I don't have time to apply an eyeshadow base every single morning (why do I feel like I need to stay in bed and listen to the radio?), but when I'm not skipping steps in an attempt to get out the door at a reasonable time, I like to apply an eyeshadow base/primer to help my eyeshadow last all day. One of the primers I purchased recently is this Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion.


Product Details:

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion is a pale, flesh-colored, semi-thin liquid/cream (it reminds me of foundation) that is applied to the eyelid. It dries to a matte finish to allow a smooth, gripping foundation for the application of eyeshadow. This product is applied with a sponge-tipped wand applicator. It comes in just the one flesh-colored shade, which does not have a name.

The packaging for Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion is very cute. It's a light purple metallic tube that reminds me of a Genie bottle with a silver metallic cap. Attached to the cap is the sponge-tipped wand applicator. The tube, including the cap, measures just under 4.5" long.

The tube of Primer Potion contains .34 oz.

From UrbanDecay.com: This miracle eyeshadow primer is unmatched by any other in the beauty industry! The genie in this bottle fulfills three wishes: eyeshadow that lasts, more vibrant and lasting color, and absolutely NO creasing. Apply Primer Potion to lids before shadow application. It dries down almost instantly (and invisibly), creating smooth lids that are super powered eyeshadow magnets.

The formula is full of silicone, which you beauty mavens know makes for a smooth and silky application. Packaged in a pretty genie bottle, our Potion applies with a magic wand and flocked applicator. (The inside of the bottle is straight, so your Potion won’t get stuck in the bottle’s curves.)


Ingredients (taken from packaging):

Isododecane, talc, cyclopentasiloxane, disteardimonium hectorite, polyethylene, trihydroxystearin, triethylhexanoin, isopropyl lanolate, sorbitan, sesquioleate, VP/eicosene copolymer, dimethicone, PEG-40 stearate, propylene carbonate, phenoxyethanol, beeswax, trimethylsiloxysilicate, propylparaben, methylparaben, ethylparaben, butylparaben, methicone, isobutylparaben. May Contain: Mica, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, bismuth oxychloride.


My Experience:

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion is my favorite eyeshadow primer right now. I've tried several, but this one, so far, is my favorite. I like how it applies to the lids quickly and easily. To apply the shadow, I just pull the wand out of the tube and sweep the "potion" over my eyelid as far up to my eyebrow as I want to go. A very thin coat is all it takes. When the wand comes out of the tube, there is enough on the applicator to apply to one of my eyelids and nearly up to my eyebrows but not quite. If you want to go clear up to your eyebrow, you probably will have to dip the applicator back into the tube.

This formula will dry very quickly but it does take a bit longer for it to dry in the crease of the eyelid. I'm pale anyway, but this is a bit more pale than my skin and I can see where I've applied it. It has a matte finish and doesn't look powdery, but it is just short of powdery, almost like a powder foundation.

Once the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion is dry, I apply my eyeshadow as I normally would. I've used this product with pressed powder eyeshadow, loose powder eyeshadow, stick powder eyeshadow (Maybelline PowderExact, which is a new product) and cream eyeshadow. The Primer Potion really grabs the eyeshadow. In fact, I sometimes feel like I have to use more of any type of powder eyeshadow because once the Primer Potion has gripped the eyeshadow, it's hard to move it. This is where the problem with blending eyeshadow from time to time comes in. I don't know if it's how much Primer Potion I apply, or if it's how I apply my eyeshadow, but sometimes, especially with powder eyeshadows, I can't get shades to blend well enough. I do eventually get it to blend, but that's only when I apply another layer of eyeshadow over the first layer and then use several strokes of my eyeshadow brush. This can be a pain in the butt, but it does not happen often.

The big payoff when using Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion comes at mid-day or late-day when you look in the mirror and see that your eyeshadow still looks freshly-applied. Even if you rub your eyes during the day for some reason, all of the shadow does not smudge or rub off. Sometimes in the morning my eyes will water from the bright sun on the way to work in the car, and I wipe away the water. On the mornings that I use this primer, very little of the eyeshadow rubs off. This is the best product for days when you won't have time to touch-up your makeup, or when you really need your makeup to look great all day. I am very pleased with Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion and will definitely purchase it again when my current tube runs out.

One thing that must be mentioned about this product: Urban Decay states that the inside of this curved "Genie bottle" tube is straight, so that none of the Potion will get stuck in the curves of the tube. This is one thing I thought of when I first saw this tube.."How much of the product is going to get stuck in those curves where I can't get to it?" Problem solved. Thank you, Urban Decay!


Price and Purchasing Information:

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion is $14 no matter where it is purchased. Online, it can be found at Sephora.com and UrbanDecay.com. It can be found at Sephora brick and mortar stores.


Recommended: Yes