Archived Post

Temptalia Asks You - What's your favorite base to use for eyeshadow?

What’s your favorite base to use for eyeshadow? What base helps your makeup from creasing, eyeshadow colors to pop, and keep you looking good all day?

I actually tend to use pigments applied with water-based mixing medium as a base – I’m a total odd ball on that account!

42 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.
Sophia Avatar

My lids are very oily and I tried many bases, Mac Bare Canvas, UDPP, Mac Bare Study paint pot, Artdeco, and seriously nothing beats UDPP ( Urban Decay Primer Potion), my e/s last for 12 hours, I once slept with e/s on and when I woke up the e/s were still on!!

Chyla Avatar

After reading your testimonial Sophia, I think I’m gonna’ have to try out that Urban Decay Primer Potion! I have a couple of things from UD but not that stuff… I just may have to grab some 😉

Carrie Avatar

UDPP! Mine ran out a couple weeks ago so I’ve gone back to my old tube of Bare Canvas, and now I know that on my oily lids, it just doesn’t compare to UDPP.

Tekoa Avatar

Bare Canvas…haven’t tried the Urban Decay stuff. It seems we’re strongly polar to one camp or the other. I suggest a game of Red Rover to settle the matter. 😉

hannika Avatar

christine why do you hate UDPP?

everyones been raving about it and i thought it would be great

dont get me wrong it is, but it dries up so fast, that you have to apply the eyeshadow right away before it dries up in a matter of seconds :S:S:S:S

what do you guys think?

team UDPP please explain why its the best.

Kate Avatar

I used to use Benefit F.Y.Eye – but then I picked up a couple of MAC paints at a CCO and I never looked back!
I never tried UDPP because I heard that it makes it difficult to blend your eyeshadow….has anyone else heard that?

Chyla Avatar

Wow, I saw this a couple of times but Bare Canvas Paint, hands down. After I started reading this blog, I’ve been using pigments with mixing medium as a base but even then, I put Bare Canvas under that. It’s been really good for me because I have oily skin which makes even my eye shadow crease & the Paints are great for acting like a shield between the eye shadows & my eyelids.

Jennifer Avatar

UDPP is HG for me. I also love to use MAC paints as a great creaseproof base. I wish there was a paint in Sliverbleu since the Shadesticks crease:(

Janis Avatar

I have a big problem with my eyeshadow creasing so applying a good base is an essential step for me…I have tried numerous products like MAC’s Prep + Prime, CCBs, Shadesticks, etc and nothing seems to work. Finally I tried using MAC paint pots as base and for the first time ever my eyeshadow didn’t crease! I’m definitely glad that MAC came out with this product coz I’m gonna be needing it as base for my eye make-up like forever hehe. But since I have read numerous good reviews regarding UDPP, I bought a couple at Sephora but haven’t tried it yet…let you know how it works out for me!

tanya Avatar

Do I dare admit this? I don’t use anything. I own one paint pot and I think its kinda funky so I never use it. Today while at MAC I asked about the mixing medium but apparently they only sell it at the SF store not the Sacramento one 🙁 So I might try your tip and make my own.

Ultimate Avatar

I am a recent convert to UDPP! LOVE IT!

But before that I used MAC Paints(and still do when I need to blend more). BUT, you know what I HATE HATE HATE about the MAC paint tube: EXTREME PRODUCT LOSS. Any tips on how to combat that? Maybe I’m opening it wrong or something.

Carrie Avatar

What has worked for me is if you uncrimp the end of the tube and carefully unroll it. It helps relieve the pressure inside the tube and keeps it from squirting out so much…but it still might do it a little bit!

jennifer Avatar

i use udpp.. it’s the best! it makes e/s stay on all day and night.. just went to a club and it was so hot i was sweating and all and it still stayed put!

makeupMOMMA Avatar

UDPP has done a good job adhering the shadows to my oily lids. I alternately use MAC Bare Canvas, which also has done the same job as UDPP. As far as my experience goes, both have worked great in preventing creasing. In regards to making the colors pop, I find that they are both too neutral to enhance brighter colors on my NC43 skin. I tried using a sparse amount of Vaseline last week, and it made the colors pop very well. Although I have yet to see how long it holds.

Airi Zombie Avatar

I tend to use a corresponding color of jordana eyeliner all over my lid, or ill use L.A. colors mystic concealer. it’s kinda cheap and waxy, but thats why i use it. it adheres all day, and its well worth the money.

Jennythemakeupguru Avatar

Urban Decay Primer Potion is natural looking, long-wearing, and never creasing. It is a bit expensive compared to many other products, but it’s definitely worth a try if you are willing to use a product that actually works as advertised.

Another good option, at least for me sometimes, is the MAC Shadestick in Bei-ging. This Shroom eye shadow like color gives a super longevity to eye shadow and high impact on color pay-off. This product, however, does not go on as smoothly as UDPP does and it contains shimmer. If you are going for a super smoky eye look, then try Shadestick in Sharkskin instead.

I use MAC Paint in Bare Canvas as my lip primer/eraser. It keeps lipstick in place for hours! If you are a lipstick person you will definitely want to experiment this, especially if you are one of those who truly hate longwear lipsticks.

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!