I Tried 15 Eyeshadow Primers, These 6 Kept My Makeup in Place All Day (2024)

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So your eye makeup looks just as good at 6 p.m. as it did at 9 a.m.

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Austen Tosone

I Tried 15 Eyeshadow Primers, These 6 Kept My Makeup in Place All Day (1)

Austen Tosone

Austen is a fashion and beauty digital content creator. She has contributed to Refinery29, Fashionista, Teen Vogue, NYLON, Interview, Cosmopolitan, HuffPost, and more.

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Updated on November 13, 2024 03:28PM

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In This Article

  • Our Top Picks
  • Reviews
  • What to Look For
  • How I Tested
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Meet Our Expert
  • Why Trust Byrdie

I Tried 15 Eyeshadow Primers, These 6 Kept My Makeup in Place All Day (2)

TL;DR

The Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Eyeshadow and Concealer Primer was my standout favorite of because of its lightweight, clear formula and how well shadows lasted when I wore it. The wet n wild MegaLast Eyeshadow Primer is an affordable drugstore option that was easy to apply and never creased.

Eyeshadow can be a tricky makeup product. You want to nail the placement, layering, and blending, and there’s always that fear you may do all of that work only for the shadows to fade or crease. Using a primer is one of the best ways to improve the look of your eyeshadow and keep it looking vibrant and fresh throughout the day. “Eyeshadow primer helps eyeshadow adhere to your lid by creating a tacky base, which improves longevity and makes the colors appear more vibrant,” says pro makeup artist Cat Mignano. Think of how you prepare your skin with a moisturizer or primer before applying foundation. Mignano shares, “Just as it’s important to prep and prime your skin for makeup, the same principle applies to your eyelids.”

To see if a good eyeshadow primer truly makes a difference, I tested 15 over four weeks. I considered price point, formula, performance, and how it lengthened the wear of my eye makeup. Here are the primers that stood out from the rest.

Size: 0.29 oz | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

For a few reasons, the Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Eyeshadow and Concealer Primer came out on top for me in this experiment. First, the product was very easy to apply, and it spread evenly, making eyeshadow application seamless. It honestly feels like wearing nothing—the formula is so lightweight and leaves a smooth finish. As a bonus, this product has multiple uses; it can also prime the under-eye area before applying concealer.

I honestly couldn’t come up with anything about the product that I disliked—however, I have dry skin and wonder what those with oily skin might think about the silky, slick texture of this one.

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Size: 0.64 oz | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: No

The wet n wild MegaLast Eyeshadow Primer was definitely the most impressive drugstore option that I tested. I experienced zero creasing and the shadows I applied still looked just as good at the end of the day as when I first applied them. The formula is lightweight and creamy—it goes on smooth but dries with the tiniest bit of tackiness, which I think helped the shadows last well. My only qualm with this ones is that the tube doesn’t have a doe foot applicator, so at first I was just guessing how much product I needed. But after a few tries, I figured out the perfect amount.

Size: 0.27 oz | Shades: 4 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This primer will elevate the look of shadows in your lids and make them last so much longer than they would otherwise. I gave it top marks for longevity; my eyeshadows looked just as pristine and vibrant after several hours of wear as they did when I first applied them. Many of the primers I tested were only available in a clear or single-shade tint, but Nyx has four options to choose from (I wore the shade medium.)

Be forewarned, this formula is more tacky than smooth—but that’s a big reason as to why the eyeshadows I applied stayed in place so well.

I Tried 15 Eyeshadow Primers, These 6 Kept My Makeup in Place All Day (11)

Size: 0.1 oz | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

The Rare Beauty Weightless Eyeshadow Primer creates a concealer-like base to layer shadows on seamlessly. Not only does it color correct and conceal your eyelids just as a concealer would your under eyes and blemishes, but this primer made my eyeshadows appear more vibrant thanks to the tinted base. This is a product that I feel would last me several months since a little goes a really long way. All I needed was a few tiny dots of product dispensed from the doe foot applicator, and I blended them out with my ring finger to cover my entire eyelid. It is currently only available in one shade, so we hope Rare Beauty introduces more soon.

I Tried 15 Eyeshadow Primers, These 6 Kept My Makeup in Place All Day (13)

Size: 0.17 oz | Shades: 15 | Cruelty-Free: No

There is so much to love about the MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot Eyeshadows. First, they can be worn alone or layered with other eyeshadows. (I used the shade Painterly, a beige shade that felt similar to a concealer on my lids, so I chose to layer more shadows on top!) Mignano says that the Paint Pots are also a favorite of hers, so you can feel confident knowing they are makeup artist-approved. Be patient while blending to ensure that you aren’t tugging too much on your lids so you can achieve your perfect level of coverage.

