97 Comments

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Marina Avatar

I love how it makes my shadow pop with color and they are so vibrant (the colors). Of course, I use primers mostly because I don’t want to look drained and smudged after a couple of hours. What I don’t like about them is that they make blending a lot more difficult (At least for me) but it’s price I’m willing to pay 🙂 I use Artdeco’s (german brand) base that’s very popular in my country and I’ve been very satisfied with it. A jar lasts literally forever!

Anjali Avatar

I find that if you use a “base” shadow that is similar to your lid color directly over the primer/base, you can blend the rest of your colors much more easily. I usually use MAC Soft Brown or UD Naked as my base color. Just remember: Shadows blend well over shadows & creams blend well over creams…just improvise as needed 🙂

Svetlana Avatar

I have Artdeco’s base too and I think it’s awesome. I also have UDPP but Ardeco’s works a bit better for me. And the small jar really lasts forever unlike the UDPP

Marie Avatar

I swear by Clinique’s Touch Base in “nude rose”. Everytime I go to a department store to replenish they are sold out in this shade. Very often a sales person will tell me they are discontinuing it but I think they’re telling me that so I’ll buy an alternate shade. No way. I wait a few weeks and then go back and buy three. This shade is the best – it blends with my skin, prevents my eyeshadow from creasing, looks great on its own, and the other shades they sell do not come anywhere near as nice as “nude rose”. I love this stuff.

Sarah Avatar

what is the best “Base” …. ? I have not tried UDPP or 2 faced shadow insurance… what should I try?? I know UDPP you have to cut te bottle open that seems like a hassel……

HELP ~

Lindsey Avatar

UDPP is great. The original bottle does kind of suck…you have to cut it open to get your money’s worth of product out of it. They do now make a professional size tube that is $29. I’ve been using MAC’s Paint Pot in Painterly and I really like it. I’ve also used LORAC’s Behind the Scenes Eye Primer. I like them all. 🙂

Vanessa Avatar

If my opinion helps, i love UDPP i have not had to cut the bottle open lol but if you dont even want to bother with it i hear a lot of pretty good things about 2 faces shadow insurance and also ELF’s shadow base beleive it or not. Maybe you can try the Elf and move your way up if you’ve never tried any primers. Elf is about $3.00 i think. Good luck 🙂

Chelsie Matthews Avatar

Sarah–Urban Deccay recently released their Primer Potion in a “professional size” squeeze tube that doesn’t have the annoying applicator or packaging. It’s a lot easier to use, and you get more product, too. You can buy it at Sephora.

Personally, I’m obsessed with Too Faced Shadow Insurance. It’s my HG primer. A tiny trial tube lasts me between five and seven months. I can’t live without it!

Katie Avatar

UDPP also comes in a squeeze tube, you can find it on the Sephora site. I think with primers / bases, you need to establish what your preferences are by trying them for yourself. Are your lids oily or normal? Do you prefer something thick and creamy (like a paint pot (MAC))? Or would you like something with a thinner consistency? Do you like color or flesh tone? I like paint pots the best and they come in an assortment of colors and flesh tones as well but I know there’s a lot of UDPP fans as well, which is also a good primer. There’s also pencils that can be used as bases, like NYX jumbo pencils (which are also inexpensive!). Personally, I don’t prefer the pencils as bases, but it all depends on what you’re looking for.

Voly Avatar

UDPP works very well on my oily lids. I do get more than 10h wear out of even cheap shadows. Bottle is a bit of a hassle, haven’t tried 2Faced.
Definitely worth every dollar I paid for it.

Nichole Avatar

I don’t think there are ‘bests’. Those two are probably the most popular. It comes down to personal preference and oil control. If oily lids isn’t an issue, you have more freedom to try different products without layering. Some people like tinted or skin-tone primers because it doubles as a concealer. My current fav is NARS (I switched over from UDPP). I also use Paint Pots over it. There are tons of reviews out there. You’ve got the ones you mentioned, paint pots, I’ve heard good things about MAC Paints and MUFE has the new aqua creams. Have fun experimenting!

