Best Eyeshadow Primers of 2019!

Let’s talk about eyeshadow base. It doesn’t get all the glory that those fun, glittery, colorful eyeshadows get, but it wins our hearts when it makes our eye looks work! The thing is, some primers are better than others. Some can be useless and you’re better off just slapping that shadow right onto the lid or over concealer, but some eyeshadow bases really do their job right. Keep reading to see some of our top eyeshadow primers to make your eyeshadow last! 

First things first, a good eyeshadow base should:

• Cancel out the lid, creating an even canvas (even in both color and texture)
• Make colors bolder and truer
• Make blending easier and faster
• Prevent creasing
• Prevent patchiness
• Prevent smudging
• Be a nice combination of creamy and sticky (in my opinion)

When using LiveGlam ShadowMe palettes, you can really make the most of bold shades and rich transition colors by laying down a blanket of creamy base first. This is especially important when you’re heading out for a night of bar hopping and partying! 

1. MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot – Painterly, Layin’ Low, or Groundwork

I truly swear by MAC Paint Pots ($22) as eyeshadow bases and standalone eyeshadows for lazy days. I use Painterly as it’s the closest to my skin tone, but Layin’ Low and Groundwork are great for deeper, richer tones. I tap it on with my ring finger from the lash line right to the brow. It perfectly cancels out blueness, veins and redness, leaving an even base for color to layer on top of. It’s sticky enough to hold onto color, but not so much that it makes powders “skip”. One pot lasts for ages as long as you screw the lid on tight to keep it from drying out. Use your finger or a brush and make sure to work quickly as it does dry down thoroughly and is hard to blend out once it sets.

2. P. Louise Base

If you’re a regular YouTube beauty guru viewer (especially Kathleen Lights) you’ll know all about the P. Louise Base ($13 USD). The P. Louise base comes in a range of shades to suit different skin tones. The full-coverage, thick formula is designed for “carved-out” brows and bold, colored eye looks. If there’s one base you buy for personal use or for clients, I think I’d recommend this one over all others. It comes in a little squeezy tube so you can work with it anyway you please…brush, sponge, finger.

3. Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

Nars rarely disappoints, so it wasn’t a surprise to find that this base is one of the best. The Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base ($26) is the best choice for people who struggle with the dreaded creasing, smudging and general mess around the eyes as the day goes on. It’s designed especially for longevity and keeping liners, shadows and powders intact. There are tinted versions as well as a neutral white shade. It comes in a tube with a doe foot applicator (it looks like a concealer) so you can dab it straight onto the lid before blending out with a finger or brush.

4. NYX Eyeshadow Base

And now for something far more wallet-friendly. The trusty NYX Eyeshadow Base ($7) comes in a little pot with white, shimmery white, skin tone and black shades to choose from. It’s great for laying down a base on which colors can wear more boldly, with extended wear. I would say this one is more for the purpose of making colors pop than it is for hardcore longevity. It’s a great one to have in your stash for when you don’t need to use your heavy-duty stuff but you do want to make the most of your shadows. Some users have also commented that they use it for highlighting (the white shade), laying down as a base before concealer and powder, and as an under eye base. Something to think about!

Gin Mabey

Gin Mabey

Gin is a beauty enthusiast with a passion for makeup she's had since kindergarten when she would raid her Mum's makeup drawer. When she's not playing with new products and writing about makeup, she's a theatre actress, director and producer.