Remember when Urban Decay Primer Potion was THE BOMB and nothing else would do? Then other brands released eyeshadow primers to rival UDPP and suddenly, whoops, you have 30 eyeshadow primers at home. Or is that just me?
ELF have complicated matters further by making this extremely affordable £3 mineral eyeshadow primer. Now anyone can prime their eyelids regardless of what budget they are on!
They say:
This gentle and completely sheer Eyeshadow Primer has key vitamins A, C and E to help prevent aging and moisturizes the skin.
The formula glides on easily and disappears instantly to create longer-lasting, crease-proof eyeshadow. The Mineral Eyeshadow Primer is designed to be used with your favorite mineral eyeshadow to provide ultimate staying power for beautiful and vibrant color that lasts. 100% mineral based with no parabens, no preservatives and no chemical dyes.
Eh? No parabens, dyes or preservatives for £3? Ok I’m impressed.
This elf mineral eyeshadow primer reminds me UDPP – it has that slightly silicone-y feel to it but it’s lighter – it has a sheerer texture.
This is a good thing. My problem with UDPP is that it’s quite thick and dries a bit cakey – it makes shadows harder to blend and can dilute the colour.
Elf’s offering is lighter, thus less crusty and sheerer to less likely to affect the pigment. AND, it’s more hydrating than UDPP…although, who said this was a competition *wink*
Now, although this looks like a light beige it is SHEER. I think most skintones could use this colour with no problems:
Applying it on my eyes – I wasn’t sure if this would be any good because it is so light and sheer. Would it cover any redness? Would it give a good enough base for my shadows to adhere to?
Here it is blended it – it offers light coverage (although this isn’t what this is primarily for) and leaves the eye are very natural ready for shadow application:
I have to say yes, I think this is a great eyeshadow primer. It improved the longevity of my eyeshadow (although after a full on 8 hour day I did get some creasing right in the folds of my eye). I noticed some fading at the inner corner of my eye but I get this all the tim because my eyes are so watery.
Otherwise my shadows stayed quite well!
Additionally with this product, it’s light and sheer which I like. I hate crusty lids which is what a lot of shadow primers do to me.
If you want to stick something down like glitter or a chunky shadow, you may want a primer or cream shadow with more of a tacky feel – this one is a bit too unsticky for that kind of thing.
Sometimes I will prefer something thicker – when I do I will reach to Lunasol or Etude House Proof 10 Primer but when I just need something light and unassuming, this will do.
Overall – well worth £3 and a good investment if you just want to create a nice little base for your eyeshadow to adhere too.
Buy it here.
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).
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
thanks for this review!!! looks like a promising product
Reply
Great review! Wish ELF was easier to get though!
Reply
I do agree that this primer is great enough..almost UDPP dupe.
Reply
I loved this too when I first got it. I thought it was actually better than UDPP for the same reasons – more sheer and lighter so didn’t highlight the fine lines around my eyes. After a few weeks it didn’t seem to be working as well then suddenly it began to fail totally. My lids were a greasy mess by the end of the day and my mascara smudged onto my lids. I don’t know if the product had deteriorated or I suddenly got greasier. I suspect the former as I have tried it again since and it was like I wasn’t even wearing a primer – big mess again. I realised my UDPP was pretty old so I bought a new one and I am in love with it again. I think my old one had started to dry out. All in all I’m disappointed in ELF. Their stuff is ok for the price and may work on younger skin but I have noticed that as I get older the pricier stuff just performs better for me. I guess I’m saying make the most of cheap make-up while you’re young because you going to need to fork out for the dear stuff once you get over 35!
Reply
Silly ELF used to have a site specifically for Australia, but it closed down
. But my stepdad (who lives in the UK) is coming back in a few months with a big package of MAC (as MAC is about 5-10 pounds cheaper over there than it is here) and I’m going to have to make him include some ELF.
Thanks for the review
Reply
It looks nice .I do like it.
Reply
I like it too, but I think less is more with this stuff or you can get some “crease problems”.
Reply
Thanks for the review, it looks good for the price x
Reply
I’ve never tried UDPP, but I have this eyeshadow primer from elf and I like it a lot!!
It’s cheap, it’s mineral and it keeps my eyeshadow from creasing (I have very oily eyelids!)
Reply