From byrdie
They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul. So if you’ve enhanced your lids with a killer cat eye or a head-turning smokey eye situation, you want to make sure it lasts from the moment it’s applied to the moment you decide to wipe it off. Every good makeup application begins with the base, so while shadow stylings are an important aspect of achieving that wow factor, eye shadow primers are just as essential to the beauty look’s success.
How to Choose the Right Eye Shadow Primer
When it comes to choosing the right eye shadow primer, we don’t approach our assessment with the same sensibilities we might with things like lipstick—where we play with several options and switch from brand to brand depending on colors. With eye shadow primers, what we seek is long-lasting effectiveness that ensures our eyelid creations stay put no matter what the day brings. And once we find it, there’s no going back.
The Best Eye Shadow Primers on the Market
To determine the best eye shadow primers the industry has to offer, we scoured Sephora for its top-rated eye primers. Below, you’ll find seven picks worth putting to the test in your own eye makeup routine.
This oil-free primer goes on sheer to extend high-pigment wear without the excess feel of layers. No wonder it has rallied in over 10,000 loves on everyone’s favorite online beauty shopping destination.
This ultra-lightweight formula creates a smooth and even canvas for makeup application. What’s more, it combats creases and fading for up to 24 hours, which has helped to earn it over 80,000 loves from Sephora shoppers.
Polymer technology is implemented to fill imperfections on the skin’s surface using this beige 24-hour primer, which has earned a whopping 250,000 loves on Sephora.
This clear primer (which has earned over 70,000 loves on Sephora) is formulated with special deep-sea and antioxidant rice extracts to keep lids hydrated and looking as if your eye shadow has just been freshly applied all day long.
Created by the same brand behind every beauty fanatic’s beloved Photo Finish Primer, this eye shadow base (which ranks in at 20,000 loves) helps adhere even the glitziest shadows to lids, promising up to 24 hours of wear.
20,000 Sephora shoppers agree, you’re going to fall head over heels for this tinted eye shadow primer. Unlike other eye primers, this formula works in a 360 degree manor, helping not only eye shadow stay put, but under-eye concealer, too.
If Rihanna has taught us anything with her makeup collection (apart from the importance of shade-inclusive ranges), it’s that bold color that lasts is supreme. So it’s no wonder that the singer-turned-beauty mogul would create an eyeshadow primer that has the Internet collectively losing their ish. The fan-favorite formula—raking in 20,000 loves and counting—helps smooth lids for better blending and a more even eye makeup application.