Eyeshadow is always in style and the key to creative makeup looks. But little is more frustrating in the makeup world then spending your morning perfecting a smoky eye or even simply applying a wash of nude colour only to have it crease and fade away mere hours later.

Eyelids are a tricky area as the skin is unique and so different from person to person. Many people have oily eyelids that cause any product to crease and move about while others find their eye area to be a hotspot for dryness and irritation. Eyeshadow primers can be a solution to both problems preventing excess oil from mixing with your shadows and helping to nourish and hydrate the eye area before applying more product.

As the ‘Instagram’ makeup look began to rise it became popular to cover your eyelid in concealer before going in with your shadow. This is a great way to make your colours stand out and look true to their tone, however concealer is notorious for creasing and will cause your shadow to crease too. That’s where tinted primers come in! If you really need a boost of pigment to even out your eyelid before shadows, look for an oil-free concealer that’s designed to be creaseless.

How to Use Eyelid Primer

There’s no rocket science here. Eyelid primer is super easy to use and takes only seconds. You simply need to start with a clean eye base, meaning no concealer, eye creams or moisturiser.

Then apply a small amount of primer either using your ring finger or a dense shadow brush across the lid and under your lower lash line. Being gentle is important so you avoid upsetting the delicate skin around your eye.

You’ll want to make sure you don’t apply too much product. You should have a light and even film of product across the area. Give it a few seconds to dry before you then go in with your eyeshadows.

Here are some favourites you can try…

Marc Jacobs Beauty Under(cover) Perfecting Coconut Eye Primer

This eyeshadow primer from Marc Jacobs Beauty promises 12-hours of crease proof wear and it means it. It’s a nourishing and hydrating formula that works well with both cream and powder eyeshadow products. It has a lightweight texture with just a slight tint that helps to even out the skin tone on and around your eyes to help create looks that pop.

Hourglass Veil Eye Primer

Even the most sensitive eyes will enjoy this eye primer from hourglass. It feels soft and velvety on the skin and eyeshadows blend easily over the top with no dragging or stickiness. It’s infused with a line-up of skincare ingredients including vitamins A and C to treat the eye area while keeping your shadow and under eye concealer in place.

M.A.C Prep + Prime 24-Hour Extend Eye Base

M.A.C are known for their primers (hello, fix+), so it should come as no surprise that this eyeshadow base lives up to expectations. It has a pretty much translucent finish that’s lightweight and hydrating and allows shadows to be easily blended on top. Expect no creasing or fading throughout the day.

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

The great thing about this eyeshadow primer from NARS is that it’s available in a range of shades to suit a variety of skin tones. It allows you to even out the colour of your eyelid before applying your shadows and takes away the need for concealer. The formula is lightweight and long-wearing and enriched with antioxidants.

ILIA Natural Brightening Primer

This mineral primer from ILIA is great for people who suffer from dry or irritated eyelids as it’s free from harsh ingredients and infused with aloe to help soothe. It has a slightly shimmery white finish to help your colours stand out and prevents all eyeshadow textures from creasing.

Morphe Eyelid Primer in Translucent

Morphe know eyeshadows so it’s safe to say they know how to perfect a primer to make them stay all day long. Although it has a slight tint to the formula, it dries down translucent and works well with both powder and cream shadows. It’s also a great one to use before concealer if you want to even out your eyelid colour to allow your shadow to really pop.

Featured image:

Photo: Steven Popovich

Make-up: Bonnie G- Oz Beauty Expert

Hair: Rory Calasse

Model: Rosie