Review: Nars Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

0.26 oz/7 g

Sephora: $24

John Lewis: £19

http://www.sephora.com/smudge-proof-eyeshadow-base-P261211

http://www.johnlewis.com/search/nars-eyeshadow-base?_requestid=1540656

http://www.narscosmetics.com/complexion/primers/~/smudge-proof-eyeshadow-base

Found on Nars Cosmetics website

This “lightweight” clear eyeshadow primer is said to help keep cream and powder eyeshadows “looking brilliant, fresh, and just-applied all day”. It “uses a unique polymer and mineral powder blend” and is fortified with “special deep-sea extract and an antioxidant rice extract”.

Ingredients

Isododecane, Talc, Cyclopentasiloxane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Dimethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propylene Carbonate, Peg-40 Stearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Phenoxyethanol, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Oryza Sativa [Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil Extract], Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Castor Oil Phosphate, Sea Whip Extract, Mica, Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Ci 77163 (Bismuth Oxychloride).

I really like this primer. It makes my eyeshadows look much nicer, go on smoother, and last longer. I have used two others in the past, the cult-favorite UD Primer Potion (review here), and the insanely cheap ELF Mineral Eyeshadow Primer (review here).  This one out-performs both. For actual texture, this one is much silkier than the ELF one, and a bit silkier than the UD one. I do not get dry patches, quite the opposite in fact, but I think this is thick enough to help deal with those but still light-weight enough to blend seamlessly. I would recommend verifying this though, before buying this product. But as someone with oily eyelids, I can say that this helps a lot with creasing and fading. My eyeshadow looks nicer at the end of the day than with the ELF one and much nicer than the UD one. However, I must say that I do still get some fading. Much less than with other products I’ve tried, and with (horror of horrors) no primer, but my nevertheless it still occurs. By this point I have kind of accepted it as a fact of life. On the bright side, if you do not have extremely gross eyelids like me, this will probably blow your mind!

For packaging, it is the beautiful classic Nars aesthetic with the beautiful classic complaint: the rubberized material gets so dirty! Not that big a deal, but kinda annoying considering the price and the fact this complaint has been around since the beginning of time. Get it together, Nars!

I really do like this product, and it is the best thing I have found so far to help with my chronic fading problem (the struggle is real, y’all), but I’m a bit unsure about the price tag. This is the best product I have tried, but I’m not entirely sure it’s $21 better than the ELF one, which sets me a whopping $3 back. It does last an long time, so the cost is spread out over a while. Would I repurchase it? Yes, conceivably. After I try some other things. I would recommend trying the ELF one first, and if it doesn’t work go for this.

Rating: A

Review: ELF Mineral Eyeshadow Primer (Sheer)

15 oz/4.5g

$3/₤3

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/minerals/eyes/concealers_and_primers/eyeshadow_primer

http://eyeslipsface.co.uk/en/restofworld/concealers+primers/mineral-eyeshadow-primer/invt/6531/

Found on ELF US website

Found on ELF US website

The ELF mineral eyeshadow primer claims to have “ultimate staying power” to “create longer-lasting, crease-proof eyeshadow” and “beautiful and vibrant color that lasts”. According to ELF it is “100% mineral based with no parabens, no preservatives and no chemical dyes”. Yay. Also contains Vitamins A, C, and E to “help prevent aging and moisturize the skin”. Comes in two colors, sheer (being reviewed) and blush.

Ingredients:

Isododecane, Cylopentasiloxane, Octyl Palmitate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Triacontanyl PVP, Propylene Carbonate, Titanium Dioxide, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Mica (CI 77019), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163).

 

This primer had a strange texture, almost like a little silicone-y, even though there isn’t silicone actually in it. It dries down to an almost powdery finish. It creates a very smooth surface on the lids though, and intensifies the color of eyeshadows a little weenie bit. It isn’t actually completely sheer, I felt it still had the tiniest bit of color- not enough to really be noticeable, but enough to work towards evening out the color of the lid. A nice little touch, I thought, and unexpected at that.

As for longevity… eh. It was better than the cult classic UDPP (you can read my review here, if you are interested to see what I thought), in my opinion, but still a bit lacking in the long-wear department. By the end of the school day (about 8 hours) my eyeshadow would most likely be creased. I do have very oily eyelids, so I really wasn’t expecting miracles.

 

To sum up:

I liked it better than the UDPP, but it still didn’t work for me. For those who like the UDPP, I think this would be a fabulous option and a great way to save what, $15? For those whose lids secrete oil at the rate that mine do, we’ll just have to keep looking, unfortunately.

Rating: D+

ELF Haul!!

I ordered all this stuff ages ago but only got it now… sadly not because of ELF’s shipping, but because I sent it to the wrong address -.-

Anyway, I am super excited about everything I got, and can’t wait to really test it out!