Rachel w Avatar

They now offer UDPP in a squeeze tube which makes it hassle free 🙂 UDPP is my favorite but I’ve also tried Lorac and Tarte eyeshadow primers and they work well also.

Jeanne Avatar

Urban Decay has FINALLY released the UDPP in a tube form, Sephora carries it online (I picked up mine in store so you can check first if you don’t want to buy it online). The Too-Faced Shadow Insurance is pretty good as well but it’s a little bit oilier in texture and I personally find shadows last longer with UDPP.

Svetlana Avatar

If it’s available in your country try Artdeco’s eyeshadow base.It’s awesome and the little jar lasts for ever. It’s better and cheaper than Urban Decay’s primer potion

Britt Avatar

Personally I love the UDPP in the clear/nude version it now comes in a big tube that I like better than the wand bottle but the formula is fabulous. I am embarrassed to say this but I’ve gone to bed with full makeup on and woke up with everything still in tact like I never went to sleep. (And you can continue to wear it like its that day’s makeup. *Dont judge me lol*) I do enjoy this more than a Mac paint pod because it is easier to move color around with the UDPP and it is easier to remove once I do wash my face. The colors still pop no matter if I uses a loose pigment or a pressed shadow and the ease to blend with UDPP is great. But I have not tried 2face eye insurance yet.

Arianna Avatar

With UDPP, I have the original genie lookig bottle and to get my money’s worth I just take the smaller, clear plastic part out (the part that rations how much product you get on the applicator). After doing that, you can use the applicator to scrape leftover product from the insides of the bottle. HOWEVER, since there’s nothing to control how much you get on the brush you will pick up quite a bit each time. Not too big of a problem but still… Hope this helped some 🙂

Astra Avatar

I used to be a fan of UDPP but over the years I have been dissatisfied.

I am currently using Nars and I love it to death. I have yet to try the paint pots but I have heard good things about them.

Katie Avatar

I can’t stress how much of a difference an eye primer / base makes in the longevity of the shadow and the look of it as well. I’m a loyal fan of paint pots. My two loves are Painterly and Bare Study.

Vanessa Avatar

I just recently started to use primers and beses for my eyeshadow and foundation and i must say i love it. I dont know what i did before honestly. i mean yea its an extra step and a little more time consuming but its so worth it it makes you eyeshadow and face look flawless and stay put all day.

I use UD primer potion, Benefit porfesional, and on occasion use NYX jumbo pencils as a base. <3.

coco72 Avatar

I need a primer for my oily lids, I´ve tried UDPP, Too faced shadow insurance, ELF primer, MAC Paint in Bare Canvas and Paint Pot in Painterly, the best results have been with Too faced shadow Insurance and Painterly

Elise Peters Avatar

For oily lids I think the HG is Nars. I also layer a light matte brown to even out my skin tone. I have tried using the Bobbi brown paint type stick but found that my eyeliner ends up in my crease. UGH, now that is ugly.

Air Avatar

I tried both Benefit’s eye primer and UDPP and they both are really sticky! I didn’t like it at all. Made things more complicated than necessary

Nichole Avatar

Try NARS. I use to use UDPP and had to apply a PP over it to help blending and even then it pulled on my eyelid. PP goes over NARS very smoothly. At times, I’ve gone without using a PP over NARS with no issues.

Rosanna Avatar

I have dry skin and asian hooded monolids, hence, eyeshadows don’t crease and fade to nothing in a matter of hours on me.

I just wear an eyeshadow base to make my eyeshadows vibrant and prevent fading (without it’d fade around 30%).

I’ve only used MAC Paint in “Bare Canvas” and it works great!

Alexis Avatar

I think it’s a must, even if you’re only wearing one color. Without it, I feel that the makeup won’t last all day. I also think it helps to show the color more.

Lauren Avatar

I really like Benefit’s FYEye. I’m sad it’s discontinued. I have one super oily eye lid that always creases, so primer is a must. I like the Nars one as well. I got it as a sample. I just wish it had a touch of colour so I could see where I’ve missed.

