The 9 Best Eyeshadow Primers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Applying eyeshadow like a pro isn’t always easy, but there are a few things you can do to help yourself. Before you even choose which palette or colors you want to use, the best place to start is with a really good base. Similarly to makeup and skin, eyeshadow needs a good canvas to work on. Enter: eyeshadow primer.

Believe it or not, eyeshadow primers aren’t one size fits all. If you’ve applied shadow in the past, you may have noticed that it tends to crease or completely vanish by midday. This can mean you have oily lids. On the other hand, if you have dry lids, you may have difficulty applying eyeshadow because your lids feel rough, so you could benefit from a hydrating formula. And lids aside, if you’re in an environment that’s humid or rainy, you have probably experienced the smudging or running of eye makeup, so a longwear or waterproof primer formula would be the one for you. 

No matter your skin type, environment, or what you're looking to achieve with your primer, we have you covered. We tested 29 eyeshadow primers, and these are the winning ten.

Best Overall

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Amplifying Eye Primer

Our Ratings

• Application

  5/5

• Feel

  5/5

• Look

  5/5

• Extremely lightweight

• Offers crease-proof wear

• Smooth application

Eyeshadow primers are sort of the unsung heroes of makeup — they’re behind the scenes making sure that your shadow looks the way you want it to. This formula is precisely that. It feels weightless and is undetectable on the lids, but it ensures that your shadow lasts all day. In testing, we loved almost everything about this primer — from its smooth application to its barely-there feel.

We appreciated the compact size of the applicator and found it easy to use, but we needed to layer on more product than expected. Because it’s so lightweight, it won’t make much of a difference if you have to add more, but it's something to note. Overall, though, we were very impressed with this eyeshadow primer and would have no problem recommending it to friends. 

Size: 0.27 oz | Long-Lasting: Yes

Best Budget

Ruby Kisses Eyeshadow Magic Primer

Our Ratings

• Application

  5/5

• Feel

  5/5

• Look

  5/5

• Budget-friendly price

• Large tube

• Transparent formula

For a longwear finish at a fraction of the price of most other eyeshadow primers, this one gets the job done. Some testers found that the texture was too liquidy and hard to apply, but we felt that, while it’s on the watery side, it dries down in seconds. We also loved the colorless formula and found that this affordable primer made our shadow look more vibrant.

Size: 1.59 oz | Long-Lasting: Yes

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  People / Jessica Juliao

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  People / Tamara Staples

Best for Sensitive Eyes

ILIA Eye Primer

Our Ratings

• Application

  5/5

• Feel

  5/5

• Look

  4/5

Putting up with red, itchy eyes in order to wear makeup? No, thank you. While it’s tempting to avoid makeup altogether if you have sensitive skin, we promise that the right formulas can make all the difference. This eyeshadow primer packs healing and anti-inflammatory botanicals such as aloe, arnica, and rosehip. In addition to brightening the eye area, this gentle formulation helps to soothe irritation and keeps lids looking their best.

Because it has safer-for-you ingredients tolerated well by sensitive skin, there is a bit of a sacrifice in terms of its wearability. Upon application, we couldn’t tell if it made our shadow more vibrant, but we had no creasing or smudging. If you want a longwear finish that will survive for hours and hours, this may not be the one for you. However, if you’ve struggled with sensitivity and usually have to forgo eyeshadow, this sheer shadow primer will really improve your makeup routine.

Size: 0.8 oz | Long-Lasting: No

Best Longwear

Benefit Cosmetics Eyeshadow Primer

Our Ratings

• Application

  4.5/5

• Feel

  4.5/5

• Look

  5/5

If you’re getting ready for a special event or just want your eyeshadow to last all day, you need something that promises a longwear finish. The Stay Don't Stray Eyeshadow Primer was the winner in this category because the formula dries down a few seconds after application and creates a base that’ll hold onto whatever shadow you put over top. We found that it was nice and creamy to apply and that once it dried, there was no creasing or smudging. Our tester also mentioned that there’s a lot of product in the tube, so it’ll last you a while.

However, the product only comes in one shade — a light/medium color that may not flatter all skin tones. Even so, our tester revealed that the pigment was enough to cover her discoloration, but it was subtle enough that she didn’t feel it needed to be a perfect match. 

