Sometimes, there is a bit of a trial and error process as not all primers work equally well with all eyeshadow formulas! But I have little to complain otherwise–they tend to do their job: improve the wear of my eye makeup, make application better and improve pigmentation of weaker eyeshadows.
— Christine
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Nothing but tons of love from me! But it does depend on the primer. NYX Proof It Waterproof Eyeshadow Primer is absolutely essential for my both my eyeshadow and my brows. It is an HG product for me and I always have backups on hand.
Seraphine, ever since you turned me onto Nyx Proof It, no more itchy, irritated or textured lids! Mucho gracias!
You’re welcome! I just ordered a couple more with my 20% Ulta coupon.
I’m using this at the moment for my everyday eyeliner to combat hayfever eyes! I’ve found unfortunately when I’ve switched back to UD that its reeeeeally irritating in comparison…
Glad the NYX is working for you!
I guess my only “rant” would be primers that DON’T WORK!!! I got a points perk of a Smashbox primer that is just awful…really, really awful and doesn’t keep my eyeshadows from creasing and that’s an issue I’ve never had with e/s primers before and I’ve tried everything from Too Faced Shadow Insurance to Bare Minerals, LORAC, Laura Mercier, 3 different UDPPs (the original, which is my go to, Sin and Eden), MAC’s newer one and their Paint Pots. I remember way back when there was no such thing as eyeshadow primer and except for some Estee Lauder doe foot “cream” shadows, any shadow I wore would be creased or just gone by the end of the day. So eyeshadow primers are, with that lone exception, something I need to use and love and rely on. I love knowing that whatever I’ve applied at 6 am will stand up to the rigors of my day and still look good when I get home or head out after work.
I have to use primers, or a base of some sort, as my bare lids are so dry & smooth, powders simply don’t adhere, but that Smashbox primer is just awful… I tried it with several brands & formulas, including Smashbox, but it did absolutely nothing…
I have oily lids and hooded eyes… I need a good eye primer to make eye shadows, eye liners and eye pencils to stay put. I love the way eyeshadow primers make my eye looks look better and stay put.
Although I have found good options, I dislike most of the packaging. I find primer pots and doe-foot applicator not very hygienic, while squeeze tubs release too much product (and with eye primer a very little goes a very long way).
I absolutely cannot be without eyeshadow primers! Tried many, but my favorites are UDPP original, & one by NYX. I have dry eyelids. These 2 really work well for me. Eyeshadow looks amazing, even after 12 hours. Back in the day there were no eyeshadow primers. But, back then I wore some eyeshadows that came out of a squeeze tube. Mostly the pastel blue & pink that were so popular then. Everything changed for the better as far as eyeshadow & eye designs!
I love everything about it and am horrified at the very thought of someone not using it!
Rave: they make a big difference in wear time.
Rant: none in particular. I’ve been off them as I an eyelid irritation issue kept me super cautious on all eye products in general, but that’s largely healed so am easing back into using primers.
Rave: longevity.
Rant: cost.
I still consider them a necessity in my life. My current one is MAC paint pot in Painterly.
I don’t have a specific eyeshadow primer any more – I just use the Nude by Nature Primer all over my face and on my eye lids and it works really well to provide the perfect base for foundations and eyeshadows. The trick is to apply it and wait a couple of minutes before putting on the rest of your face.
Because I can clearly remember life before eyeshadow primers….oily, super hooded eyelids. Oh yeah, fun times. I absolutely need eyeshadow primer in order for my eyeshadow to not crease and turn into a disgusting greasy mess!
That said, some make my lids look more dry and textured, others irritate and make my lids feel itchy, and then, every so often one comes along that’s a game changer. Presently, this award of excellence goes to Nyx Proof It! Eyeshadow Waterproofing Primer.
I have hooded oily eyelids so they are a must for me. I like to use the tubes so that I can squeeze out the tiny little bit that I need.
The new Covergirl Lid Lock Eyeshadow primer is my lifesaver. I used to use the Nyx one but it always creased by the end of the day.
Did you use the waterproof version of NYX? There’s another version of it that doesn’t work well for me.
I love UDPP Original!
Raves: I find eye shadow primers to be absolutely mandatory for any kind of wear out of my shadows. I am always looking for new ones and prefer primers that are smoothing as I have texture and wrinkles galore on my lids. I currently am using the NYX primer but I also love MAC Prep and Prime, Milani and UDPP in Eden. I have MAC Painterly and use that for really heavy duty days when I am going to be needing super hold. I don’t usually have trouble with creasing as my lids are pretty dry. My main reason for using eye shadow primers is for the vibrancy of the shadows and for the wear time.
Rant: I don’t like primers that suck the life out of the skin on my eye lids. I have used a few in the past that leave my lids really dry and parched looking. I also hate primers that separate into oil and pigment, I am looking at you Benefit Porefessional. I always manage to get the oil all over everything and then I don’t have the slip in the actual pigment that I need to cover the lid. I don’t have any issues with packaging other than the separation issue. I can work with most packaging.
It is a total necessity for these oily, hooded lids! The ONLY one that works for me with 16+ hr wear is the NARS Smudge Proof. I have tried UDPP in original and Eden, Too Faced Shadow Insurance, LORAC, ELF, and MAC Paint Pots and NONE of them worked for me. I just apply it to the lid and set with a white/skin tone powder or eyeshadow. Paint pots and cream eyeshadows also work well over the NARS primer and won’t crease on me. A tube lasts me around 6 months. Highly recommend (though I wish it was cheaper)!
On my skin, primers are so drying. I also dislike how irritated my skin becomes with the extra work to wash primers off. Every one I’ve tried makes my eyelids look so wrinkled and aged that I reverted to priming the way my mom taught me, with foundation. Recently, when teaching my own daughter to do her makeup, I was amused how quickly the foundation creased on her. She got my still sanitary ud pp squeeze tube.
Rave: As someone with oily, somewhat hooded lids, they are a godsend. Even more so as I get older and my eyelids get more textured. The right formula keeps my shadow from creasing and drastically increases how long they last. Primers are also great for making colors more intense and help products blend more easily.
Too Faced Shadow Insurance is my HG eye primer, with UD Primer Potion in Enigma being a close second.
Rant: The creamy kind that don’t try down crease on me just as badly as the eyeshadows do, which is a shame because they’re great for bringing out duochromes.