Marie Avatar

I love eyeshadow primers, because I have oily hooded eyelids. If I don’t apply a base, within two hours everything is gone into the crease.
I’m using Two Faced Shadow Insurance and I’m happy with it.

Sam Avatar

I’ve always been a huge fan of UDPP. I never really had a huge gripe about the packaging either, I actually think it’s totally adorable. It’s a lot easier especially now that it has the crooked doe foot. My mom has TSFI but I never really liked it. I also love Painterly Paint Pot, it’s quickly taking over the wheel from UDPP hahah. I also love Delft paint pot, it’s a gorgeous blue/green/teal color. NYX Jumbo Pencils in Milk and Black Bean are great when used thinly, they bring out colors gorgeously. I really dislike UDPP in Sin and Bare Study Paint Pot – they make everything too frosty for me.

Lauryn Avatar

LOVE: MAC Paints, not PaintPOTS.. I’ve had mad creasing with paintPOTS. I feel with MAC Paints, my e/s blend easier then with other primers/bases.. which brings me to:
DISLIKE: UDPP! Yes, there, I said it. I bought UDPP in the Pro-Tube size..2 days later, the d@mn thing blew out on me and i lost a TON of product, I did email Urban Decay and not for nothing, but i got ZERO reply. I didn’t get a chance to bring it back with my work schedule. ANYWAY.. the other reason i DISLIKE UDPP is that i found out if you do not apply it smoothly from lid to brow and just smear it on, I found that as the day goes on, the shadow will “stick” to the areas where there is UDPP and show the “swipe” marks.. yea, not good.. Try blending THAT out.. doesn’t work. AND of couse, the 3rd reason i DISLIKE UDPP is because i found that it makes shadows harder to blend.. whew.

Jaime Avatar

I use Bamboom paint as my primer all the time! It was the first “primer” sort of thing I ever bought (this was before actual makeup primers like UDPP and TFSI came out) and under my eye shadow, it lasts me all day long. I used to work 12-hour shifts with it on and it would still look as amazing at 10pm as when I applied it at 7am!

Amanda Dubs Avatar

well eyeshadows crease on me extra fast. At first I used the MAC paint pot as a primer but depending on how much makeup I used it creased within five hours. I got a sample of their more sturdy primer but before work ended that night it creased too. I just got the primer potion from urban decay and it works much better than macs! I got a good 10 hours out of it yesterday. But now I have one whole MAC paint pot that I dont know what to do with haha

Catherine Avatar

I love bases but ive never tried a primer in my life. Never had problem with creasing and smudging. I know, im weird. But i love how bases make my eyeshadow pop and stay all day. I love shiseido cream eyeshadow (don’t remember the full name, shame on me, i worked for them :P) and paintpots

tina Avatar

I like MAC paint pots. I always use Painterly and Constructivist. I haven’t tried Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer yet but I heard it works really well.

CeeBee Avatar

I’ve only used Paint Pots (Bare Study & Soft Ochre) and I really like them. I tried Jordana Eye Primer (which cost less then $4NZD) and it is surprisingly good as well, for a cheapie. Paint Pots are better though!
The only thing that I don’t like is that I have to remember to put them on after my face primer but before my foundation because I can never get the inner corners of my eye blended smooth (and yes, I use my finger!)

Tiffany H. Avatar

It is a must for me. I have the oiliest eyelids ever. I use UDPP the original and it makes a huge difference in the longevitiy of my shadows. Without a primer, I would be creased with in 2 hours of applying my shadow. With the primer, it lasts 10+ hours.

Emma Avatar

I love UDPP. I can literally put it on in the morning, wear it all day, shower in the evening and my eye shadow is still in place and wearable afterwards, its amazing.
I’m also loving benefits creaseless cream shadow liner in birthday suit at the moment. Although, despite the name, that one does crease a bit on me…

Ru Avatar

I couldn’t live without them, my eyeshadows were a creasy mess before I discovered UD PP and TF Shadow Insurance. I also use Benefit’s Creaseless Cream Shadow in Flatter Me! as a base for some dull shadows (like Tarte or Too Face) or when I need an extra sheen to my shadows.

