Eye Primer 101

Eye primer can help your shadows become more vibrant, long-lasting, and help stop creasing.

***Note this is how I personally classify eye primers because many brands claim to have the best eye primer.

Types

• Concealer: One of the most basic ways to prime your eyes is to use a concealer. A lot of people with normal eyes (not extreme oily, dry, or hooded) can use a concealer. This is also a great option for people with discoloration on their eyes too!
• Ex: Mac Pro Longwear / any concealer you prefer

• Hydrating/Anti-Aging: These are perfect for eyes that are dehydrated or have wrinkles. Dehydrated eyes like your face will soak up all the moisture and cause creasing. If you have wrinkles these can help hydrate (plump) up the skin to help shadows go on better, last long, and help stop the shadow from falling into your lines.
• Ex: Urban Decay Anti-Aging / IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Lid Lines Anti-Aging Eyeshadow Primer / CoverFX Anti-Aging

• Tinted / Correctors: Color Correctors and Tinted eye primers are perfect people with discoloration or vein-y eye lids.
• Ex: Tarte CC / Bare Minerals Well Rested CC / Laura Mercier Eye Basics

• Bases / Shadows: Bases are like tinted eye primers except these are a tad thicker in consistency. Again like tinted eye primer you can find these in skin tones shades to help cover discoloration. Bases are also perfect for quick looks because they come in an array of colors. If you have a shadow that it’s very pigmented these can also help pack a punch. 
• Ex: MAC Paint Pots / Maybelline Color Tattoos 

• Basic Primers: I know some people probably love these eye primers. But as someone with hooded and oily lids these do not work for me. If you don’t suffer from those problems (and don’t want to use concealer or tinted primers) these are good for priming your lids!
• Ex: Lorac Behind the Scenes / Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer / Benefit Stay Don’t Stray

• Long-wearing (hooded/oily lids): In my experience these are the best eye primers. When you have hooded or oily lids the primer can become “reactivated” and smudge. I find that the Nars Smudge Proof Base is the BEST at not creasing on my lids. Then the TF Shadow Insurance is another one that I’ve heard a lot of people love who need an ultra long-wearing eye primer.
• Ex: Nars Smudge Proof Base / Too Faced Shadow Insurance

• Glitter Adhesive: When using glitter you need a product that is tacky enough for the glitter to stick too but not so tacky it never dries down.
• Ex: ABH Beauty Genius / Too Face Glitter Glue / Sephora GlitterGuard / Violet Voss Glitter Adhesive