84 Comments

Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!

Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).

We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!

Comments on this post are closed.
Silvia Avatar

Hi Christine,

this is the moment 😉
I use as a base: Eyeshadow Base from Artdeco.
I don’t know if you have it in the US, but if you do – try it!!
always wanted to share this, because this product has a great performance. It costs around 5€, 5ml. and lasts for 18 months. It is a creamy texture, light brown in color, which is not noticeable when applied.I just apply it with my fingertips and then do eyeshadow etc. The eyeshadow stays the whole day in place! Even after workout, shower and steam bath it is as in the morning.
I really love this product!

Silvia Avatar

I also tried mac paint pots, but they don’t give me the same result. They last for a few hours, but then the color is moving. So I stick with the Artdeco product here. But I did not try the primer from Mac – there is one for the eyes right? Anyway, the artdeco is less expensive so I am happy.

Cat Avatar

I have oily skin which means oily eyelids and when I discovered UDPP it solved all my crease. Now I moved on to Too Faced Shadow Insurance because the packaging just works better for me.

happybadfish Avatar

I use two everyday.
I first put down two faced shadow insurance, then on top I put a Mac paint.

I just can’t skip one of them, I am addicted!

Paige Avatar

Urban Decay Primer Potion.
Though I think the Mary Kay primer is much better.

Paint Pots don’t work for me at all. Maybe I got a bad one but it goes on so dry and uneven on my eyelids.

kpenn Avatar

Well, I am still mourning the loss of Guerlain’s old formula. Why they switched to this horrible dry pasty formula just blows my mind.

I’ve been using UD Primer Potion lately. I don’t love it, but it’s doing the trick so far. I just find that it doesn’t cover as well as Guerlain’s used to; it’s also a little bit dryer.

Xristina Avatar

Too Faced Shadow Insurance or GOSH shadestick in Love That Brown or Love that Gold. They are really good and makes your makeup last ALL night – and they are cheap! 🙂

Cat Avatar

It depends. I only have one paint pot (rubenesque) so when I am using a shadow with gold glitter or coloring, I put it on top of that and it looks gorgeous. But for other shadows I just put UDPP under it and it holds up nicely :]

Cathy Avatar

Too Faced shadow insurance and sometimes I will use Too Faced first base if I want more of a shimmery look…Love these! I wasnt impressed with UDPP.

daphne Avatar

After trying and being unimpressed with HIP paints, MAC shadesticks, UDPP, Too Faced SI (this one is a bit better than most), and Laura Mercier eye basics, I finally picked up MAC Painterly paint pot. That’s the one. Keeps everything vibrant and mostly prevents the fadeout problems I tend to have. Works best with keeping matte colors vibrant, shimmers still fade a bit, but all in all, best I’ve found.

Sarah M Avatar

I just use my under-eye concealer as my eye shadow base. I don’t have oily lids so this works really well for me personally. No fading, no creasing. 🙂

Susan Avatar

urban decay primer potion, stila smudgepot in kitten or victorias secret beauty rush cream shadows. they all work amazing for me & don’t crease even after 8+ hours. the only thing i notice is that the smudgepot don’t make my colors stay as vibrant all day long.. but somedays i don’t mind.

i tried soft ochre paint pot, and it did nothing for me.. went on dry & uneven and my shadows creased within an hour! 🙁

amy Avatar

MAC Paint Sublime Nature, it works great as it neutralizes the eye and makes eyeshadow stick. The colour also stays fairly true to colour. It also tones down very bright colours too. For pigments I like to use Medusa’s Makeup Stick it Primer, because I find that the waxy texture helps adhere the loose pigments more.

can Avatar

E.L.F. Mineral Eyeshadow Primer. UDPP used to be my HG, until I tried this. Not only is it easier to blend (slightly more watery than UDPP), it is only $3!! Oh yeah, and it works just as good as UDPP. UDPP will always be one of the best primers IMO, but it’s a tad too thick for my dry lids (accentuates flaky patches around my eyes), esp when I’ve been using the tube for a while. I bought 5, seriously. I’ve been using it for a month now at least, and yes I have oily lids naturally!