Jennifer Avatar

For everyday taking my son to school/running errands, I just use MACs studio finish concealer (which I use anyways to even out my eyelids). If I want something a little fancier, I use MACs paint pot in Bare Study (pretty champagne shimmer).

theetrilobite Avatar

i’ve tried urban decay primer potion and i don’t like it. i’m not into the fact that it’s tinted. i normally use nars eyeshadow primer, but i i’d be willing to try something different.

Reme Avatar

I think Urban Decay Primer Potion and Too Faced Shadow Insurance are both great. I shudder to think of the shoddy creased eye shadow I sported before I discovered the joys of eye primer! Now I’m excited to try a Mac paint pot, thanks for the recommendations ladies 🙂

Elysia Avatar

UDPP forever! My shadow is FLAWLESS all night! (and day!). there are times when i have forgotten my primer potion, and i wonder “should i even bother with eyeshadow today?” I have been so spoiled…lol.

Dre Avatar

I’m a sucker for primers, always looking for the next best thing. I like too faced shadow insurance, but am not a big fan of the texture. I also like the Urban Decay Primer Potion, but the old packaging was such a hassle to de-pot. I gotta say though, my favorite thus far has been the MAC Paint Pots, you can never go wrong with those!

Kelly C. Avatar

An absolute must for me, as my eyelids are extremely oily. UD Primer Potion was only somewhat effective; oil would still break through in a couple hours and smear everything. I’m testing out Lorac Behind the Scenes, its working MUCH better, its also a bit tackier than UD which allows my shadows to stay in place. I also love paint pots as a base for shadows, but still need to wear primer under them.

Marian Avatar

I have mature, dry skin and don’t really feel the need for a primer. I also don’t want my eyeshadow to be vivid. Muted, soft colors look best on me. I do own Painterly Paintpot and use it occasionally to even the skintone on my lids.

Lizz M. Avatar

Bases are useful, like paint pots and cream shadows because they help color adhere and create dimension, but personally eye primers are useless. Absolutely useless and a waste of money. Unless you’re one with very oily lids and need that extra staying power, primers are a gimmick.

I really feel like a majority of people that obsess over products like UDPP and Shadow Insurance just do so because they’re told it’s necessary & see it everywhere. Seriously, it can be annoying.

Primers can be helpful to certain people, but not a majority. All this praise as though it’s necessary to wear a primer with every look and if you don’t you don’t know what you’re doing is ridiculous. I work as a mua and tell each of my clients what primers are really for since it seems they’ve all been put under the impression that it’s so necessary to use one all of a sudden.

Kathy Avatar

Eyeshadow primers are an absolute MUST for me. I don’t know what I’d do without them! The Urban Decay Primer Potion works really well for me, but I prefer Too Faced Shadow Insurance. I just feel that the TFSI’s consistency is better and easier to blend for my lids. Both make my eyeshadows last all day though.

As for color bases, I use them once in a while, but they aren’t 100% necessary for me. There are some eyeshadows that need a base (like MAC’s Venomous Villains mineralize eyeshadows, for example), but I find that most of the ones I use don’t. My favorite color bases are NYX’s Jumbo Eye Pencils. They work just fine for me.

Refinement Avatar

My favorite eye primer is Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden. In my opinion, it keeps my eyeshadow in place from sun up to sun down and doesn’t crease one bit. Plus it makes every eyeshadow color pop!

Eileen Avatar

I resisted for quite a while, but eventually came around to admitting that eyeshadows really did wear better when applied over a base. I tried many of the cult favorites, but always found they dried my eyelids out. About a year ago, I discovered Kanebo Sensai Eyelid Base and have been using it ever since. It’s perfect for those of us with dry skin. The tiniest bit leaves a smooth, soft surface to which shadows adhere beautifully. It’s more expensive than many of the bases/primers like UD and MAC, but it does everything a base should do while moisturizing the lid. I’ve had my little jar for over a year and have only used half of it so it’s actually quite cost effective.

