Urban Decay Primer Potion Eden

I have been trying a newer version of my favorite Urban Decay Primer Potion and I have to say that I think this version is the best one that I have tried so far.  I have used the traditional Primer Potion for years and I have always gone back to it after trying other formulas.  This company has released multiple special versions of the product but I have always found the original to be the best of the group.  I was on the fence about trying yet another version of the Primer Potion as I always end up preferring the original but I was in the mood to branch out and find a new product to review.  I have been playing around the Lorac eye primer since last month but I wanted to try another formula and see which one I prefer.

The Urban Decay Primer Potion Eden is one of the newer versions of the best-selling Primer Potion and was out of stock on the Sephora website when I originally wanted to order it.  It had been out of stock for so long that I had actually forgotten about it when I started using the my new Lorac eye products and then I decided to order the Urban Decay product once it came back in stock.  I have been using it the past few days and comparing it to the Lorac product, I didn't love the Lorac eye primer so I was looking forward to trying something different.  I was attracted to this version of the Primer Potion as Eden is supposed to resemble more of a concealer finish on the skin and leave a smooth canvas for eye shadow application.

The Sephora website provides the following description of this newer version of the Urban Decay Primer Potion, "A creamy, nude matte primer that gives you vibrant, crease-free eye shadow for 24 hours.  Get a primer with multiple benefits.  This 24-hour wear, crease-free shadow provides vibrant color and smoother application.  Eden, a nude matte shade, glides on effortlessly, reduces the look of redness, and delivers full coverage for a gorgeous, subtle look when worn alone.  Its innovative polymer technology fills in any imperfections on the skin's surface, prepping lids for all day shadow."

I think the first aspect that I love about this product is the newer packaging that it is in, I have always loved the Urban Decay eye primers but have found that the original packaging left a lot of  product left inside the tube.  The newer tube is more a squeeze tube but does not have the doe-foot applicator.  I miss the doe-foot applicator but I love the new tube and I will be able to get all the product out of it, more than making up for the lack of applicator.

The second aspect of this product that I really love is the finish that it leaves on my eyelids, the original formula dries clear but I think that I really prefer the soft matte finish that it leaves on my eye lid skin.  My eye shadows apply very smoothly on top of this product and it fills in any fine lines on my lids before shadow application.  I apply one drop to my finger and this has been enough to apply all over both eyelids, it applies tacky and then dries down to the soft matte finish.  It has a velvet feel while it is drying down and then it fully dries in about 60 seconds.  It does take this formula longer to dry down than the original formula or the Lorac formula that I have just been using.  I find that I like to apply this product once I finish up my foundation and then let it dry while I am applying the rest of my concealer, powder, and brow products.  My first few uses of this product slowed my morning makeup application down and then I found that I needed to change up my routine in order to save time.

I still set my primer with a matte bone shade, I have not yet applied a bright or deep shadow right over this product and I don't plan on trying.  I will continue to set my primer in this fashion no matter what primer I use.  So far, my shadows have been applying very nicely over it.  I have mostly been using the Urban Decay Naked palettes with it, I will be working with the Too Faced Chocolate Bar next week and then I will be finishing my review on that product but I happy to report that the shades that I have used so far have applied nicely and stayed bright all day.  I haven't paired this primer with every shadow and palette that I already own but it is working well with the Naked palettes and I have high hopes that it will work with everything I own.

I never thought I would say this but...Eden is my favorite of the Urban Decay Primer Potions and I will be repurchasing both this one and the original.  This one ranks with my favorite eye shadow primers and I am happy to see that one of the variations on the original product has actually worked for me!

photo courtesy of Urban Decay

Lorac Behind The Scenes Eye Shadow Primer

I have been testing out the Lorac Pro Eye Shadow Palette over the past few days and I decided to test the matching eye shadow primer that came along with it.  I was in need of a new eye shadow primer to begin with and it was just easier for me to test this formula right along with the eye shadow palette.  As many of you already know, my favorite eye shadow primer is the original formula from Urban Decay and there are very few other formulas that I would repurchase over that one.  The Lorac formula is yet another one that will be following that trend, it is a nice eye shadow primer but not one that I would grab over the Urban Decay...

"Get Lorac's Behind The Scenes Eye Shadow Primer and all eyes will be on you! This gentle, lightweight, oil, fragrance and paraben-free formula keeps your eye shadow picture-perfect from daytime to Prime Time. Created by Celebrity Makeup artist Carol Shaw to be used Behind The Scenes on photo shoots and on the Red Carpet, this unique eye shadow primer easily glides on for crease-resistant, silky-smooth color that lasts!", states the Lorac website.

I will start off my review by stating that this is a good product, it is not the best primer but I didn't find any major faults with it.  I said above that I tend to find that most eye shadow primers fall into this category and there is nothing wrong with these primers but nothing can hold a candle to Urban Decay Primer Potion.

