If your eyeshadow doesn’t stay in place all day and sinks into creases and smudges, the likelihood is you are missing one make-up staple; a good eye primer. Just like the importance of a face primer that ensures your foundation stays put, an eye primer will keep eyeshadow firmly in place. It can also help cover up discolouration of the lid and smooth out the area to stop eyeshadow from gathering in its creases.
An eye primer may seem like an additional step in your makeup routine that you don’t need, but trust me when I say it is worth it. Prepping and priming the lids is particularly important if you are an eyeshadow wearer as it goes to work in keeping make-up locked in all day. And, if you happen to be someone with an oily complexion, an eye primer is a game changer as it helps keep skin matte. The same goes for people who like to exercise with make-up: a good primer will stop sweat from running down your face and result in panda eyes.
Best eye primers for mature skin at a glance
For many women like myself, who suffer from dryness – in my case occasional skin flakes around the eye area – I find wearing an eye primer helps hydrate the skin and enables eyeshadow to glide on more easily. And the same goes for oily complexions; on the days when my eyelids feel oily, I need an eye primer that sticks to the surface and doesn’t slip, so that it grips the eyeshadow. Additionally, a good eye primer can help enhance your eyeshadow; look for ones that contain pigment as these will brighten up the lid, helping to make eyes pop.
With so many eye primers on the market, it is difficult to know what product to buy. That said, I have done the work for you; having tested out numerous ones over the past year. I took into account a number of factors including value for money, ingredients, coverage, ease of application, hydration, how long it lasts and how well it works on mature skin.
How we tested these products
I'm Suzanne Baum, a 51-year-old award-winning beauty editor. I have written about beauty for over 20 years, and regularly report on the latest beauty news; from trialling out new beauty innovations and aesthetic treatments to writing about the best products for women and men. With a keen interest in mature skincare, I've written extensively on everything from the best products to use during menopause to how to protect your skin from the sun.
I sourced every product on this list and tried them on my own skin for an extended period of time. I then considered a number of factors including value for money, ingredients, quality of the product, effectiveness of the eye primer, how well the application of a subsequent eye look goes and holds on the skin, how the primers feel on the skin, and how well it works on mature skin. All our reviews are honest and we make sure to include both the positive and negative comments received from our reviewers. Find out more about how we test products for Yours.
Best eye primers for mature skin: tried and tested
It is no surprise this product is constantly sold out (and restocked) as it ticks all the boxes for what an eye primer should do. The cream formula blends onto the lid easily, dries quickly so there is no stickiness to the area and gives eyeshadow serious staying power as it lasts all day. As it magically creates a seamless canvas on the skin, you can be guaranteed none of your eyeshadow will sink into small crevices or creases.
In the words of one reviewer: “I am now on my third tube, it’s simply fantastic and blows all others away. It evens out eyelid colour with just a tiny amount required. And it helps hydrate my oily skin.”
Pros
- Contains key ingredients such as Sea Extract that provide soothing properties to the skin
- Has an easy-to-use stick sponge applicator that allows you to blend the product easily onto the eye area
- For all skin types and won't clog up any pores
Cons
- The most expensive brand in our featured products
- Sea Extract - provides soothing properties.
- Rice Bran Extract - is a powerful antioxidant known to help nourish and soothe.
- Polymer and Mineral Base Blend - includes Mica, Titanium Dioxide, and a clay derivative to hold onto colour for hours of vibrant wear.
If you have any type of discolouration on the eyelids, this primer completely covers it up and provides a nice base to add make-up on top of. You need to wait a few minutes for it to completely dry, before applying eyeshadow. I find when I use this primer that it helps make my eyes pop; it seems to enhance the eyeshadow by intensifying its pigmentation.
Considering its cost and the fact a little goes a long way, this is excellent value for money. As for its staying power, one user wrote: “This primer is great! I used this under my makeup for a wedding and was so happy with it - nothing budged. It was raining, it was humid, and I was dancing, but when I got home and took my makeup off after 11 hours, it was still looking flawless!”
Pros
- Feels nice and chunky in the hand
- Only a tiny bit of the product is needed so excellent value for the money
- Intensifies all colours and lasts for up to 12 hours
Cons
- Some users said it lasts less than the 12 hours it claims to do
- Takes a little time to dry so you need to wait to apply eyeshadow
- Sodium Hyaluronate - promotes wound healing.
- Titanium Dioxide - helps with UV protection.
- Vitamin E (Tocopherol) - is an anti-ageing ingredient.
This product is 100% cruelty-free and out of all the eye primers featured here, is by far the best one for oily skin. I love the formula which melts into the skin; the product comes with a cotton bud applicator but I found it worked best just dabbing with my fingertips. I have worn it to the gym when my face has sweated and my eyeshadow did not budge.
According to one user: “This stuff is amazing! Almost too amazing and budge-proof. It smooths out my eye shadows, and creams too! I can wear shimmers again! I am 50 years old and put it on at 4 am. It lasts all day and night!."
Another user wrote: “THE BEST PRIMER I HAVE EVER USED. I have oily skin and hooded lids, I’ve [gone] through so many primers that did just not hold my eyeshadow. But this holds my eyeshadow perfectly all day long.”
