today. “I like to wipe the eye area down with micellar water before I start makeup to remove anything that could be on the face,” she continued. However, if nothing stops your oily lids, you could try the 24-Hour Photo Finish Eyeshadow Primer from Smashbox.
The sheer formula keeps your shadow on for hours and is resistant to all four elements: creases, fading, sweat, and humidity. One customer on Ulta’s website said, “I normally have greasy eyes and with this I can go to sleep and wake up with my make up intact! Shadow and liner last all day! Deserves so many more stars. Trust it ladies!” Another let potential buyers know that the product is their tried and true, saying that the primer helped their eyeshadow last “a full 16 hours.” Get the Smashbox 24-Hour Photo Finish Eyeshadow Primer for $22 at Ulta.
Best eyeshadow primer for dry skin
Benefit Cosmetics/ Ulta
While oil really is the enemy for eyeshadow, dry and flaky skin isn’t a friend either. Benefit’s Stay Don’t Stray eyeshadow primer is made to prep your skin for pigment while deeply hydrating it. It contains sodium hyaluronate, a derivative of hyaluronic acid that can penetrate your epidermis and can attract moisture to your skin (via Healthline). It’s also infused with vitamins E and C, so you could use it under your eyes to brighten the area and prep your skin for concealer.
One reviewer on Ulta’s website said, “It has a creamy texture, dries fairly quickly and gives a nice, smooth canvas to apply my eyeshadow. No dry lines or flaking of dry skin.” Another said, “As I am getting older I have more creases on my eyelids. This stops [my] eyeshadow from creasing. I love it!” The bottle also comes with a wand applicator, which makes it easier to use for spot concealing as well. Get the Benefit Stay Don’t Stray Eyeshadow Primer at Ulta for $26.
Best eyeshadow primer for all skin tones
Fenty Beauty
If you’re a fan of Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty, you’ll know that it’s celebrated for its inclusive approach to beauty. The brand’s eyeshadow primer uses an “invisipink formula [that] melts into all skin tones,” setting a creaseless base for concealer and eyeshadow that stays true to its color — a win, win.
Reviewers are obsessed: “OMG I just can’t this is the best eye primer I’ve used. It literally keeps my eyeshadow and eyeliner put all day long and there’s only creasing at the end of the day even after taking a long hot bath,” one said on their website. Another, who has self-described hooded and oily eyes, said that it’s the first product they’ve used that doesn’t lead to creases. “So incredibly glad I found this new holy grail product!” they raved. Get the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Amplifying Eye Primer for $22 at Fenty Beauty.
Best Eyeshadow Primers In 2022
ShotPrime Studio/Shutterstock
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. When it comes to the trend cycle, eye makeup looks seem to be on rotation just as much as our outfits. We’re wearing graphic liner and bold eye shadow pigments when “Euphoria” airs, but switching to soft pinks and dewy highlighters when “Bridgerton” comes on. We’re switching between negative space shadows and glittery shadows every other day; however, for any of these looks to pop, we’re going to need a dependable eyeshadow primer.
“It’s good to set your eye shadow by starting with a primer. This helps to not only hold the shadow in place, but also preps the eyelid, getting rid of discoloration,” makeup artist Desirae Cherman told Today. Using a primer on your eyelids can also absorb excess oil, reduce creasing, and create a canvas worthy of any makeup artist. So, pick up your brush, get your palette ready, and scroll for some of the best eyeshadow primers that money can buy.
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
“It’s good to set your eye shadow by starting with a primer. This helps to not only hold the shadow in place, but also preps the eyelid, getting rid of discoloration,” makeup artist Desirae Cherman told Today. Using a primer on your eyelids can also absorb excess oil, reduce creasing, and create a canvas worthy of any makeup artist. So, pick up your brush, get your palette ready, and scroll for some of the best eyeshadow primers that money can buy.
How we selected products
Prostock-studio/Shutterstock
Best overall eyeshadow primer
Best budget eyeshadow primer
According to one customer, it powers through 10-hour restaurant shifts. “TODAY I WORKED A TEN HOUR SHIFT AND WHEN I GOT BACK HOME MY EYELINER STILL HAD NOT EVEN SMUDGED. It didn’t bleed onto my upper eyelid, it didn’t wear away at the corners of my eyes. I put it under my eyes and my mascara didn’t melt.” They continue to say, “10/10 this is the best product I’ve ever used.” Another reviewer said that it lasted through dance practice. To sum up, this primer endures cardio like an athlete.
Best drugstore eyeshadow primer
Best splurge-worthy eyeshadow primer
Hourglass Beauty/ Sephora
If you’re a veteran artist or someone who wants to really invest in their eye makeup tools, you should consider the Hourglass Veil Eye Primer. Infused with skin-loving ingredients, this primer doubles up as skincare. The lightweight formula contains vitamins E and C as well as hydrating agents that leave your eyelids brightened, moisturized, and primed. It also reduces the appearance of creases and gives you a natural finish.
“I tried this and it doesn’t crease at all! I was in the heat, worked out, and wore it for at least 12 hours. I have oily eyelids and am so glad I found this,” a reviewer on Sephora said. While the $30 price tag may deter some, one customer said that they only finished their tube after five months of wearing “this five days a week for at least 12 hours a day and it’s held up!” Get the Hourglass Veil Eye Primer for $30 at Sephora.
