Things I Don’t Do: Eyeshadow Primer
By Glinda
I’ve got a thing lately with the word “primer” it seems.
It’s not that I have something against eyeshadow primers. Not at all. Technically, I am for a product that will help other products I own stay on longer and look better.
However, every time I find myself lingering over the most popular eyeshadow primer out there, I am unable to pull the trigger.
I would categorize myself as someone whose lids have a tendency to get slick quick.
And I definitely enjoy my eyeshadow, so what prejudice do I have against the sad, sad eyeshadow primer that I leave forlornly on the shelf every single time?
I think it’s because I am currently not working. Actually I haven’t worked outside the home for almost nine years, but if I am no longer interviewing potential employees or conducting training sessions, who really cares about my eyeshadow staying put for ten hours?
Certainly not my kids, and my husband lacks that fine eye for detail that would notice my shadow growing fainter and fainter by the minute. I would say at this point in my life, eyeshadow goes on for special events. Going to Target, as exciting as that can be, doesn’t qualify as a special event. Not yet, anyway. My time to get out the door is usually pretty limited, and I’m always going to choose foundation, concealer, lipstick, and even mascara over eyeshadow.
So as I’m standing there pondering, my mind always seems to justify the non-purchase of the primer.
Because in my world, if I’ve got the extra money, I can never have too many lipsticks.
March 9th, 2011 at 7:25 am
I always think you can do lips or eyes, and I like to play up my eyes with shadow. And this primer stuff really works, even with cheap eyeshadow. I leave my house at 5:30am and come home at around 7pm and my shadow is still there and not creased. Wouldn’t you love to have something that could make your lipstick stay that long?
March 9th, 2011 at 10:17 am
I haven’t used this yet, but I’m curious. I don’t want to shell out the bucks for the Too Faced though, so it keeps me from trying it at the moment.
I’ve heard good reviews about a drugstore product (Hard Candy, maybe is the brand??) that does just as good a job. That I’d be more willing to try out and see if it makes a difference for me.
In general, I don’t have a lot of issues with eye makeup fading over the course of a day, so I’m really on the fence about eye shadow primer…hmmm…
March 9th, 2011 at 10:01 pm
When it first came out, I thought eye shadow primer was the greatest invention in years. My oily eyelids always made my shadow disappear. Primer, especially the urban decay, made the shadow not budge, even after 10 hours. Loved them.
But.
They can look cakey, especially with lighter colors. And now that I’m well past 40, cakey is to be avoided at all costs. Plus, I’ve found I prefer a sheer wash of neutral on my lids, and liner for drama.
So, if you are under 40, like a dark lid, and have oily lids, eye primer is a must-have.
March 10th, 2011 at 8:45 am
Am I the only one who wonders whether a skin primer for the face wouldn’t do the same trick? I have the too-faced eye primer and it seemed to just prepare the surface of my lids (and then I apply a little pale yellow concealer, which makes me look younger, believe it or not). The skin primer was what I used before the eye primer, and I honestly can’t find a difference between the two, in terms of effect and lasting power.
As for finding a product to fix lipstick the same way–I never thought of that. I’m trying the primer there next.
March 10th, 2011 at 9:37 am
As for drug store eyeshadow primers, I found that the Almay bright eyes cream shadow in champagne was perfect for that… until they discontinued it a few years back. I bought about 5 things of it on ebay, but I obviously can’t keep it up forever. I especially need the primer for stage makeup (costume changes and sweating under stage lights can be disastrous for my makeup), so will have to give the urban decay a go!
March 12th, 2011 at 11:51 am
I’ve tried the Urban Decay primer, and it just didn’t do anything for me. However, I’ve been using MAC Paint for the longest time (actually, when I bought it was in this little tube, but now apparently it’s in a pot) and it works so well. It evens out redness, and it keeps my eyeshadow on for hours. You can tell, right when you put it on, that it’s not going to crease or get greasy.