Prime Time

From premiers to award shows, there isn’t an actress in Hollywood who doesn’t have her face properly primed before applying makeup and hitting the red carpet. For years, makeup artists have used face primer to double on eyelids before shadows and liner. Now, a few brands have gotten the message and voila ““ special primers dedicated to smoothing out the texture and color of our lids are here.

Smashbox brings us the ultimate in primers – Photo Finish Lid Primer. This formula blends effortlessly onto lids with a wand, leaving a totally flawless clean matte canvas. Wear it alone or under shadows, from day to night. Pick it up at Nordstrom in The Grove.

The Eye Bright Primer from Pixi has a lighter texture, so it may work better during the day and hotter months. Application is easy with the angled wand, providing a natural satin canvas for makeup. Find it at Target, West Hollywood.

Laura Mercier’s Eye Basics aren’t exactly primers but definitely can work as such, so deserved of a mention. Available in a handful of colors to balance out skin tones, these eye creams evaporate to a dry finish, leaving a semi-matte color. Water-resistant and crease-proof, they correct lid discoloration. Check them out at Blue Mercury in Century City.