Recently – when we were still allowed to – I had a “makeup night” with my girlfriends for the first time in ages. Since my friends wear makeup much less often and less frequently than I do, I’m often asked for tips, and a whole evening dedicated to makeup is really fun every now and then. At one of these events, the question came up as to why my eyeshadow often looks so much more intense than theirs and lasts so long.
The secret is eyeshadow base. Something I’d never even heard of when I first started wearing makeup. Back then, I’d always just apply the Manhattan single eyeshadow in brown directly to my lid. And by evening, it usually ended up creasing. Normal, right? But – drumroll, please – it doesn’t have to be that way! Just like there are face primers that we apply under foundation, there are also eyeshadow primers that perfectly prepare your lid for eyeshadow application.
What is an eyeshadow primer and what purpose does it serve?
Eyeshadow primer, just like a face primer applied before foundation, is designed to ensure a smoother, easier application, extend the wear of your eyeshadow, and potentially intensify its color. Tinted eyeshadow primers also even out the eyelid if you have discoloration or visible veins.
Eyeshadow Base vs. Concealer
You often see in videos that the eyelid is prepared with regular concealer instead of a special base. In principle, you can certainly do that, especially if the primary goal is to even out discoloration. Personally, though, I don’t find concealer a substitute for a primer because it stays too wet on the eye. The eyeshadow bases I prefer are silicone-based and, while they don’t dry matte, they aren’t wet in the conventional sense either. The eyeshadow adheres well to them, yet they’re still slippery enough to allow for even application and seamless blending. Concealer, on the other hand, remains too sticky, and the eyeshadow feels tacky and tends to get stuck when blending. And there’s a very simple and actually quite logical reason for this:
Concealer and eyeshadow primer are two different products and serve completely different purposes.
Since eyelids are in constant motion throughout the day, they are the oiliest part of most people’s faces. Therefore, a product is needed that reliably keeps this oil at bay and prevents it from penetrating the eyeshadow. Oils generally break down makeup, causing it to smudge and run – which is why we use them to remove makeup. Eyeshadow primers contain silicones and often waxes and other ingredients that form a protective layer between the skin and makeup, which oil can barely penetrate.
Concealer is a product designed for the skin, specifically for the skin under the eyes, and therefore always contains moisturizing ingredients. Some contain more, some less. It doesn’t trap oils, and anyone who doesn’t have very dry skin will likely notice this throughout the day.
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