Ashley Avatar

UDPP. It’s the only primer I’ve used that helps keep my eye makeup lasting from 7am to 3am the next day haha. I’ve never had issues with it blending – I find it’s really creamy and goes on without any issues. Maybe because my lids are oily?
I find that it does absolutely nothing though when it comes to making my shadows more vibrant, whether it’s a MUFE shadow or a L’Oreal shadow, and anything in between. For vibrancy, I dab on some sheer cream eyeshadow all over my lid, and it works beautifully. Been doing that for 2-3 years 🙂

tremorviolet Avatar

I have really hooded eyes so I need a lot of help to stop creasing. I usually UDPP with a PP over it, usually either Soft Ochre (which is really to yellow for me) or Bare Study (too shimmery). My dream PP would be the color of Bare Study in a matte.

scarlettholly Avatar

I use bare canvas paint which is awesome. I don’t love the tube though because sometimes I squeeze it too hard! I got UDPP with the book of shadows so I’ll try that out soon.

dolce aria Avatar

Depends. For more “natural” looks, I use MAC paintpots in Painterly or Bare Study. THey look OK, but i wish they were pigmented a little bit paler, as their color really blends with my skin too much-my shadows would pop more if it was just a shaaade lighter. For brighter looks(particularly pinks), I either use a paintpot or cream eyecoler in a corresponding shade on the lower lid, blending into painterly below the brow bone. It really makes the shadows POP so much more for ones like blues, or pinks. I also sometimes use UD’s primer potion, where i don’t want the colored undertones coming through the eyeshadow.

So, it all looks OK, but i’d love to find a really pale yet pigmented primer. UDPP has no color on me-i want something to even out the color of my lids(i have freckles on them-yeesh!) and painterly is just too close to my foundation to really pop or help contour anything.

Alix Avatar

Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer. A bit darker/yellower than ideal, but works much better for me than UDPP. What are these MAC Painterly Pots you speak of? Much intrigued…

Missy Avatar

I use Urban Decay’s Primer Potion in “Sin” & e.l.f.’s concealer the teeny tiny one that cost a dollar. It was too light of a shade to put anywhere else so I just use it on my eye lids and sometimes on my lips lightly.

Chiara Avatar

Mac bare study paintpot, my fave by far. I find it makes the e/s colors really intense. However, as it’s shimmery, I’m thinking of getting another paintpot (probably painterly) in a creamy color, for when I use matte or satin e/s.

jollie Avatar

Either Urban decay primer or too faced eyeshadow insurance, and when I need a pop of color, either MAC painterly pot or any of the NYX eye shadesticks.

Emm Avatar

I always use UDPP, since I have oily lids. But I also typically use a Paint Pot over it, color depends on what I plan on doing for my eye makeup though my staple is Soft Ochre.

Teresa Avatar

My first primer, which I still have and use, is MAC’s Paint in “Untitled”.
Since then I have purchased UDPP. I really wanted to try it, as well as TFSI, Benefit’s F.Y.Eye-I’ll get to those someday! 🙂
I still use Untitled but over UDPP (I guess it’s a habit-not sure if it’s wise, though :p)
But on my long time list which I’ll be trying out soon are: MAC Paint Pots in Soft Ochre and Bare Study. They are so pretty! Glad to see a lot of people are liking them 🙂

Saira Avatar

I always use Mac paintpots as my eyeshadow bases. I use Painterly a lot but I also use Bare Study and some coloured paintpots (Rubenesque, Rollikin’, Greenstroke) when I want more colour impact or shimmer.

kurisu Avatar

UDPP with Benefit’s creaseless cream shadow/liner in Honey Bunny – love it!

I haven’t tried paint pots, but Benefit’s cream shadow goes on as a dream, and works as a wonderful base!

Cherie Avatar

MAC soft ochre or bare study paint pot! I have lids prone to creasing and these products have changed my shadow life!! HG!

Sometimes I spice it up and use the other ones I own… A rose coloured one (forget the name), blackground and delft (haven’t used the last two yet)

Daniela Avatar

paint pots creased on me and udpp dried my lids like crazy!!!
so i like the Estee Lauder stay in place eyeshadow base
this stuff is great 15 bucks for 7ml EASY TO BLEND dries nude and works amazingly it moisturizes my lids and doesnt dry em
also the smell doesnt make me GAG like udpp or paint pots(:
ive been meaning to share this(:

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!