Choosing the Best Eyeshadow Primer
By marlena • Apr 28th, 2008 • Category: Articles & ReviewsHow many times have you carefully crafted your eye makeup just to have it disappear and fade within just a few hours? Spending all that time and effort on your eye makeup will be tossed to the wind unless you have a good base underneath to keep it vibrant and lasting all day long.
Here’s my list (in no specific order) of eye primers that I have tried, and hopefully you can find the one that works best for you.
1. Benefit Lemon-aid
Description: This soft, yellow cream instantly hides discoloration on eyelids, making them looks fresh and young… with or without makeup.
This primer comes in a small, smooth black compact with a mirror which is great for travel. The consistency is smooth and creamy and dries to a matte finish once dry. To apply it, I recommend using your fingers vs. a shader brush.
Since the cream has a color to it and is somewhat thick in texture, it works great for covering any imperfections on the eyelid. But, you would need to cover all of the primer with eyeshadow unless you want to have that light cream color showing on your lid. My only drawback to this primer, is that it is difficult to get the product from the case to your lid because it is so dense. It works best when using your fingers as the natural oils will help smooth the cream across your lid.
My rating: (4 of 5)
2. Urban Decay Primer Potion
Description: This is an ultra-sheer, totally nude eye base that glides on with the wave of a wand and then disappears instantly. It’s the ultimate eye prep for smoother, longer-lasting, crease-proof eyeshadow.
UDPP, as it is abbreviated, comes in a genie shaped bottle with a doe-foot wand that comes out of the tube with some product on it. The packaging is unique, but very difficult to get much product out of.
This primer is basically colorless and has a thin, yet creamy consistency. It has proven to prevent creasing (at least for me) and is a good base for eyeshadows to stick to. My only problem with it, besides the packaging, is that it does not leave a smooth, matte finish or hide any eyelid imperfections.
My rating: (3.5 out of 5)
3. MAC Cream Colour Base
Description: Versatile and multi-purpose, Cream Colour Base can be applied directly to bare skin, or layered over foundation, moisturizer, or powder. Smooth and easy to apply with a brush, sponge, or fingers- colour effects range from a light veil to highly dramatic, depending on method of application.
Price: $16.50 ( eBay / Amazon )
This base comes in a small, black compact with a clear lid so you can see the color even when the lid is closed. It is small enough to throw in your purse or take with you when traveling.
The consistency is very creamy and easy to apply. I have found that using a brush or your fingers work equally well with this product, but I prefer using my fingers. Since the Cream Colour Bases come in a variety of colors, it is easy to choose the best shade for your skin if you plan on letting the base show through. My personal favorite is “pearl”.
My only concern with this product is that it MAY crease if you have oily lids (I am unsure as my lids tend to be dry).
My rating: (4 out of 5)
4. NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil
Description: Soft, smooth, easy glide on application. The perfect way to get eye-popping color combinations!
Price: $4.00 ( eBay )
These jumbo pencils are just that: large almost crayon-like pencils that applies creamy color directly to the lid. They come in a wide range of colors and are very portable- the perfect size for throwing in your purse.
Since these come in so many colors, they make for a great base to “pop” the eyeshadows that you place on top. The texture is extremely creamy and somewhat thick. You can apply by drawing directly on the lid or by dipping a shader brush into it, then applying. Because these are so creamy, they will tend to crease more. My solution: place some UDPP or Lemon-aid underneath, and they will stay put.
My rating: (3.5 out of 5)
5. MAC Shadesticks
Description: A smooth and silky, rich and creamy eye shadow delivered in a sophisticated stick-style format. Provides rich gem-style colour overlaid by soft semi-precious finishes of shine. Glides on: works as a shadow - or a liner. Builds up coverage from sheer, and the colour always looks fabulous.
Price: $16.50 ( eBay )
These shadesticks are basically a colored base in a stick form. The product comes out of a black tube that you twist to receive more product. These are similar to NYX’s Jumbo Eye Pencils, but are not as creamy. Since they are in a stick form, they are very portable and convenient.
Shadesticks are great for applying more precise color on the lid underneath your eyeshadows to make them pop. But… they are VERY dry! As I tend to have dry lids, I cannot get these to apply smoothly as I can with the NYX pencils.