Anna Avatar

I’ve never not used primer, because when I bought my first urban decay eyshadow I also. Bought the sin primer potion. I love all of urban decay’s primers the most. I have oily lids and my eyeshadow never creases. I’ve been trying out benefits stay don’t stray and it’s been creasing very badly.

BethM Avatar

I have super-oily lids, so primer is a must. Shadow lasts all day with no creasing, and it keeps liner sliding to a minimum. I also use primer even when I don’t wear eye makeup, it really helps to keep the oiliness at bay, and really helps to even out my color- my lids are naturally nearly purple near the lash line, but yellow in the crease. I like UDPP, it works the best for me, for color, texture, and staying power.
I have tried Too Faced Shadow insurance, but I don’t like how it feels a bit oily going on, and it creases on me. I have also tried the Smashbox lid primer, but the color is far too yellow for me.

Callen Avatar

I had no idea about bases and primers until I really started getting into makeup. The difference they make is incredible. I love how creative you can get with them as well. You can take any eyeshadow and by using different colour bases you can bring out the different tones in the shadow. Of course, getting more wear time and vibrancy out of your shadows is worth it as well.

Indira Avatar

I bought my first UDPP (professional size) and I can’t believe I did not try it sooner! I love it! it makes my eyeshadow last for the whole day. The only bad part is it kind of makes my eyelids feel a little bit dry if I accidentally put too much of it on. But other than that, it works great! You only need a tiny amount for it to work 🙂 So happy I purchased it

Liz Avatar

Eye primer is the very first thing I put on my face, and probably the most important. When I forget, once in a blue moon, I get really mad and usually start over from scratch. It makes such a huge difference in how well shadow goes on, how it looks, and how long it lasts. My favourites are the Lumene eye primer (may be d/c now) or paint pots (Painterly and Perky).

Ashley D. Avatar

I’m not sure if it’s just my Urban Decay Primer Potion, but it’s very oily most of the time and by the 4th hour it creased on me. Back to Too Faced I go.

Marcela Avatar

loooove COLORED eyeshadow bases. they make my MAC shadows pop amazingly. I use everything from paint pots to paints to super-pigmented cream eyeliners as bases.

Sarah Avatar

UDPP FTW! I wasn’t able to even wear eyeshadow until I discovered shadow primers. When applied sans primer, eyeshadow causes my eyelids to get dry and scaly. I’ve been using UDPP for several years now and it both protects my eyelids and keeps my eyeshadow from creasing. It is a HG product for me. To be fair, I have never tried any other primer because UDPP works so well. Also, at the time that I was looking for a primer, UDPP was pretty much the only one available. I agree that the original bottle design is frustrating, but cutting it open and transferring it to another container is not that big of a deal to me.

Vick Avatar

Primer is a must for me. My skin is incredibly oily and very oily around my eyes it’s so strange. UDPP would work sometimes, concealer would work sometimes, Loreal Decrease would fail every time. I recently am trying Jessie’s Girl Eye Primer and its working well.

chips Avatar

Nars! I used to use UDPP, but Nars really makes a big difference, when i get home after a long day, Nars primer keep my eyes makeup look like I just put it on, but it does also make it harder to blend like any primer.

Jenny Avatar

Like the staying power of UDPP, hate applying eyeshadow over it. I’ll usually apply either powder or a skin toned Mate eyeshadow over it before I continue. MAC Paint Pots, however, are a dream to apply shadow over–love Painterly–but don’t really add much staying power for my oily lids and slightly hooded, deep-set eyes. Just about anything will crease on me, even eyeliner sometimes if I apply it thickly. Sometimes I will use NYX Milk jumbo pencil if I’m applying light or bright colors, but I’ll apply it over UDPP. I am definitely thinking of getting a MUFE Aqua cream for eyes, as I have two for cheeks and lips and love them with a passion.

I don’t find them necessary, though. I’m prepared to touch up any eye makeup, anyway.

