Budget Beauty: Eyeshadow primers under P500

Staff Picks

Feb 8

Next to lipstick, the beauty product we tend to collect a lot of is eyeshadow. You can get just about any color imaginable to enhance the peepers, so it’s always fun to play around with an assortment of brands and finishes. Once you’ve amassed a diverse collection, you’ll begin to notice the differences among formulations, particularly in terms of longevity and pigmentation. If you’ve fallen hopelessly in love with a beautiful shade that needs to be layered or have oily lids that cause colors to crease and slip, eye primers are must-have additions to your arsenal. No need to drop big bucks though, because these picks will help keep your shadow play exciting without overly taxing your wallet!

ELF Eyelid Primer (P129.75) ELF offers a creaseless wonder of an eyelid primer. Unscented and super-smooth upon application, the formula glides on to create an effectively even base for eyeshadow. The other thing worth mentioning is the affordable price point, making it an easy decision to reach for a tube.

Essence I Love Stage Eyeshadow Base (P229) Some primers figuratively blur the lines with other makeup categories, because of their added features. Essence I Love Stage Eyeshadow Base is already touched with yellow-toned color, so that it can also double as a light concealer for the eye area.

NYX Eyeshadow Base (P460) Eyeshadows have varying finishes, and so do certain types of primer. The potted NYX Eyeshadow Base comes in three colors/finishes, so you can choose how you want to define your eyeshadow. There’s a flat/matte white to create a truly blank canvas, a shimmery pearl to highlight the lid, and a flesh tone shade that works with morena skin.

Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer (P298) Housed in a curvy bottle, Etude House’s Proof 10 Eye Primer is the quick-dry lid primer that lasts all the live-long day. The Proof 10 line itself is being marketed as Etude’s waterproof collection, so it’s looking to be an obvious choice when it comes to longevity.

Jazzy Collection Eyeshadow Base (P299) Don’t let the clear formula fool you! Jazzy Collection’s Eyeshadow Base can bring out the vibrancy of your eyeshadows. It enhances the pigmentation by giving the color something to adhere to. That should also make application easier, as you immediately get a bold swath of color within first few pats of your brush. Sounds like a time-saver, doesn’t it?