Size: 0.33 oz | Long-Lasting: Yes 

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  People / Jessica Juliao

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  People / Tamara Staples

Best Waterproof

Laura Mercier Eye Basics Primer

Our Ratings

• Application

  4.5/5

• Feel

  5/5

• Look

  5/5

• Four shades

• Waterproof

• Not everyone loves a tinted eye primer

• It’s thick, so can feel a little cakey

Whether you’re going to a wedding and a few tears may be shed, you’re cutting onions for dinner, or you just have teary eyes, a waterproof primer can help save your shadow. This one from Laura Mercier promises a water-resistant finish to prolong the life of your eyeshadow without creasing or smudging. We liked how smoothly it went on, and we felt like we weren't wearing anything at all.

We were concerned about the colored pigment, but it didn't prove to be an issue. We applied a light eyeshadow shade and the primer’s color didn’t show through. Even though it didn’t affect our overall experience, we would prefer the formula to be a little more transparent.

Size: 0.18 oz | Long-Lasting: Yes 

Best for Oily Lids

Smashbox Shadow Primer

Nothing ruins an eye makeup look like oily eyelids. You put in all this time and effort — not to mention all the money you spend on pricey palettes — only to have your shadow crease or completely disappear in a few hours. This primer has been put to the test by professional makeup artists on photo shoot sets, so it's sure to save the day (and your shadow). 

Our oily-lidded tester said that it didn’t add to the greasiness that she usually experiences and didn’t crease. Even better, she said that the primer made a huge difference in color payoff and that her eyeshadow colors popped more than they did without the primer. 

In terms of packaging, our tester mentioned wishing the tube was bigger, and other testers said that dispensing the product from the tube can be difficult.

Size: 0.34 oz | Long-Lasting: Yes

Best for Dry Lids

Rare Beauty Weightless Eye Primer

Our Ratings

• Application

  5/5

• Feel

  5/5

• Look

  5/5

Oily lids make it tough to wear eyeshadow because of creasing, but dry lids can complicate things in a different way. This primer formula is creamy, so it makes for a smooth base to apply eyeshadow. A lot of longwear primers are drying because they have to grip onto the shadow, but you won’t get a dry or sticky feeling with this one. This can be an issue for those who already have oily eyelids, as some testers found that this formula caused more creasing and smudging than usual.

Our dry-lidded tester raved about this primer's tinted peach color and said it brightened up her entire eye, even covering the dark veins on her lid that usually bug her. She also loved the detail-oriented design of the bottle, which features one flat side so the tube won't roll off whatever surface it’s on while you do your makeup.

Size: 0.10 oz | Long-Lasting: No

Best for Beginners

Sephora Collection Eyeshadow Primer

If you’re new to eyeshadow primer or makeup in general, this is a great intro to the product. It’s reasonably priced and Sephora has a great return policy in case it’s not for you. In our testing, we thought this eyeshadow primer was easy to apply and had the consistency of a good eye cream.

To avoid applying too much with the wand directly, our tester said that she found it more helpful to dot it on her lid and then rub it in with her finger. Pro tip: Always use your ring finger when applying a formula to the lid or under the eye, as it’s the most gentle and won’t tug or pull.

We found that although the primer dried down almost clear, it highlighted uneven texture when used with sheerer shadows. This wasn’t noticeable when using a glitter or more pigmented shadow, though.

Size: 0.33 oz | Long-Lasting: Yes

Best Splurge

Milk Makeup Eyeshadow and Concealer Primer

Our Ratings

• Application

  5/5

• Feel

  5/5

• Look

  5/5

This primer is truly unique because it was formulated with two uses in mind: for making eyeshadow last on the lid and to prevent concealer creasing under the eyes. If you’re an avid makeup wearer, you may be familiar with baking in order to set your concealer, but this makes it so much easier. Plus, you only need one product, so there’s less tubes to tote around in your makeup bag.

The clear color is a standout and really impressed us during application. We liked that we were able to see the real color of our shadow instead of it being mixed with the pigment of a primer. Our only wish is that the bottle was made from recycled plastic.