Brigette Avatar

Okay so I have combination skin but my lids tend to get oily during the day so I love to wear Too Face Shadow Insurance as my primer.. even under MAC paint pots so I dont crease. It works well.. I can enen work out in full sweat and my eyeshadow doesn’t crease! People with oily lids should definitely consider trying TOO FACED SHADOW INSURANCE under as their primer. :))

michelle Avatar

I’ve tried the ever “holy grail” of e/s primers…primer potion. I was not impressed. I much prefer MAC’s paint pots than then primer potion. I’m not sure if it’s because my eyelids aren’t prone to being oily or what, I just find that I enjoy the paint pot’s consistency and color to it rather than the primer potion’s.

Laia Avatar

I LOVE the Too Faced Eyeshadow primer. It has saved my life sooooooo many times!!! Too bad it’s not available in Belgium (from what I know)… when I come back to Spain I have to buy more of these!

Adelita Avatar

Fyrinnae’s Pixie Epoxy really put UDPP into shame. Seriously, for $7.00, this stuff works like magic!
This foiling agent works wonder for an eyeshadow primer. Trust me, no shimmer are fall out w/ this. If you have an issue w/ Urban Decay’s MCRA, this is all you need….

Lalie Avatar

I use UDPP. It works hevean on me the only downside is the shape of the bottle, not very easy when you are finishing it up and you have to cut it open to access the load of product actually left into it.

I tried MAC paints and Mac shadestick as base too, but both cease on me so, no point.

kurisu Avatar

i love UDPP! I actually think the value is amazing because I seriously got at least a year’s worth of usage out of the original sized genie bottle. I recently bought the professional size and it’s so much more sanitary to use! TFSI was a bit oily when I was testing it out, so I didn’t bother buying it. I am not willing to venture out to MAC paint pots because it’s not as sanitary since it is creamy. I do have Benefit’s creaseless cream shadow/liner (got a great deal on them last year!), which many say is very similar to MAC paint pots. I do like that it makes my eyeshadow a bit more vibrant compared to UDPP, but overal I think udpp is a very nice, nude base. The skin on my eyelids aren’t blotchy, so I don’t need a primer to even out my skintone…

I do want to try the Art Deco base that everyone raves about, but the only problem is that I wish it was in a squeeze-tube or something. I’m not a huge fan of using brushes for cream products – I’d rather use my finger. However, the pro-size of the UDPP is more sanitary and it’s easily accessible. the Art Deco is not. I like to buy things up front (rather than wait for the mail). Lastly, blending used to be an issue for me when I first used UDPP. I finally caved and bought the MAC 217 and it’s done wonders for blending. I just make sure that I apply a thicker base/lid color all over my lid and a tiny bit into my crease, then the crease color on top. I do have bigger eyes compared to some of my Asian friends, so this technique works. My eyeshadows may fade a tiny bit after 10 hours, but it still looks amazing regardless. Love UDPP!

Shayne A Avatar

I can’t believe not one person has mentioned BE’s eye primers! Both the original & the brightening work excellently on me. I’ve tried Lorac & had horrible results with it. I like UDPP too, but not as much as my BE.

bettynova Avatar

Artdeco eyeshadow base is my favourite because before Ive discovered it I only wore make-up like 3-4 times a YEAR. But now I wear make-up everyday.:-)
That tiny jar last like 7-8 months for me. And keeps my make-up perfect for the whole day!!
I also LOVE ELF mineral eyeshadow base.

fks Avatar

I use MAC paintpots, in colors closest to the eyeshadow colors, or MAC painterly if I am doing a neutral look. I’ve used Guerlain’s eye base before (when it came in little pots, from their “Divinora” range), and that was pretty good too.

Danielle Avatar

I am absolutly in love wih NARS eyeshadow base! The texture is very light weight and smooth. It doesn’t have la super silica feel tho which I don’t like. I am used to urban decay eyeshadow primer potion. Now hanging over I feel like he consistency of the potion is too heavy for me now and if applied incorrectly can lead to creasing. What I like about primers in general is that they enhace the pigment that u use. The most defintly make ur shadow last and not crease. Bars I can wear all day and it still looks the same hours later!

