Splurge or Save: Eyeshadow Primer

SPLURGE OR SAVE? Verdict: Splurge!

To ensure that your eyeshadow stays put all day long, an eyeshadow primer is your best solution to keep it intact. Blinking, sweating and humidity all factor into the creasing and fading of your eyeshadow, so you want to make sure you apply a base first. If you're one to use bright eyeshadows, an eyeshadow primer will give you a better color payoff. Instead of the eyeshadow sitting on your skin, it's layered on top of the base which will showcase its truest color.

We suggest splurging on an eyeshadow primer because we have come to realize that department store brands offer a longer-lasting hold. Nearly any eyeshadow you apply on top of a good primer can come out looking beautiful on your lids. And as long as you securely close your primer lid or bottle, the product should last you a good amount of time, especially because you only need a tiny amount of your lids with each use. If you have oily lids, investing in a higher end primer will likely help keep the creasing at bay.

However, drugstore brand eyeshadow primers can do wonders if you're looking for a temporary, few-hour-fix, or have normal lids. In the end, primers are a type of product that ultimately depends on your preference and what works for you.

Mid-Price to Higher-End Recommendations

1. NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base: A lightweight primer that keeps cream and powder eye color looking brilliant, fresh, and just-applied all day. This smudge-proof eyeshadow base uses a unique polymer and mineral powder blend to get a firm grip on color for long-lasting, gorgeous wear.

2. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion: This genie bottle primer is a cult classic and fulfills three things: eyeshadow that lasts, more vibrant and lasting color and absolutely no creasing. The formula is full of silicone which makes for a smooth and silky application. If you want more than a nude invisible primer, you can try the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Sin (shimmering champagne) or Eden (tawny matte nude).

3. Too Faced Shadow Insurance: This silicone based eyeshadow primer transforms any eyeshadow into a perfectly blendable, color-drenched, intensified version of itself, then locks it down perfectly until you take it off.

Drugstore Recommendations

1. NYX High Definition Eye Shadow Base: This is a high performance eyeshadow primer that evens out skin tone, smooths out fine lines and holds your eyeshadows in place, A creamy and lightweight primer that makes application a breeze to apply.

2. L'Oreal De-Crease Eye Shadow Base: This neutral colored eyeshadow primer smoothes eyelids, evens skin tone and creates a flawless canvas for application of cream or powdered eye shadow. Be sure to blend the primer onto your eyelids quickly to blend it in smoothly.

3. Almay Bright Eyes Base + Concealer: This concealer and eyeshadow primer has special light reflectors designed to brighten and illuminate your eyes. This conceals and depuffs the eye area, helps reduce the appearance of dark circles and provides a smooth canvas for eye shadow application.