The Behind The Scenes Eye Shadow Primer has a light lotion texture and quickly absorbs into the skin on my eyelids without leaving any type of sticky residue.  I like that the squeeze tube allows me to control how much product I use and I will not be wasting any of this primer due to a doe foot applicator, the packaging is much nicer than many of the primers from other brands.  The primer keeps my eye shadow from fading and creasing for about six hours but I have found that most eye shadow formulas that I have used it with so far will start to fade soon after that and I will have slight creasing on my lids at the end of the day.  I have found that the tube is the best aspect of this product and I would love to see more brands bring out eye primers with this type of tube.

I have gotten better results with this product when I use it with matte or satin shadows but it tends to produce fall out when used with glitter-infused formulas.  Again, I have found that result with nearly every eye primer formula (expect the Urban Decay) and I can't say that this product is bad.  I find it to be a good but quite average eye shadow primer and one that I will not be repurchasing when I need another primer.  I am still testing out the palette that this came with and I will have my full review within the next few days.

photo courtesy of Lorac

Benefit Stay Don't Stray Eye Shadow Primer

I have finished up with my Bare Minerals eye shadow primer and have been playing around with a new formula.  I liked the Bare Minerals formula but the little tube that the product comes packaged in went much faster than most other formulas that I have used.  I liked the results from this formula but don't know that I would purchase it again unless the company changed the sizing of the tube or offered the tubes in packages of two for a special promotion.  I went through this product too quickly for my happiness and felt the need to order another formula within three weeks in of use.  I went with a formula from Benefit this time around, I have been using formulas from all different companies but Benefit is one that I have used face primers from before but never an eye shadow primer. 

Stay Don't Stray is packaged differently than the past few formulas that I have used and the most similar one to it is the NARS formula.  Both of these formulas are more of a liquid and are applied with a doe foot applicator instead of the traditional cream formula housed in a tube.  I love total change in formula once in a while and this product provides that happiness. 

I ordered this product from Sephora and will use that website for all product details and photographs.  "A primer for concealers and eye shadows.  This dual-action power primer works 360 degrees around the eyes to make concealers and eye shadows stay put. Concealers don't crease; eye shadows stay vibrant and true. Now in two neutral shades to suit all skintones, Stay Don’t Stray features a new dip-n-dab wand for easier application. Remember: just a dab'll do ya!  Sodium hyaluronate is known to hydrate, while vitamins C and E are known to help fight signs of aging."

This eye shadow primer comes in two available shades, one of the light skin tones and one for medium skin tones.  I ordered the Light shade (of course) and wouldn't be able to use the Medium shade unless I would use it as a shade of liquid eye shadow. 

I use next to none of this product to make my eye makeup stay all day long, this is the exact opposite of the Bare Minerals formula.  I will be using this product for the next few months, the tube is good sized and very little product is needed for use.  I use two dots of this product on each eye and then blend them into my eyelid.  I then apply whatever eye makeup that I am going to use that day and I am good to go.

This formula is a thin liquid but is quite tacky and good at keeping Urban Decay glitter eye shadows in place, my litmus test for eye shadow primers.  The product blends easily into my lids and then sets a smooth base for my eye shadows and eye liners, it is thin enough that I work with it easily and then it doesn't change the texture of my eye makeup when it is applied.  It helps my bright eye shadow shades to stay pigmented and vibrant and I can use less of these shadows (versus not using primer at all). 

I get a full eight to ten hours of perfect eye makeup and then it removes decently at the end of the day.  I will admit that I need an extra swipe of eye makeup remover to get all of my eye makeup off when using this product and I would prefer that over having my eye makeup fade half way through the day.  With the little extra remover, I can easily get all of the product off and then have a clean slate for eye cream and treatments. 

This is a very good quality eye shadow primer and can be used by anyone who has never used eye shadow primer all the way to someone that has used every single formula on the Sephora shelves.  This formula belongs in the halls of greatness with NARS and Urban Decay, this is a formula that I love so far and will be using for the next few months and then would definitely repurchase.  I would recommend this formula to anyone interested in this type of product especially to someone that used glitter-heavy formulas or prefer bright hues with tons of pigment.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Bare Minerals Prime Time Eyelid Primer

I know that some of you are raising your eye brows at the title of this post, I have never liked products from Bare Minerals especially any of their face products.  I have always liked their Buxom line and have been collecting these lip glosses for the past few years so I decided that I would retry the Bare Minerals line and stay away from the face products.  I have been looking for a new eye shadow primer ever since the one that I own from Tarte started to get low and wanted to go with a brand that I have never used eye makeup from before.  So I searched on Sephora and this formula from Bare Minerals turned up and I decided to order it and give it a shot.