Size: 0.29 oz | Long-Lasting: Yes

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  People / Jessica Juliao

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  People / Tamara Staples

Things to Consider Before Buying Eyeshadow Primer

Formulation

The job of an eyeshadow primer is to “lock in place and not affect eyeshadow colors,” explains celebrity makeup artist and founder of the eponymous brand, Ashunta Sheriff. So while not all formulas are created equal, know that you’re starting with a pretty similar goal amongst all formulations. From there, you can take into account other important words on the label, such as waterproof, longwear, tinted, and more. These buzzwords will help inform your decision so that you can pick the right eyeshadow primer for you.

Time of year

Like the rest of your skin, your eyelids can have different needs throughout the year. In the summer, when you factor in sweat from high temps, paired with humidity and the possibility of greasier lids, it would be smart to go for SMASHBOX 24-hour Photo Finish Eyeshadow Primer or Benefit Stay Don't Stray Eyeshadow Primer. But, in the winter with the cold weather outside and heat cranked inside, lids may experience more dryness, so Rare Beauty Always An Optimist Weightless Eye Primer would be the way to go.

Price

While it may seem like an extra step to use a primer, not to mention an additional cost to buy one, Sheriff says that it’s worth it because it’ll help your eyeshadow look its best. If you’re going to be wearing primer everyday (a.k.a. going through a lot quickly), it might benefit you to opt for a product in the lower price range like Ruby Kisses 24-hour Eyeshadow Magic Primer at $5.99, but if you’re trying to treat a specific concern or have sensitive eyes that won’t tolerate most formulas, it makes sense to spend more on something like Ilia Natural Brightening Eye Primer for $25.

How We Tested Eyeshadow Primer

Our testers were invited to the lab and instructed to arrive with bare eyelids in order to properly test the eyeshadow primers. If they had eye makeup on, we provided them with wipes so that they could remove it and start from scratch. Each tester had the opportunity to test one or more per category (lightweight, longwear, for oily or dry lids, etc.) out of 29 eyeshadow primers.

After they applied the eyeshadow primer, our testers let it dry and then blinked a few times, noting how it felt once the formula was set. Next, they took a swipe of eyeshadow on their finger and swatched it on their arm. Then, they chose a shadow brush and applied the same shadow on their primed lid and compared the finish to the swatch on their arm to see whether the primer made the color more vibrant. This exercise helped testers get a feel for the formula, whether or not the primer texture played well with eyeshadow, and see if there was any creasing or smudging.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do you need eyeshadow primer (as opposed to using concealer)?

  If you want long-lasting shadow sans creasing or smudging, the short answer is yes, an eyeshadow primer is essential. While concealer is an okay option in a pinch, actual eyeshadow primers are formulated specifically for the lid and have certain benefits that a concealer does not. “I recommend using an eyeshadow primer because a concealer is going to actually taint your eyeshadow colors,” says Sheriff. An eyeshadow primer also has the power to lock in your eyeshadow, prevent creasing, and enhance the color and texture of your shadow, while a concealer does not.

• Is there a difference between regular primer and eyeshadow primer?

  Typically, face primers contain silicone, which you wouldn’t really want on your eyes. The texture of a face primer may actually mess with the look of your shadow rather than improve it or make it last longer. If you think of the base formulas you put on over a face primer, they’re much different than eyeshadow, so the primer formulas for your face and eyes are going to need to be different, too.

• What are different types of eyeshadow primer?

  There are different types of eyeshadow primers to address varying needs such as if you require a waterproof finish, if you have oily lids and are concerned about creasing, or if you have dry lids and need hydration. When you’re choosing the primer formula for you, it’s important to prioritize which elements matter most to you. “If you’re trying to lock in makeup so that it lasts all day, look for an eyeshadow primer that does that,” says Sheriff. If you’re looking to combat discoloration on your lids, a translucent primer wouldn’t be the one for you. The same goes for sensitive eyes; you would be doing yourself a disservice to put something super longwear on your eyes since it may contain irritating ingredients.

Why Trust PEOPLE?

Lisa DeSantis is a freelance writer who covers the beauty space. Her work has appeared in InStyle, Byrdie, Glamour, Mother.ly, Cosmopolitan, Well & Good, Allure, and many other outlets. To bring you this review, she spoke with our testers about a variety of eyeshadow primers and gained their insights about considerations such as formulation, price, and options to suit the time of year. While researching eyeshadow primers, we spoke with Ashunta Sheriff-Kendricks, founder of Ashunta Sheriff Beauty.

What Is PEOPLE Tested?

We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.

But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.

In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.

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