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By Sophie Joaman • August 2, 2022 • 4 mins read
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This page contains affiliate links, and a commission is earned if you make a purchase through one of the links, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. To prep or not to prep? Well, prep, of course. Do you use an eyeshadow base or a primer, though to achieve eyeshadow perfection? Now that is the question! Eyeshadows can really enhance your eyes and complement the rest of your makeup look, but when your lid hasn’t been prepped, your eyeshadow look can end up looking dull, faded, and can also slip or crease.
Priming your eyes, therefore, (whether with an eyeshadow primer or base) can do absolute wonders for your makeup. It can make your eyeshadow look all the more vibrant and can also prevent your eye makeup from creasing. See it this way, your eye are is your canvas. Just like your foundation, it sets the base layer of your eye makeup and allows you to build upon it for excellent results at the end.
So, going back to our question, should you use an eyeshadow base or a primer to achieve eyeshadow perfection? What even are the differences between the two? Well, we’ve got you covered with all of the advice that you need to get to first base with your eye makeup.
Although both eyeshadow bases and primers share some similarities, they are, in principle, different products with different outcomes. Similarly wise, both products act as a foundation base for your makeup look. When using either product, you should always apply it to fresh lids before putting any eyeshadow on. This gives you a smooth base to work with and will help your eyeshadow look and other eye products glide on easily.
In terms of their differences, an eyeshadow base is a creamy-textured product that lays on the lid and intensifies eyeshadow pigments. It doesn’t, however, prevent your makeup from creasing. Nor does it stop natural oils from causing your makeup to slip. The eyeshadow base (which comes in various shades, depending on your preference) is a good product to lay down a foundation and is perfect for anyone who wants their eyeshadow look to be more vibrant.
On the other hand, eyeshadow primers work to stop natural oils from creasing your eye makeup. Primers are usually clear or neutral in color and come in both liquid and cream formulas, depending on your wants and needs. The best thing about eyeshadow primers is how they give you long wear. They set your makeup in place so that you need not worry about reapplication halfway through the day.
Yes. It is necessary to prep your lid with either a primer or an eyeshadow primer before applying any eyeshadow. Without a base, your makeup look is unlikely to go the full distance and last all day. Your eyeshadow look will end up looking duller and faded as the day wears on. If you’ve spent time doing your eye makeup, the last thing you want is for it to ruin, crease, or fade. The easiest way to combat these issues is to make sure that you use an eyeshadow base or eyeshadow primer to prep your lid, just as you do with the rest of your face.
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
NARS Cosmetics Pro Prime Eyeshadow – Base
MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot Eye Shadow
Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Eye Base
If keeping your eyeshadow look in place without creasing or sliding is more important, then using a good primer is your best bet. If you ask us, we’re suckers for a good eye primer. Using a primer makes the rest of your makeup look application so much easier. It also produces the best longevity results so we can go from work to play in an instant, with our eyeshadow look staying fresh and flawless the entire time.