“I tried this and it doesn’t crease at all! I was in the heat, worked out, and wore it for at least 12 hours. I have oily eyelids and am so glad I found this,” a reviewer on Sephora said. While the $30 price tag may deter some, one customer said that they only finished their tube after five months of wearing “this five days a week for at least 12 hours a day and it’s held up!”
Get the Hourglass Veil Eye Primer for $30 at Sephora.
Best eyeshadow primer for oily skin
Smashbox/ Sephora
When it comes to eye makeup, “Oil is your enemy, as is anything slippery on the lid,” celebrity makeup artist Mary Irwin told Today. “I like to wipe the eye area down with micellar water before I start makeup to remove anything that could be on the face,” she continued. However, if nothing stops your oily lids, you could try the 24-Hour Photo Finish Eyeshadow Primer from Smashbox.
The sheer formula keeps your shadow on for hours and is resistant to all four elements: creases, fading, sweat, and humidity. One customer on Ulta’s website said, “I normally have greasy eyes and with this I can go to sleep and wake up with my make up intact! Shadow and liner last all day! Deserves so many more stars. Trust it ladies!” Another let potential buyers know that the product is their tried and true, saying that the primer helped their eyeshadow last “a full 16 hours.” Get the Smashbox 24-Hour Photo Finish Eyeshadow Primer for $22 at Ulta.
The sheer formula keeps your shadow on for hours and is resistant to all four elements: creases, fading, sweat, and humidity. One customer on Ulta’s website said, “I normally have greasy eyes and with this I can go to sleep and wake up with my make up intact! Shadow and liner last all day! Deserves so many more stars. Trust it ladies!” Another let potential buyers know that the product is their tried and true, saying that the primer helped their eyeshadow last “a full 16 hours.”
Get the Smashbox 24-Hour Photo Finish Eyeshadow Primer for $22 at Ulta.
Best eyeshadow primer for dry skin
Benefit Cosmetics/ Ulta
While oil really is the enemy for eyeshadow, dry and flaky skin isn’t a friend either. Benefit’s Stay Don’t Stray eyeshadow primer is made to prep your skin for pigment while deeply hydrating it. It contains sodium hyaluronate, a derivative of hyaluronic acid that can penetrate your epidermis and can attract moisture to your skin (via Healthline). It’s also infused with vitamins E and C, so you could use it under your eyes to brighten the area and prep your skin for concealer.
One reviewer on Ulta’s website said, “It has a creamy texture, dries fairly quickly and gives a nice, smooth canvas to apply my eyeshadow. No dry lines or flaking of dry skin.” Another said, “As I am getting older I have more creases on my eyelids. This stops [my] eyeshadow from creasing. I love it!” The bottle also comes with a wand applicator, which makes it easier to use for spot concealing as well. Get the Benefit Stay Don’t Stray Eyeshadow Primer at Ulta for $26.
One reviewer on Ulta’s website said, “It has a creamy texture, dries fairly quickly and gives a nice, smooth canvas to apply my eyeshadow. No dry lines or flaking of dry skin.” Another said, “As I am getting older I have more creases on my eyelids. This stops [my] eyeshadow from creasing. I love it!” The bottle also comes with a wand applicator, which makes it easier to use for spot concealing as well.
Get the Benefit Stay Don’t Stray Eyeshadow Primer at Ulta for $26.
Best eyeshadow primer for all skin tones
Fenty Beauty
If you’re a fan of Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty, you’ll know that it’s celebrated for its inclusive approach to beauty. The brand’s eyeshadow primer uses an “invisipink formula [that] melts into all skin tones,” setting a creaseless base for concealer and eyeshadow that stays true to its color — a win, win.
Reviewers are obsessed: “OMG I just can’t this is the best eye primer I’ve used. It literally keeps my eyeshadow and eyeliner put all day long and there’s only creasing at the end of the day even after taking a long hot bath,” one said on their website. Another, who has self-described hooded and oily eyes, said that it’s the first product they’ve used that doesn’t lead to creases. “So incredibly glad I found this new holy grail product!” they raved. Get the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Amplifying Eye Primer for $22 at Fenty Beauty.
Reviewers are obsessed: “OMG I just can’t this is the best eye primer I’ve used. It literally keeps my eyeshadow and eyeliner put all day long and there’s only creasing at the end of the day even after taking a long hot bath,” one said on their website. Another, who has self-described hooded and oily eyes, said that it’s the first product they’ve used that doesn’t lead to creases. “So incredibly glad I found this new holy grail product!” they raved.
Get the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Amplifying Eye Primer for $22 at Fenty Beauty.
Best eyeshadow primer for bold colors
Best long-lasting eyeshadow primer
Over 28,000 customers gave the eyeshadow primer a 4.4 out of 5 stars on the website, which is not a feat fit for any ordinary primer. A reviewer detailed their experience with it, writing, “This is the best eyeshadow primer I have ever purchased … little goes a long way with this primer. It lasts all day, and I have even gone to work a few times still wearing ’last night’s makeup’ because it holds so well.”