I Tried 15 Eyeshadow Primers, These 6 Kept My Makeup in Place All Day (15)

Size: 0.33 oz | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Urban Decay has created so many colorful eyeliners and shadows; it’s no wonder they created a fantastic primer to help those vibrant products last all day. If you’ve struggled with creasing, this primer will be your best friend; it truly helped my shadows stay in place. The formula is very silky, lightweight, and dries smooth, so it feels like you’re barely wearing a primer at all. Simply apply the primer using the doe foot applicator and blend it out with your fingers or a brush. The formula is slightly tinted and has a bit of a shimmer to it.

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What to Look for When Buying an Eyeshadow Primer

  • Application: An eyeshadow primer should be easy to apply and spread without any discomfort or tugging. I also noted whether the formula was tinted and whether that impacted how the primer applied to my eyelids in any way.
  • Look: Upon first application, I looked for signs of clumping or creasing. I also wanted to see if the eyeshadow primers would increase the vibrancy and look of the eyeshadows themselves.
  • Longevity: Eyeshadow primer is designed to help your shadows look their best from the time you apply makeup until you wash your face at the end of the night. I evaluated these primers based on how well my eye makeup lasted throughout the day and how they worked with different types of shadows (creams, powders, liquids).

How I Tested Eyeshadow Primers

I evaluated 15 different primers over the course of four weeks, using them regularly to find my top recommendations featured in this article. Here are the factors I considered while testing:

  • Shade Range: Some eyeshadow primers have a clear or transparent formula, while others feature several different shades. If you want to increase your eyeshadows' vibrancy, you may want a primer with more pigmentation to help the shadows stand out. If you’re into more muted shadow colors for every day and are looking for a longevity boost, a clear formula just might do the trick.
  • Feel: People have different preferences in terms of what they want their eyeshadow primer to actually feel like on their lid—some may prefer a tacky finish to truly lock the products in place, while others may look for a smooth finish to evenly spread shadows.
  • Usage: How many applications can you get from an eyeshadow primer? Consider the pot size or tube the primer comes in and how much product you’ll need to cover your lids. If you plan to wear an eyeshadow primer daily, look for a formula where a little goes a long way.
  • Finish: Depending on your goals for using an eyeshadow primer, you may find yourself drawn to different formulas. A tacky formula will act as a magnet and help your eyeshadows last longer throughout the day. A smooth formula will simplify the application and make it easy for any type of eyeshadow (powder, cream, or liquid) to glide across your lid with no tugging or sensitivity.

FAQ

  • What's the best way to apply an eyeshadow primer?

    There are several ways to apply eyeshadow primers. Most of the formulas I tried came with a doe-foot applicator, which I would use to distribute the product. I would then gently tap the product with my ring finger to warm it into my skin and blend any excess product left behind from the applicator.

    Mignano prefers using a small, dense brush—like the Fenty Beauty Precision Concealer Brush 180—because it allows for more control over the amount of product applied. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different application methods and find the one that’s best for you.

  • How long should you let eyeshadow primer dry before applying eyeshadow?

    “This depends on the primer's formula,” says Mignano. “Usually, I like to set the primer with a bit of pressed powder, as I find it helps my eyeshadow blend more smoothly and prevents it from looking patchy.”

  • Are there any alternatives to eyeshadow primers that also help shadows last?

    Mignano says, “Most of the time, I opt for a cream concealer or base for my eyeshadows, as I find it has a similar effect to a primer.” You’re less likely to find a tacky concealer formula, but if you’re looking to get even coverage all over your face and add a bit of pigmentation to increase the vibrancy of the eyeshadow, a concealer can be a great substitute for an eyeshadow primer when you’re in a pinch.

Meet Our Expert

For this story, I consulted a professional makeup artist to find out if she had primer recommendations and to gain insight into the best ways to apply primer.

  • Cat Mignano is a professional makeup artist based in NYC. She has worked with influencers and celebrities like Liv Perez, Hannah Godwin, Campbell Puckett, and many more.

Why Trust Byrdie

Austen Tosone is a beauty writer and content creator based in NYC. She has been writing about beauty online for almost a decade and samples dozens of products every month for work. Austen has interviewed beauty brand founders, celebrity ambassadors, and influencers about makeup, skincare, and hair. For this story, she reviewed popular eyeshadow primers and took detailed notes about each one before finally narrowing her picks down to the very best ones featured in this story.

Edited byAlly Hirschlag

I Tried 15 Eyeshadow Primers, These 6 Kept My Makeup in Place All Day (2024)
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