The Best Eyeshadow Primers

Whether you have oily eyelids or not, if you’re a fan of eyeshadow (especially, eyeshadows of the glitter variety), you probably are already well aware of the importance of prepping your lids with a solid eye primer. While some people opt for coating their lids with a regular makeup primer or use a flesh-toned concealer to even things out, applying a primer specifically designed to lock in and extend the wear time of your eye makeup will make a major impact if you’re looking to dodge fallout and fading. In the past, I thought eye primers were merely a gimmick, and that I could easily get away with prepping my lids with some of the foundation and powder I’d just applied to the rest of my face. However, when I actually tried one out before applying glitter-focussed eyeshadow look before a very, very long night out, my mind was actually blown at what a difference this stuff really makes.

I was shocked when I came home in the wee hours of the morning to find my glistening glitter look still perfectly intact — not to mention my eye products didn’t transfer down to my face or get stuck in my eyes (this is major!) Not only does eye primer helps extend the wear time of your look, but it also prevents the gradations and different hues of shadow and liner from blending together and making a multi-dimensional eye look downright flat. Eye primers are one category within the makeup sphere that you really don’t have to spend a fortune on to get a high-quality product, either. Ahead, I’ve rounded up some of my wallet-friendly favorites that perform equally as well as their luxury counterparts.

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