11 Best Eyeshadow Primers

11 Best Eyeshadow Primers For Long Lasting Perfection

If you have a big night out ahead of you and are planning to go heavy with your eye makeup, then you’re going to need an eyeshadow primer.

These primers work at keeping your eyeshadow in place without creasing, smudging, or wearing off.

It will leave you with that just-applied look all evening long. 

No doubt, after a few uses, you’ll soon begin to wonder why you ever went without an eyeshadow primer.

Best Eyeshadow Primers

 Below we’ve compiled a list of the best eyeshadow primers for you to consider.

Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

This is a lightweight eyeshadow primer that will keep your eye makeup in place all day or all night long.

It will leave your brilliant eye designs looking fresh and bright for hours and won’t smudge, crease, or leave your eyeshadow looking cakey. 

It will keep any eyeshadow, liner, or eyebrow pencils in place with its polymer and mineral powder formula.

This primer has also been infused with a deep sea extract and packed with antioxidant rice that will dry out any excess oils from the eyes and leave them feeling smooth and ready to apply your favourite eyeshadow. 

Urban Decay Anti Ageing Eyeshadow Primer Potion

Urban Decay Anti-Aging Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Hydrating Eye Primer - Reduces the Appearance of Fine Lines - Great for Mature Crepey Eyelids

This eyeshadow primer comes in a nude color to even out your skin shade and texture, ready to leave you with crease free eyeshadow all day. 

Dermaxyl has been added to this primer to help smooth out any wrinkles and reduce the look of ageing.

Along with the dermaxyl, there’s also kalpariane infused to help plump the skin to keep it firm and hydrated and to improve the skin’s elasticity. 

This primer can even be used on metallic and glitter eyeshadows, just apply a small amount to your lids before you add any eye shadow or liner. 

Nyx Professional Makeup Ultimate Shadow & Liner Primer

NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Ultimate Shadow & Liner Primer, Eyeshadow & Eyeliner Primer

Nyx has infused this primer with vitamin E to extend the life of your eyeshadow while it’s on your eyelids.

It will make your eyeshadow and liner appear more vibrant without creasing or smudging the makeup. 

It’s a creamy formula that can also be worn if you want to create a more natural, everyday look.

Coming in four different shades, you can choose whichever best suits your skin tone to help blend in your eye makeup. 

You’ll also be pleased to know that Nyx makeup is cruelty free with all of their makeup approved by PETA. 

Too Faced Shadow Insurance Anti-Crease Eyeshadow Primer

Too Faced Shadow Insurance Anti-Crease Eye Shadow Primer

This primer will keep your eyeshadow and any eyebrow products in place all day.

Too Faced has included vitamin E and silicone in its primer to ensure your eye area stays smooth, allowing your makeup to glide on. 

It’ll help to intensify the colors of your eyeshadow, leaving your eye makeup looking bright and professionally applied. 

The product works by securing a barrier between your eyes and natural oils so that your eyeshadow won’t smudge or fade away.

To use the product, apply to your eye area, up to the brows, and also include your lashes before you apply any eye makeup products. 

E.l.f. Shadow Lock Eyelid Primer

e.l.f. Shadow Lock Eyelid Primer,

Use this lightweight eyeshadow primer before applying any makeup to the eyes to increase any staying power and the intensity of the shadow.

The primer will also avoid creasing, meaning you’ll be able to have flawless eyes that last all day. 

You’ll want to apply a thin coat of this primer to the eye area and then blend in to create a seamless look.

Make sure the product has dried before applying any makeup

Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Eye Primer

Elizabeth Mott - Thank Me Later Eye Primer - Priming Makeup Eyeshadow Base - Clear, Waterproof - Prevents Oily Lids and Creasing - Cruelty-Free

Created with pearl powder, this primer will ensure that your eye makeup stays looking intense by enhancing the pigments in the product.

Your eyeshadow will stay in place all day and the product will create a foundation for your makeup so that it won’t smudge away and will smooth on to create a seamless blend. 