My rating: (3 out of 5)
6. MAC Paintpots
Description: A highly pigmented eye color that goes on creamy but dries to an intense, vibrant finish. Long-wearing, colorfast. Creates seamless coverage without weight or caking. Blends smoothly over the lids. Cream-based, can be mixed with shadows and liners. Available in matte and pearl formulas.
Price: $16.50 ( eBay )
These primers come in small glass containers with a black screw-top lid. They come in a variety of colors and finishes, and are best applied with a small shader brush or your fingers.
Although these aren’t as convenient or portable as the MAC shadesticks, the formula is much creamier and easier to apply. Since there is a variety of colors, you can choose a neutral shade to simply prep the eye, or choose a bolder color to make your eyeshadows “pop”.
These are by far my favorite primer as they blend easily, do not crease, and cover any eyelid blemishes fairly well. My only problem with the product is that the lid occasionally get stuck and is difficult to unscrew.
My rating: (5 out of 5)
HI! I love the site, it’s so informative and fun. Great idea about the inspiration page
I like your choice of top eye primers, paint pots are great. I have oily eyelids and I find that if I apply MAC paint or UDPP first then the paint pot, it last the enite day for me (just a tip for any makeup lovers with oily eyelids) 
Keep up the good work!
This is straight shenanigans, this make up business!!! My girl is all growing up now…just to think she only had a handful of shadows when we went to Canada just a few months ago!
So…you do the makeup and I”ll take the pictures. We could seriously come up with a great side business for weddings, proms, family photo shoots…all kinds of stuff. That would be soooo fun. We need to at least live in the same state!!!! Geeze!
Love your site!!!
luv your site!
ohh and i also love all your vids!
very talented girl
Thanks so much!!! Where have you been hiding all my life! You are awesome!
Keep up the good work and I will spread the word!
I discovered you on Pursebuzz!
Does Benefit Lemon Aid help with creasing like Urban Decay Primer Potion?
Hi Jackie- yes it does
Hi Marlena. Great site, tips and FOTD’s. Thank you for the time it takes to put this together.
Thanks! I’ll have to pick some up on my next trip to Sephora.
By the way, I am loving your site. I love all of your makeup tutorials and pictures and such. My favorite so far is the Kim Kardashian look.
I like your suggestions and love the paint pots…Have you ever tried Laura Mercier’s primer, it is by far my favorite and hardly gets any attention. thanks for all the great info!!
Have you ever tried Laura Mercier’s primer, it is by far my favorite and hardly gets any attention.
I’ll have to try that one- where do you get it?
Okay…I am at work and should be um…working, but I am super hooked! I love your website! Anyway, let me know if you ever try Two Faced Eye Shadow Insurance…I just bought it, but haven’t started using it yet.
I almost bought it, but was spending moola on more eyeshadows…. shocker, huh?
I would like to try it sometime- I swatched it, and it seemed really similar to Urban Decay’s Primer Potion
Try DE-CREASE by Loreal i think its good too ! I really love how you do your eyes.
DE-CREASE? Is that a new product? Oooh… have to go to Target soon to check that out
Great post. You can also get NYX Jumbo pencils @ Ulta, NYX Cosmetics’ website and cherryculture.com.
Here’s a tip on getting the paint pot lids to open easier if they are stuck. Get some hot water in a bowl and drop the paint pot in for at least 30 sec. the lid should open like a charm! =)
Thanks! I’ll have to try that- I just had the same problem with the latest p/p I got….
I can also recommend “f.y…eye” by benefit cosmetics. Have you ever try it?
FY eye? I haven’t yet- I’ll have to add to my list of goodies to try out
Wow, this really helped me start thinking about what primer I should buy. =P
Can you possibly review/talk about the MAC paints — i just purchased my first one and feel… indifferent about it…
I agree with sanderlees. I’d like to know more about the paint pots…what colours to get finishes etc. Any help would be great. Love your tips!!
Hi Sanderlees and Liv
Starting out I would get “Painterly” as it is neutral and goes with everything. Plus it’s “cream” vs. “frost” so you have the option of having a non-shimmer look if you choose.
Then from there, just pick the colors that you would wear most- if you wear a lot of bronzey golden colors, get Indianwood. If you wear a lot of aquas, get Greenwood. etc….
