Eyeshadow can be quite a time-consuming step in the makeup application process, so you want it to last as long as possible! Sometimes it doesn’t work out, for various reasons. Oily eyelids, dry eyelids, rain, maybe you rubbed your eyes a couple of times, all of these things can ruin your beautiful eye look!

In my recent post about the e.l.f. Bite Size Eyeshadows, I recommended eyeshadow primer for the best possible longevity. Eyeshadow primer is often overlooked and many think it’s unnecessary. Even though it seems like an insignificant step, it can really make a big difference in the longevity and appearance of your eyeshadow.

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My go-to product for making my eyeshadow last all day is Milani Eyeshadow Primer. I know I can always count on my eyeshadow looking great all day long with this product, so this is the only primer I use on my eyelids.

Product claims directly from MilaniCosmetics.com

Oily eyelids are over! Intensify the color of your favorite eyeshadow and increase its wear from day into night with our lightweight, crease-proof Milani Eyeshadow Primer. Our lightweight, invisible eyeshadow primer goes on nude and dries invisibly — you’ll know it’s working by the professional and smooth look of your eyeshadow. Fallout? Forget about it. Our eyeshadow primer works on all skin tones and is never drying, giving you the perfect base for electric eye looks. Go for flawless style fearlessly — this eyeshadow primer is influencer & fan approved!

Other product details

• Price: $6.99
• Net weight: 0.30 oz.
• Made in the USA
• Cruelty-free
• Vegan
• Shelf life: 12 months
• Where to buy: MilaniCosmetics.com
  • Milani ships internationally!
• Overall rating: 9/10
  • Tackiness: 10/10
  • Anti-crease: 10/10
  • Ease of application: 10/10
  • Color-correction: 5/10 (doesn’t claim to do this)
  • Price: 10/10

Tackiness

For eyeshadow primer to be effective at gripping eyeshadow, it must be slightly tacky. While the Milani Eyeshadow Primer does not feel sticky by any means, it has the perfect amount of tackiness to grip your eyeshadow and hold it in place all day. 

In the swatches to the right, the bottom swatch had Milani Eyeshadow Primer underneath, whereas the top swatch was applied directly to my skin. You can see that the eyeshadow applied over the primer appears vibrant and smooth. The eyeshadow applied directly to my skin doesn’t have the same color saturation and it appears patchy.

Anti-crease

I have hooded eyelids that are also oily, so creasing is a major concern for me with eyeshadow. I originally tried powdering my eyelids before applying eyeshadow and that prevented creasing for a little while, but it didn’t last.

I wasn’t able to stop the creasing entirely until I started using Milani Eyeshadow Primer. It’s able to prevent creasing by providing a barrier between the skin and eyeshadow. Oils aren’t able to break through the primer to disturb the makeup. I was so thrilled to finally have a solution to this problem!

As you can see in the photo below, the eye with no eyeshadow primer is creased and smudged like crazy. Most of the eyeshadow lifted off of my eyelid right up into the crease. The side with eyeshadow is smooth, vibrant, and free of creasing. 🙂

Ease of application

You only need a tiny amount of this product and since it is packaged in a squeezy tube, it’s easy to get exactly the right amount. I start in the middle of my eyelid and work it up into the crease and over the rest of the eyelid. You can take it all the way up to the eyebrow, but I choose not to since I don’t usually go very far above the crease with my eyeshadow. 

This eyeshadow primer has a very light and smooth texture which makes it very easy to apply. You can use either your fingertip or a small brush to blend it out. I usually use a brush because I don’t like having product residue on my fingers, but that is just my preference.

Color-correction

Many people look to eyeshadow primers for color-correction on their eyelids if they have redness or discoloration. Most eyeshadows will cover that without help from a tinted primer, but some formulas are more sheer and any discoloration could show through. 

While the Milani Eyeshadow Primer works very well in all other areas, it does nothing to cancel out any discoloration on the eyelids. It is a light beige color that sheers out as the product is blended into the skin. Milani does not make any claims that this product should color-correct, but I think this is something they should give more consideration.

I understand why Milani chose to make this product a less pigmented shade that dries to be nearly invisible. This product is meant to be effective on any skin tone. I think it’s great when companies make their products more inclusive. However, I think it would be great if Milani would add more eyeshadow primers to their collection of products and offer more pigmented shades for various skin tones. 

Price

$5.99 might seem slightly pricey for this tiny tube of product, but it will last you a very long time. This is a product trusted by many, that delivers on product claims very well. I think it is a “dupe” for Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion. I’m really not sure why people are still spending money on Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion when it is $24.00 and Milani Eyeshadow Primer is only $5.99. I think $5.99 is a steal for this product given its effectiveness and similarity to the high-end alternative.

Please note that while Urban Decay is a cruelty-free company, it is owned by L’Oréal which is not cruelty-free. Therefore, I do not view Urban Decay as a cruelty-free company. I tried UD’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion before I found out about their parent-company.

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Milani Eyeshadow Primer is one amazing little product. It has made such a difference for me! I am on my second tube and will continue to repurchase it in the future.

I would recommend this product to anyone that enjoys wearing eyeshadow. Eyeshadow primer isn’t just for oily eyelids. It can benefit anyone by providing a smooth canvas and a surface that is tacky enough to hang on to your eyeshadow all day.

Have you tried Milani Eyeshadow Primer? If so, do you also feel that it’s made a big difference in the longevity and vibrancy of your eye looks? Let me know in the comments!

Lauren

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