 

Studio HD Blush in Headliner- $3

This blush seems to be a really pretty dolly pink color, I have only swatched it on my hand as of yet. I believe MUFE has a similar product, so I am really interested to see how this one works out.

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/studio/face/blush/hd_blush

 

Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzer Cream in St. Lucia- $3

I was never super excited by the powder version of this duo. But when they came out with a cream version, I was sold. The blush is a very pretty peachy color with almost a hint of terra-cotta in it. The bronzer is a bit orange, but when applied correctly is pretty wearable… if you are not super pale like winter-me. However, it does look really good on more tanned skin, I tried it out on my sister who lives in Houston, and it looks really nice.

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/studio/face/blush/contouring_blush_and_bronzing_cream

 

Studio Blush in Blushing Rose- $3

I have used this blush several times since opening it, and really love it so far! It is beautiful rose color with a subtle gold shimmer running through it. It gives a gorgeous flush to the skin, and looks really nice on my Caspar-like skin. I think this would also look really nice on darker skin as well, but you might have to use a denser brush (I use a stippling brush)

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/studio/face/blush/studio_blush

 

Mineral Eyeshadow Primer in Sheer- $3

I have really oily eyelids so I don’t really have high hopes for this primer (read about my experience with the famous Urban Decay primer here). However, I figured since it was $3 I could try it out before trying the more expensive primers. If it does work, then I have saved myself a fair amount of money. If it doesn’t, it was $3.

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/minerals/eyes/concealers_and_primers/eyeshadow_primer

 

Custom Eyes Eyeshadow Refill in Navy- $1

This looked like a really interesting color, so I figured I would pick it up. I think this would look really good as a smokey eyeliner with a defined upper lash line. I had ordered the color Aubergine too, but they were out of that, apparently. I can’t comment on the quality of the shadow yet as I haven’t done anything more than a quick swatch on my hand.

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/elf/elements/custom_eyes

 

Essentials Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Bark- $1

This is another product that I have worn some since receiving the order, and so far I really like it! It is a pink/brown nude, a very natural color. On my lips it is a very my-lips-but-better color. It seems to be reasonably pigmented. It is a strange texture, more like a gloss than a lipstick, but a very very thick sticky gloss at that. It smells strongly of mint and vanilla and has that tingling sensation you get with plumping glosses, even though this isn’t advertised as being plumping. These features are fine for me, but may put some people off.

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/makeup/lips/lip_stick/luscious_liquid_lipstick

 

**DISCLAIMER: all individual product pictures found on eyeslipsface.com**

Review: Urban Decay Primer Potion (Original)

UrbanDecay.com: $20 (full sized, 11 oz), $9 (travel sized, 0.13 oz)

http://www.urbandecay.com/eyeshadow-primer-potion/296,default,pd.html?start=1&cgid=1_503

Contains parabens.

courtesy of Urban Decay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Urban Decay Primer Potion is advertised as an eyeshadow primer that prevents creasing in eye makeup for up to 24 hours and makes colors more vibrant. It comes in the Original formula (which I will be reviewing), which dries to be invisible, as well as Greed, Sin, and Eden which are all tinted.

Ingredients:

Isododecane, Talc, Cyclopentasiloxane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Trihydroxystearin, Triethylhexanoin, Isopropyl Lanolate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Dimethicone, PEG-40 Stearate, Propylene Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, Cera Alba (Synthetic Beeswax), Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Propylparaben, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Methicone, Isobutylparaben

May Contain:

Mica, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 77163 (Bismuth Oxychloride)

I’m sure nearly everyone in the beauty community has heard of the Urban Decay Primer Potion. And everyone seems to love it. Which was why I was very disappointed when it didn’t work for me.

I have quite oily eyelids, and UDPP didn’t really stand a chance. Maybe it extended the wear of my shadows a bit, but they certainly never lasted a full 8-hour day. And this is coming from a product that claims to last 24 hours. I don’t really expect any product to do that, but for that claim, not lasting 8 hours just doesn’t cut it. In addition, I find that the product doesn’t deliver in terms of vibrancy claims either; my shadows don’t look any different applied with or without primer. I must say though, the primer does have a really nice consistency and makes the texture of my eyelid more even.

I have the travel-sized version (which has lasted me about a year, with pretty consistent use at certain times), and I really like the packaging of it. It looks really cool for starters, and I think the bent doe-foot applicator is a very good way to apply the product. I hate the new packaging of the full-sized product; I always squeeze out too much. For the clear version it’s not that much of an issue, but for the versions with shimmer squeezing out too much is guaranteed to make a huge, shimmery mess, which is a pain in the ass.

The Verdict:

While this product may work for people with less oily eyelids, it just does not work for me. The product fell way short of its claims; it claimed to make eyeshadow last 24 hours and then didn’t even last 8. This is very disappointing coming from such a hyped-up product.

Rating: D-