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By Sophie Joaman • August 2, 2022 • 6 mins read
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 base 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.
Knowing the differences between the two products is important in helping you make a decision on which one is best suited to you. If you are still not sure whether you should use an eyeshadow base or eyeshadow primer, then considering what kind of outcome you want as well as your own skin requirements can help you make up your mind. For example, do you find that you often have oily lids? Does your makeup look shift and maybe not last as long as a result of natural oil production? If yes, then you might find that a primer would be more suited to you.
This is because a primer will work to banish the oil throughout the day and keep your eyeshadow look in place for longer. One great thing about using a primer is that you really don’t need to use much to get the best results.Just a small pea-sized amount is enough to glide over the lid and set your base in place all day. Plus, as it dries clear and transparent, it’s an effortlessly easy product to use.
We definitely recommend choosing a primer over an eyeshadow base if you find that your eyeshadow look doesn’t last. Opting for eyeshadow primer will also even out your lid tone so that you get the best finish from your makeup look.
One of our favorite eye primers is the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion thanks to its long-lasting wear. This creamy primer is an essential product to keep in your makeup bag and blends into the lids seamlessly like silk to keep your eyeshadow look gorgeous from day to night.
If you don’t, however, have problems with oily lids or your makeup look slipping, then an eyeshadow base might be the better fit for you. They are also the best product for anyone who wants their eyeshadow look to appear brighter. If, for example, you’re big on bold colors and/or glitter eyeshadows and don’t want to be reapplying eyeshadow, then an eyeshadow base might just be your new best friend. Just like the eyeshadow primer, you also don’t need to use an eyeshadow base in excess to notice immediate results. Starting with a pea-sized amount of product, apply it to your lid and blend.
You will likely find that the texture is much tackier than a primer. This makes it great for binding to the eyeshadow and really bringing out that color. We love the MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot for its satin-like texture that glides over the lid effortlessly.
It comes in various shades too, so even if you make your eye makeup more minimal, you’re still guaranteed to get that vivacity within your makeup look that lasts for much longer. Prepping your lid is the number one step to making sure that your eyeshadow look stays its best throughout the day. While both eyeshadow primers and eyeshadow bases are priming products, they both have different outcomes. Whichever one you choose is down to your personal preference. If you want more vibrancy and color intensity in your eyeshadows, then go for an eyeshadow 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.
