In search of: decent eye shadow primer
I’ve used Urban Decay’s eye shadow primer since… actually, thanks to an ancient blog post I can triangulate that I’ve been using it since sometime after 2007, whenever Benefit quit making f.y..eye (what a truly awful name/aborted ellipsis situation). I’m not a big eye makeup person. Going all out for me is just wearing eye shadow and mascara, maybe some eyeliner if I’m feeling fancy. But I use eye shadow primer every single day, even if I’m not wearing makeup, because I have oily skin and if I don’t, by 2 pm my eyelids feel greasy, and then my eyes start stinging and I have to go wash my face again. After typing that out I have no idea if that’s weird or not, but that’s my life and I’m living it. Anyway, recently my tried and true Urban Decay changed from a little squeezable tube to a tube with a wand applicator, and now it’s worthless. The consistency is runny, and hardly any comes out on the wand but somehow it also only lasts a few months, whereas the old one would last me half a year at least.
I was in Sephora last weekend and asked a sales associate to recommend a replacement. (Side note: I’m now the age that sales associates follow me around a store not because they’re making sure I’m not shoplifting, but because I look old enough to spend real money. Who’s a grown-up lady now, bitches?) She said I should check out Too Faced’s eye shadow primer. I use Too Faced’s Hangover primer under my eyes before using concealer and on my whole face if I’m actually wearing makeup, but I was already buying a few things and didn’t feel like taking a $22 gamble. Then at checkout, I saw that I could redeem 100 points and get the Anastasia mini eye primer. Bam! An elegant solution that costs me free dollars! Except it’s worse than the Urban Decay. WAY more primer comes out than you need, and it goes on bright white, not translucent like the Urban Decay. I looked like a ghost from the Delia’s catalog, doomed to wander the earth forever in search of my lost zig-zag part and platform slides. And I tested putting eye shadow over it and it made everything lighter. Also, it didn’t stop anything from creasing! So I still have this (fake, first-world) problem. Anyone have an eye primer they like?
(This would be a good time to reiterate: I’m not ending a post with a question, the oldest lifestyle blogger trick in the book, to drive up engagement or something. I genuinely want to know this answer. I’m not making any money off these posts and all links are contextual.)
Comments are closed.
Christen
January 17, 2020 at 12:11 pmI have dry/sensitive skin and a lot of primers make them even drier or flaky (cute!) and I really like the Too Faced primer suggested. I bought it in a panic before a work trip to swampy FL where I felt compelled to wear makeup because the patriarchy has a nice, strong hold on me and it worked great. Now that I think of it, that tube has lasted me almost a year and I use it basically every day. Don’t waste your money on the Bobbi Brown eye primer: it never really dries so you end up smearing your shadow and look insane. PS I bought the Avene and I’m in love.
sarahbrown
January 17, 2020 at 3:20 pmI’m so glad you like the Avene! It’s ridiculous how much I love this lip balm.
Amy
January 17, 2020 at 1:37 pmI’ve used both the Urban Decay and Too Faced primers. The Too Faced actually separated after like three months. I switched to the NARS primer in original about a month ago and really like it. Not sure how long it will last but I like the way it wears.
sarahbrown
January 17, 2020 at 3:21 pmThanks for this! It sent me down a Sephora rabbit hole and now I’m tempted to try the Fenty version.
Aine
January 17, 2020 at 6:26 pmYou are not odd (at least not to me) – I, too, must have some sort of primer on my eyelids. I tried using Supergoop! Shimmershade eyeshadow for the SPF a while back, and discovered that it does for me what a primer usually does. It’s a little shimmery (thus the name) but doesn’t crease. And it lasts for-fricking-ever. (BTW, I bought the Laneige lip mask and am enjoying it very much. But not the wand thing.)
sarahbrown
January 21, 2020 at 4:49 pmI love Supergoop’s matte SPF! I wear it every day. Maybe I’ll check this out, thank you!
Beth
January 19, 2020 at 4:18 pmNars eyeshadow primer is the only one that works for me and my oily AF eyelids.
Kristina
January 22, 2020 at 9:45 amYou must be my oily-skinned makeup twin because I rarely wear it and have an oil slick within hours of washing my face (Murad mattifying moisturizer is good! Followed by Paula’s Mattifier). I used to use Calvin Klein’s cream eyeshadow as a primer and it was great, RIP. Urban decay’s in gold was my jam for primer and shimmer without shadow needed, but it’s gone. I feel your pain and am watching this space with baited breath for a good alternative. I do have the newer UD with the wand and I just put a bit on the back of my hand first and apply with my fingertips. Keeps germies from the tube a bit more and helps with application.
Meg
February 5, 2020 at 2:38 pmNYX has one that is cheap and effective and so easy to grab in different drugstores.
sarahbrown
February 5, 2020 at 2:46 pmThanks for this, I’d tried the elf one but it didn’t do much.
Brandi
February 6, 2020 at 1:34 pmRoll with me here… the answer to this question is WET N WILD for five American dollars. Their photo focus eye primer is legit. I used urban decay for ages, and skincare reddit or whoever told me I should try the WNW version. I’ve rebought it a million times. It is truly effective. I was wary of a cheapo because the elf one is so bad. Give this one a shot.
sarahbrown
February 6, 2020 at 1:41 pmI LOVE a cheap answer! Thank you, I’ll look for this!
Susan
February 12, 2020 at 3:06 pmI used to use the Urban Decay as well, but now I use the ULTA Matte Eye Primer. Glad to see your new blog!