With the primer being lightweight and non-greasy, you won’t need to keep applying touch-ups throughout the day, your makeup will be sure to stay intact. 

It will also even out your skin tone, keep unwanted oils at bay, and conceal discolorations.  

Covergirl Lid Lock Up Eyeshadow Primer

COVERGIRL Lid Lock Up Eyeshadow Primer, Clear, All-Day, Dries Quickly, .06 Pound, Crease-Proof, Shadow

This eye shadow primer has been designed to dry quickly thanks to its lightweight formula, ensuring that your eye makeup will stay in place all day long.

It will lock in the color of your eyeshadow so that it stays looking vibrant all day and won’t crease throughout the day.  

You can use it with a wide range of eyeshadows, across all brands, including shimmers, glitters, mattes, and metallics. 

It comes with an easy applicator tip that will glide onto your eyes and evenly distribute onto your lids. 

Revlon Eyeshadow Primer

Revlon Eyeshadow Primer

Featuring color stay technology, this primer will keep the shadow on your eyes for up to 24 hours.

The primer will create a smooth base for your makeup due to it being infused with shea butter and will also avoid creasing and smudging. 

It will work well with all skin tones by easily blending out, making your eyeshadow and liner appear seamless. 

As a non-greasy formula, you can be assured that your eye makeup will stay looking freshly applied and your natural oils won’t smudge it away. 

Glo Skin Beauty Shadow Primer


Glo Skin Beauty Shadow Primer | This Lightweight, Silky Formula Glides On for Lasting, Crease-Free, Smudge-Proof Staying Power

If you want your eyeshadow to stay crease-free and smudge-free then this primer will be a perfect choice.

It’s been created with a non-greasy formula to ensure your shadow will glide on to create a smooth appearance. 

The gliding emollients that have been infused in this product are what will create a smooth base for your eyeshadow.

It will also prevent your eyeshadow from wearing away and will intensify the color pigments to leave looking freshly applied, even towards the end of the day. 

Glo is also a cruelty-free brand with none of its products tested on animals. 

bareMinerals Prime Time Eye Primer

bareMinerals Prime Time Eye Primer

Have vibrant eyes all day long with bareMineral’s eye primer.

It works by reducing any excess oils on the eyelids so that your eyes don’t look greasy, and your makeup won’t smudge away.

Whether you need your shadow to last all day, or for a full glam look at night, this primer won’t let you down. 

Use the lightweight primer to create an oil-free base for your favourite eyeshadow, liner, or brow products

Ilia Brightening Eye Primer

ILIA - Brightening Eye Primer | Cruelty-Free, Vegan, Clean Beauty

Create a smooth canvas to leave your eyeshadow and liner in place throughout the day.

It will illuminate your eyes by making sure your eye makeup stays locked in place with its specially formulated blend of pigmented minerals. 

It will keep control of any excess oils so that your eyeshadow will stay put without creasing or smudging. 

Not only this, but the product has been infused with naturally sourced botanicals of aloe, arnica, and rose hip. These products will work at depuffing the eyes and rejuvenating the area to leave your eyes looking bright.  

To use the primer, dab a small amount onto your eyelids and then blend the primer out to create a seamless look. Next, you can apply your eyeshadow and liner, or even wear it on its own for a natural and illuminating look. 


Eyeshadow primers are a must-have if you need a product that’s going to keep your eye makeup in place all day or night long. They’re perfect if you have a special event coming up where you need to really glam up your eyes.

A primer will make sure all that hard work you put into creating a gorgeous look will stay in place. You can say goodbye to greasy eyes that smudge or blur after a couple of hours. 

Many primers now also have added ingredients such as vitamins, kinds of butter, or even aloe to work at brightening and smoothing out your eyes.  

The majority of brands have created special formulas that work at targeting excess oils secreted from the eyes so that your eyeshadow won’t smudge or fade away.

Most primers are also crease-free which means your makeup will stay looking freshly applied even hours after it’s brushed onto your eyes.

They work great with all types of eye makeup including eyeliners, brow products, glitter, and cream eyeshadows