This summer has been terrible when it comes to eyeshadow staying power. I've used up my beloved Etude House Proof 10 and thought it wouldn't be bad to use up my Makeup Revolution eyeshadow primer that I got it the Advent Calendar.
Well, sadly that primer didn't work for me and I was battling extremely oily eyelids for the most of summer. Anything that I'd put on my eyelids would be gone in 2-3 hours. Anything. Something that would stay half a day even with such an unsuitable primer was the LOV Magnetic eyeshadow.
But after thinking about it I realized that I need to do something. To find an eyeshadow base that would survive such humidity and well, my extremely oily eyelids.
After some internet searching I found out two - Wet n Wild eyeshadow primer from Fergie (which is discontinued but the Photofocus version is supposedly the same) and the BBIA eyeshadow primer (Korean brand).
Wet n Wild Photofocus Eyeshadow Primer
Since I needed something right now I decided to find a seller that has the Wet n Wild eyeshadow primer. In Slovenia that is currently Licila.si.
I ordered the Korean primer anyway, but I'd have to wait for a couple of weeks before its arrival.
I think I ordered the primer on a Monday and got it in two days. It was fast. Very fast! But it's been always lovely buying from Licila.si.
THE PRIMER
The primer came in a cardboard box and inside was a small tube. You get 10ml of product which should last you for several months as only a tiny bit is needed for each eyelid.
Looking for the perfect primer that preps and brightens eyelids to lockdown eyeshadow color all day? This primer features smooth, effortless application that dries to a clear finish and keeps eye makeup in place.
The primer has a sturdy packaging and after using it for a month and some more, I can say it's travel-friendly. I've thrown it into my makeup bag and went to several "sleepovers" and a vacation.
Oh, and it's cruelty-free!
On the photo below I've applied a tiny bit (huh, 5mm worth of product?) on the eyelid. It dries to a matte finish in a matter of seconds.
For me, the most important thing is that the primer helps the eyeshadows and eyeliner last a whole day. I am not a fan of eyeshadow in my crease. This primer does exactly that. It grabs the eyeshadow and keeps it in place.
Apply as a first step to help brighten eyelids and extend the color of your eyeshadows
The primer sticks to the skin and doesn't bulge. It will survive crying, sweating and a bit extra. But it won't survive a lot of rubbing and a steady flow of irritation-tears. As in "I'm having allergic reaction" tears.
On the photos below I've applied the primer on half of the hand and then I applied some eyeshadows over it. It doesn't enhance the colours of the eyeshadows but it also doesn't wash them out.
On the second picture, I've washed my hand with some water and vigorous rubbing. After the photos, I've used some soap and I still couldn't wash it out. It took a bit of oil makeup remover to get it off.
This primer helps the eyeshadow stay. That's for sure. But it's not a fan of glitters as they won't stick as nicely to it. For that, you need something creamier or a special product (like Fyrinnae Pixie epoxy).
One day I put some glitter shadows on my eyelids and I got a lot of fallout and some even got into my eyes! And I wasn't expecting that. So beware while using glitters!
PROS:
+ It works like a champ - eyeshadows are staying for the whole day on my ultra oily eyelids
+ Survives summer heat and humidity
+ Inexpensive (6€ for 10ml)
+ cruelty-free!
CONS:
- It doesn't enhance the colours of the eyeshadows
- doesn't work well with glitters
OVERALL:
I am a fan of this primer. It keeps the makeup on my eyelids for the whole day (and more). It survives hardcore sport, sweat and tears. But it won't work well with glitters and it won't enhance the eyeshadow colours. But I don't mind since for that I have a completely separate product. I think it can compare to my beloved Etude House Proof 10 to which I've been loyal for the past several years. And another good thing about it? It's dirt cheap and it won't break your bank. And probably available anywhere.