The best eyeshadow primers – or the best eye primers, as they’re often otherwise referred to – are one of those products you don’t realise how much you need until you run out. Put simply; prepping and priming your eye area is crucial if you want your eyeshadow look to last all day (not only if you’ve got oily skin) — while also staying beautifully smooth and creaseless.

“Eyeshadow primers are fantastic at increasing the longevity of your eye makeup — particularly if you have oily eyelids or are sweating throughout the day,” explains makeup artist, Jesse Walker. “They can also increase the intensity of your powder shadows, meaning you can use less product whilst still achieving strong colour payoff.”

So, if you don’t like the sound of your meticulously applied eye makeup looks slipping and sliding around by lunchtime — or you want to make the pigments in a bold metallic or glittery look really pop — you should definitely consider adding an eyelid primer or eye base to your make-up bag. Not sure where to start? We’ve answered your FAQs, spoken to experts and rigorously tested the market’s hottest releases to help you level-up your makeup routine.

Meet the expert:

How we test eyeshadow primers at GLAMOUR:

We’ve been testing makeup products – from the best mascara to cream blushers – for over five years at GLAMOUR. Eyeshadow primers, as and when new releases drop, included. We’ve tested the products featured in this guide for a minimum period of a week, and considered three main factors.

First, how easy they were to apply. Eyeshadow primers should sweep across the eyelids easily, without pulling your skin or causing any irritation. Top points for oversized, cushion-y doe-foot applicators which made the process a joy. Second? We noted the smell, how quickly they dried, and whether eyeshadow was actually easy to apply on top of them. Any products which clumped or caused our eyeshadows to look ~less than perfect~ were discounted.

The last, and perhaps the most important scoring criteria, was whether they helped our eyeshadow to last. ‘Cos that’s the entire point, no? Eyeshadow primer should ensure your shadow looks just as it does upon eyeshadow application, hours later. They should be smudge-proof. They should ensure shimmer doesn’t drop to your under eye. They should serve a crease-free look as minimum.

We tested each primer from morning ’til the end of our nights out, noting whether they worked with different eyeshadow types and whether each actually lasted until removal.

Aside from these three main scoring criteria, we noted whether eyeshadow primers were vegan, cruelty-free, whether the packaging was recyclable, whether they come in different colours, and value for money. The results are in.

Ahead, our full edit of tried and tested cream eyeshadow primers.