I have had on and off luck with eye shadow primers.  I love the Urban Decay and NARS formulas but haven't had good luck with the formulas from Tarte or MAC so it can't be worse than any one that I have used before.  MAC is the worst formula for eye shadow primer which amuses me because I love everything else in the MAC line.  Strange.

This product can be found at Sephora and at any stand alone Bare Minerals store, I tend to avoid the one in my mall since I only like a few pieces in their product line.  The Sephora website provides a great product description of this eye primer.  " A repackaged edition—now double in size—of Bare Escentuals' bestselling silky eyelid primer.  Designed especially for use with bareMinerals, this primer is an oil-free, fragrance-free way to maximize the color and extend the wear of your favorite bareMinerals Eyeshadows, Glimmers, and Glimpses. The gentle formula goes on sheer and lightweight yet provides heavy-duty staying power for the most vibrant and lasting color. Perfect for those days when you need all-day, all-night wear, the sheer, neutral tint doesn't interfere with your favorite colors, while the bareMinerals-infused smoothing base keeps excess oil from affecting wear."

This primer is a thicker formula than the Tarte one that I just finished up and this was the first clue for me that I had found a formula that I would love.  The Tarte and MAC formulas were creamier than the others that I have tried and I found that the best formulas are thicker and tackier and therefore keep my eye shadow and liner in place.  I love Urban Decay Eye Shadows, especially the glitter-infused shades.  However these are the shades that create the most fall-out and if I am not wearing a good eye primer, I will find the glitter all over my cheeks by mid-morning.

This formula is very thick and actually involves some extra squeezing on the tube to get it out.  The first time that I used it, I actually thought something was wrong with the tube because so little product was coming out.  I squeezed a bit harder and then a small ball of product came out.  I rubbed it between my fingers to apply the product and then tapped it on my eyelids.  This product is best applied with a light tapping motion and the little ball that came out was more than enough to cover both of my lids.  I used a bit less of the product and it was the perfect amount to cover both lids with no excess product left over. 

This formula is as high quality as Urban Decay and NARS, I was very impressed with it and would be more than happy to purchase it again.  I have just found that the thicker, tackier formulas work the best for me and I have to use primers that have this texture.  When I use this product in the morning, my eye makeup stays in place until I take it off at night.  Last night, I went to the gym after work and my eye makeup was still in place after 30 minutes on the treadmill.  This is a great product for me and it actually makes me want to buy more eye makeup from Bare Minerals.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Tarte Clean Slate 360 Creaseless 12-Hour Smoothing Eye Primer

The hot weather months are basically upon us and this is the time of the year that I am most obsessed with primers and making sure that my makeup stays in place all day long.  I have been using my newest tube of MAC Prep + Prime for the past few weeks and I now remember what I love that product so much, the face version of this product is great but the eye version is the worse primer that I have ever used and would never recommend to anyone.  So when I was getting low on my last tube of Smashbox Lid Primer, I skipped over all the MAC eye primers and decided to try for a company that I have never owned a primer from before.  I have been on a Tarte kick recently and I had no idea if they had an eye primer or not, I looked up the brand on the Sephora website and was excited to see one primer formula from this company and I ordered it right away.

I don't ever remember seeing this product in a magazine or at Sephora so I had very little basis for my decision to order this product, I ordered it only because I have gotten some great items from Tarte over the past year and would be more than happy to add another great product to my line up.  My favorite eye shadow primers are still Urban Decay Primer Potion and NARS Smudgeproof Eye Shadow Base, I do not expect any eye shadow primer to spoil my love of either of these products and they are the top performers among every primer that I have ever used.  After using this product for several days, I can say that it is a nice eye shadow primer but it is not one of the best at Sephora nor is is going to be one of my favorite Tarte products.

The Sephora website provides full product information and a description.  "A waterproof 12-hour smoothing eye shadow primer that locks eye shadow in place.  This primer acts as a smudge-proof base for shadow while preventing fallout and migration of color. The universal shade glides on easily and powers through the day into the evening for 12 hours of perfect wear."  This product is made to be used on clean, dry eye lids before the use of any other eye makeup products.

This is not an eye shadow primer for anyone who wears a lot of eye makeup or shadows that tend to have fall out issues.  I have several beloved eye shadow shades that I have experienced major fall out from and only the two eye shadow primers that I have listed earlier in this post are able to keep every shadow that I own on my eye lids and not my cheeks.  For that reason alone, I would not be likely to repurchase this product after my tube is finished.  The product is a much thinner texture than the previous two eye shadow primers and remind me very much of the Too Faced eye shadow primer (and I have very similar thoughts on that primer).  I squeeze out a small drop of this product and this is enough for both eye lids, I dab the product on each eye lid and that have to wait a few moments for the product to dry.  Waiting for the product to dry is a huge aspect to the successful use of this primer, I didn't wait for it to dry the first few times that I used it and my eye makeup smudged and would not stay in place at all.  After I learned that this product needs a few extra moments to dry, I was able to get much better results from this product.