Keener Avatar

The past couple of days I’ve been applying shadow for work without a primer and I think the look has been holding up – but that may because my look consists of soft muted colours so fading won’t be as noticeable. If I’m going out for the evening I definitely apply primer, it keeps colours vibrant and the look does last longer in those instances.

I’ve tried UDPP and it’s good, but I didn’t repurchase it, I didn’t want to deal with the hassle of the bottle. I’m currently using Too Faced and so far that’s working out well, very thin, which since it’s something extra on my eyelids I prefer it to be thin. I generally don’t use paint pots as primers, I actually use them on their own for days I want some colour on the lids and not want to fuss over blending and fallout.

Lara Avatar

Does anyone else find ELF’s mineral eyeshadow base a bit oily? Or is it just me. It is the only eyeshadow primer i own at the moment. I also have Shiseido’s hydro cream base, which can be used as a primer – i like that but a bit expensive! Pretty though.

i use primer because I think it helps my eyeshadows adhere to my eyelid!

Christina Avatar

I absolutely MUST use a base/primer, otherwise my eye makeup is melty and creasy within hours. Too Faced is the only one I have ever used, and the only one I will use. I got it as a deluxe sample awhile back, and it was meant to be! (I’m on my third tube, and it lasts for-ev-er.) I tested the Urban Decay PP in Sephora, but I didn’t like the wand, or the formula as much as the Shadow Insurance. As for color bases, I’ve recently discovered NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils and they’re amazing.

stephanie Avatar

I’m allergic to everyone’s beloved UDPP and TFSI (the bismuth in these = flaky, red, scaly, painful lids). I like MAC Paints and Paint Pots, but they can be hard to blend over. Same with L’Oreal HiP Paints and WnW cream e/s in the tubes when they were around. I also like NYX’s Eye Base (reminds me of BeneFit FYEye except not as mousse-like in texture) and their Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk. Almay’s Bright Eyes Concealer + Base isn’t bad in a pinch, LORAC’s eye primer was thin, watery and meh. Carmindy for SH must have been good because I actually used up the entire thing 🙂 Next I want to try the Jesse’s Girl eye primer because I’ve heard good reviews about it.

Gretchen Avatar

I looooove my Two Faced Shadow Insurance. I don’t know how I lived without it. I really wish I had discovered it during high school so my makeup wouldn’t look like such a melted mess by the end of the day. It really discouraged me from wearing much makeup during those years. But now whenever I put on makeup for college or work, I know I don’t have to worry about it fading and melting.

I also highly recommend applying NYX’s Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk under those shadows that are very light and don’t show up very well as a result without it, even with the TFSI. It definitely makes the color true to what’s in the pan or pot and stand out.

knownever Avatar

I’m over the whole eye primer thing. It’s the height of single-use product craziness. Concealer isn’t enough, cream shadows aren’t enough. we’re supposed to believe that we need a specialy formulated goo that only fills that one job. I call shenanigans. Sure if you do wild looks everyday they’re great, but under a nude or neutral eye? overkill.

Quinctia Avatar

For me, primers just opened up the world of powder shadows to me again. I never have had an issue with cream shadows migrating, and I have a few I keep around, but it’s nice to have a greater color and finish selection like you do with powder. Before, 9/10 powder shadows looked like crap on my eyes.

Totally get where you’re coming from on the single-use product thing. I am a shimmer fan, and UDPP in Sin is great for a subtle wash if you’re not up to doing a lot of eye makeup and the color works for you.

Roma Avatar

Has anyone ever tried UDPP then painterly paint pot over that? I have super oily lids and it sure does the trick to keep them nice and matte thoughout the day.

Kat Avatar

I use revlon colorstay foundation so with it already being in my kit I use it as an eye base. It’s longwearing, doesn’t crease, applies easily, has no shimmer (is a flat textiure)… I use it with pan and loose eyeshadows and it’s great!

TonTeezy Avatar

The only grip I have with primers & base is I haven’t found either one that match my skin tone. I’ve been using UDPP (purple bottle), MAC PP in Groundwork, and NYX Jumbo pencil depending on the color e/s. Ideally I would like to use a primer that transparent.

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