Hope that helps a little
i really love your website. i stumbled upon your videos just yesterday on you tube and i’ve watch almost every single one of them since then. your videos are probably the most informative ones i’ve come across and i have seriously become a big fan.
keep up the good work and we’ll keep on watching!!!=)
My really cheap primer brand is Monistat hehehe, I read at The Beauty Brains that Monistat Chafing Gel has pretty much the same ingredients than Smashbox Photofinish Primer, so I bought it and it works wonders!
Hello
I need help on trying to decided what colour primer shadow to use to make colour pop. I like that Idea, but, some of the videos I have watched on YouTube show like sharkskin on the bottom and then colour on top. It seems so dark. Do you use specific colours of paint pots as your base and how do you pick the colour to use underneath?
Thanks- You Are Great, Debbie
Hi Debbie
Some people use sharkskin as a base as it is black, and anything on top of black will really pop. But… it is more difficult to blend out harsh lines where the black base ends. I use a paintpot close to the color I’m going to put on the lid. If I were to wear pinks, I would put “fresco rose” on the lid to make the pinks stand out more. If I were wearing aquas, I would put on “greenstroke” or “delft”. I never put colored paintpots all over the eye area- just on the lid. I use a neutral base for above the crease.
I hope that helps
i just tried estee lauder’s eyeshadow base, because i wanted to get the free gift, and its my mom’s favorite brand, so I was buying her a b-day gift, and it works SO MUCH better than my too faced eyeshadow insurance!!!!!!!!!!!! It’s $15, and you get a lot. It is probably similar to mac’s paint pots, because it is creamy and comes in a jar as well. =) I wish i could return my too faced eyeshadow insurance…. oh well, you live and you learn =)
Thanks Murry for the tip! I’ll have to get some when I run out of some other bases
Hi!!!
comparing UDPP with the Lemon-Aid…. which one provides a better blendability?
the “for your E.. only” benefit eyeshadow primer is the one I use everyday.
It’s a peachy color, easy to apply, comfortable to wear. It really helps the eyeshadow lasting longer and favorizes blending.
The problem I have with, is that it’s not covering enough the blemishes you should have.
I’m waiting to finish it and try the MAC painpot
Is the cream base the same as prep+prime ?
First I must say I’m new here, and I LOVE this site: It’s very informative and at the same time esthetic and very nice to look at… Keep up the good work
Second - I want to coment about the shadestick: if you asked for my opinion when I first used it it would be like yours. After a while I got a tip on the internet to roll the shadestick in my palms before I used it and TA-DA… magic: it became much creamier and very easy to use. I also Love the fact I can smudge it with my finger towards the eyebrow since it does not set as fast as the painpots (which I love too, of course…)
Thanks for the tip
I think I’ve had such a hard time with the shadesticks as my eyes are so dry- they just don’t apply very creamy 
I keep trying to work with them…
is udpp worth the money?
i wanted to try it.
Yep, UDPP is worth the money
Hi Marlena,
I just bought some L’Oreal HIP paint tube in “Lofty” to use as an alternative to a MAC Paint Pot or Paints (although they are my favorite). I was pleasantly surprised by it’s color (rosey neutral, soft pearl), consistency (very smooth application, super easy to apply, a little goes a long way) and the fact that I have oily lids and there was absolutely no crease after even 12 hrs of wear. I’m a single working mama so I’m always on the prowl for a bargain. I got this product and an eyeliner pot at Walgreen’s in a “buy on get one free” sale. SWEET! I also came across some Maybelline Dream Mousse Shadow pots in Mint Dream, Lilac Cloud and Turquoise Breeze (all for a smashing price of $1.67 each). These come out very sheer (unless you apply alot of product) and pearly, very pretty! I liked them also for a base, but I did notice a bit of a crease after the day was done. One more product I have been liking for a base are Maybelline’s Cooling Shadow/Liner. They have a nice feel (they are actually “cooling” when applied) but they are tad bit dry, at first. They are long wearing and my fav right now is Cold As Ice 05. It’s a bright, sparkly white crayon similar to NYX jumbo glitter liner (but the glitter is smaller and more blendable). I’m going to try UDPP in my next Sephora order. Have you tried Benefit’s “Boi-ing” or “Ooh La Lift” shadow base?