This formula is able to hold most of my eye shadows in place, it works well with every matte, satin, and shimmer formula I have but it does not hold a strong glitter shadow in place.  If you don't use any shadow like this, than you will love this formula and have no problems with it, it just wasn't enough to hold some of my favorite eye shadows.  It works well with about 95% of my eye shadows but not well enough with my favorites so I would need to own both this formula and either NARS or Urban Decay's to make all my eye makeup work.  This formula is best used with a more classic or natural eye makeup look.  In addition, I have used this product by itself on my lids when I have been interested in a very natural look on the weekends and I do like the finish that I get when using it in this fashion.

This is good eye shadow primer, it is not among the best on the market and it is also not among the best products that Tarte offers.  I would recommend this primer only to those who don't wear any eye makeup that has major glitter (and fall out potential) in it and I am confident that they would be happy with the results that they receive from it.  Good formula but not the best on the market...

photo courtesy of Sephora

Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer

I have finally finished off both my tubes of Too Faced Shadow Insurance and Urban Decay's Primer Potion and I wanted to try something totally different for my next tube of eye shadow primer.  I looked at every single product on the Sephora website and I decided that I wanted to try a brand that I have never used any type of primer or face makeup from before.  From that I stumbled on Smashbox, as I have only really used eye makeup and lip glosses from this company so far.  I have heard many good reviews of the Photo Finish Primer line from this company and it has been recommended many times on the Sephora website and has sold very well for many years now.  The original came out quite a while ago and over the years has spawned an entire line of Photo Finish primers to correct all skin issues and to use on all kinds of facial features.

I decided to order the Photo Finish Lid Primer and see what all the fuss was about.  I have been using it for about a week now and I am so happy with it that I am looking at what other primers in this line I will want to order as I need new products.  I was a bit hesitant to not order an eye shadow primer from Urban Decay since their eye shadow formulas tend to work best with their primer formula.  I was almost ready to order both of these formulas and then see if I really needed the Urban Decay formula.  I decided against it and I have not yet regretted my decision.

"An ultra-luxurious lid primer.  Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer creates the perfect canvas for eye shadow application. Wear this universal shade under shadow to increase longevity, or create the perfect nude eye by applying over the lid for an even tone.  The exclusive formula contains Phytomoist, a plant-based hyaluronic acid for ultimate moisture and amino acids for skin-smoothing benefits. Soft focus pearls help diminish the appearance of fine lines on the lids while the patented Qusome® delivery system ensures all ingredients penetrate the skin to deliver effective results."

This is a very effective eye shadow primer and it has worked with every eye shadow formula that I have used with it so far.  The formula applies easily with a doe-foot applicator, it has a liquid texture that is thinner than many other formulas that I have used.  It reminded me more of the NARS formula than either of those from Urban Decay or Too Faced.  I was a bit put off by the texture at first, I have used primers that have a thicker texture and haven't kept my eye shadow in place. 

The first time that I used this product, I put too much on each eyelid.  One pump of the product is enough product to cover both of my eye lids without a problem.  I apply the liquid and then I blend the product into the lid until there appears no difference between the tone of my skin and the product.  Smashbox has stated that this product can be used to anchor eye makeup or on its own.  I wouldn't use this product on its own, it would create a natural look but I still go after more color than this when I am doing a natural look.  So I will not be using it in this fashion, I will always be layering an eye makeup product over it.

How does it compare to all the other primers that I have used on my eyes?  It works better than the Too Faced formula and performs comparable to the Urban Decay and NARS formulas, my two favorite that I have used so far.  It dries quickly and without any excess residue left on the lid.  I can easily apply either powder or cream eye shadow formulas over it and all my products have blended well so far and then stayed in place for the rest of the day.  I love that this product will anchor the fickle Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy eye shadow shade, this shade has the worst fall out of any eye shadow shade that I have ever used but I just love the color so much and I actually use through an entire product and then go right out and purchase another one right away.  I experience very little fall out even with this fickle shade, a few pieces of glitter will dislodge from my eyelid throughout the day but the same happened when using the Urban Decay Primer Potion.  I am very happy with the performance of this product and I have no need to also order a tube of the Urban Decay formula to use with certain shadow shades.  In addition, this formula removes easily with the use of eye makeup remover and doesn't leave any leftover residue on my lids.  I have been very happy with this formula so far!

This is one of my first face products from Smashbox and I am very happy with it.  When I am running low on primer and tinted moisturizer, I know that I will look harder at the products in this brand.  I am very excited to use more primers from the Photo Finish line and see if the results from those are as good as the results that I got from this eye primer.

photo courtesy of Sephora