What is an eyeshadow primer?

“An eyeshadow primer is essential to prep your lids for indestructible eye make-up that stays on all day without creasing or smudging” says Danielle Roberts, Urban Decay’s global make-up artist. “It creates an even base to build colours onto and binds them together to create perfectly bended, crease-free eyeshadow.” It’s usually a clear gel-like consistency or skin-toned lightweight liquid, that helps to make the eyelids appear smoother, and creates a base for eyeshadow to be applied more smoothly, without creasing into the lines of the skin.

How do you apply eyeshadow primer?

“Using a clean finger or blending brush, blend across the eye to create the perfect, even base” adds Roberts. If it’s a liquid, allow around 30 seconds for it to dry. If it’s a gel-like formula, eyeshadow can be applied as soon as the primer has absorbed into the skin.

Given we’re all eyeshadow aficionados, the Stylist beauty team has tried their fair share of eyeshadow primers. There are plenty out there, but we’ve whittled them down to our edit of the best ones.

The best eyeshadow primers for eye make-up that lasts