Pros
- Contains Vitamin E which helps moisturise the skin
- Vegan and cruelty-free - a forward-thinking formula
- Weightless, colour-boosting and smooths lids out
Cons
- More make-up remover than usual is required
- Contains silicones - and may not suit all skin types
- Titanium Dioxide - has anti-ageing properties.
- Methicone - helps with hydration.
- Talc - aids oil control.
- Vitamin E - helps soothe your eyes.
Having tested a lot of eye primers, I know how important it is to find a lightweight one, particularly when it comes to mature skin. The last thing we want to be doing is adding any heaviness to the lid area or tugging at the delicate skin, so the more lightweight a product the better. As it suggests in the name, this product is weightless and in the words of numerous users you “forget you even have it on.” It also creates a nice veil on the lid for the eyeshadow to go on it never gathers in the creases, which is a huge selling factor.
“This is the third time I have purchased. This is my go-to primer. Everything sticks well and it doesn’t crease. I highly recommend it,” wrote one reviewer.
Pros
- A little goes a long way - which is typical for Rare Beauty's amazing formulas
- Neutralises uneven skin tones on lids to make eyeshadow application easy!
- Vegan, cruelty-free and suitable for sensitive eyes - and contact lens wearers
Cons
- Lasts around six hours so not ideal for all-day use
- Titanium Dioxide - has anti-ageing properties.
- Dimethicone - hydrates and helps eyes look youthful.
- Aluminium Hydroxide - controls any excess oils.
As part of the testing process of eye primers, staying power was one of the things I took seriously into consideration. An eye primer that stands the test of time is important as the last thing you want is for your eyeshadow to budge after a matter of hours. And Urban Decay hands down came out top; so much so that after a 12-hour day, my eye make-up looked as good as new. No eyelid creasing or smudged eyeshadow.
According to one review – which is echoed by hundreds of others: “This is the best primer around! Eye shadow lasts all day and NEVER creases with this primer- even after a hot sweaty day!” What’s more, this silicone-based cream blends in nicely to the eyelid and boosts the colour of my eyeshadow, making the intensity of it glow all day, and through the night.
Pros
- Urban Decay's eye primer is loved for its longevity
- Anti-ageing formula that helps improve skin texture
- Wakes up tired eyes and minimises any redness
Cons
- Some users say if you have very oily skin it does not last all day
- Rice Bran Oil and Titanium Dioxide - have anti-ageing properties and UV protection.
- Ceramide 2 and Dimethicone - are very hydrating.
- Alumina and Talc - help with oil control.
- Alaria esculenta - is super soothing.
A water-resistant eye primer is a must if you work in hot conditions or if you want to ensure at the gym your sweat is not going to ruin your make-up. You only need to use a tiny amount of this cream formula as it blends nicely onto the skin. I have the odd red vein on my lids and this definitely helps cover up marks and uneven skin by creating a more uniform canvas before eyeshadow application. It has a small concealer brush but I just dab it on with my fingertips.
It feels super lightweight and really goes to work in helping the pigmentation in eyeshadow more enhanced. As for longevity, it stays on all day – at least ten-hour wear. “I can’t believe how well it works. Stays in place all day. I haven’t worn it in the summer yet, but it’s lasted through some tense work days and sweating. I am smitten. Just a little goes a long way,” wrote one user.
Pros
- Cruelty-free, vegan and free from parabens
- Water-resistant and long-wearing - super handy
- Light-coloured base helps your eyeshadow POP!
Cons
- Some users say the white colour of the formula shows through if you are wearing pale eyeshadow
- Glycerin, Titanium Dioxide and Vitamin E - are anti-ageing.
- Arginine and Aspartic Acid - help with hydration.
- Panthenol and Vitamin E - is said to be very soothing...
Eye primer FAQs
Are eye primers worth it?
According to make-up artist Dani Levi, the owner of the beauty shop Dani Levi Studio, women with mature skin can benefit hugely by investing in an eye primer.
“Eye primers are really important, especially for mature skin, because they create a smooth base for your eyeshadow and help it adhere better. This means your eyeshadow will last longer and look more vibrant throughout the day.” As for what to look for in a product, Dani adds: “For mature skin, look for an eye primer that is hydrating and has a lightweight formula. It should also be smooth and not settle into fine lines or wrinkles. If you don’t wear eye primer, you might notice that your eyeshadow creases, fades, or doesn’t apply evenly. An eye primer can make a huge difference in the overall look and longevity of your eye makeup, so it’s definitely worth considering.”
Suzanne Baum is an award-winning beauty editor, with columns across numerous outlets, including the Metro, Women's Fitness, the Independent and Yahoo. Having written about beauty for over 20 years, Suzanne regularly reports on the latest beauty news; from trialling out new beauty innovations and aesthetic treatments to writing on the best products for women and men.
With a keen interest in mature skincare, Suzanne has written extensively on everything from the best products to use during menopause to how to protect your skin from the sun. Having established an excellent working relationship with PRs and beauty experts, Suzanne is often the first to know about new innovations on the market and to report on them.