In The Prime

Is using an eyeshadow primer really worth the extra hassle and expense? I think it depends on your skin and the sort of eye makeup look you're going for / the type of product you're using really. If you've got oily skin you might find that shadow disappears really quickly, and vice versa, if you've got very dry skin, you might find that it creases easily. What primer does is form a barrier between your skin and your makeup, so it can help things to stay put for longer. It can also help in the summer or if you're somewhere hot - your makeup is less likely to slide off your face if it's 'primed' to stay on.

Shadows with a high pigment content should have a better chance of lasting the distance anyway, but there's no harm in using a primer first, as it'll at least give you a nice base to work on. Beware though of applying a lot of moisturiser to your eye area to prepare it for makeup. The skin here is really delicate and might not take kindly to being overloaded - your lids could swell and become puffy. So using a dedicated product is a better idea.

urban decay primerI'm using an Urban Decay primer at the moment (€15 in Boots). It seems really nice (and the packaging is fantastic) - it's a nude shade and you lash a bit over your lids before you apply your shadow. It does help shadow and liner to stay on longer alright, but fifteen quid is a bit pricey for what is basically a glorified concealer.

I reckon if you do the whole smokey eyes bit a lot then primer is probably a gift from the gods - it's very hard to not look like a panda after a few hours otherwise. But if you're just going for your average bit-of-shadow-on-the-eyelids look, perhaps keep your €15 in your pocket and buy yourself a lovely lip gloss instead.

Related Articles

More from Beauty