I have tried nearly every eyeshadow primer out there: Benefit, Smashbox, Urban Decay, Too Faced, etc. and the two that have worked the best for me are Urban Decay and Too Faced. The Benefit and Smashbox brands box made my shadow crease within an hour or so. I am focusing on Too Faced tonight because of the wide variety of finishes that their Shadow Insurance comes in. At IMATS LA last year, I purchased one of each type of Shadow Insurance. I love each of them for different reasons. Here are some pros and cons of each–one of the biggest pros that they all share is that they do not come with a wand. Not only does it make the primer easier to apply, it also makes it easy to use in any setting, whether you are working on a bride, shoot, or going for a night on the town. Remember that a little will cover both lids, so about the amount of half a pea or less should do the trick. Let it set while you prep, then color it up with your favorite shadow hues. One tube, with regular use, lasts about 4-6 months or more, depending on how much you apply.
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The original Shadow Insurance is matte, flesh-toned, and blends in with any skin color. The product goes on smooth, and won’t leave streaks across your lids. As with all of them, just a drop will last for hours.
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Candlelight is one of my favorites because it adds just a little bit of (sophisticated) lemon-gold shimmer that really makes the shadow pop. It can also be used alone as a highlight, without being overpowering.
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Champagne has the deepest color of the primers. It is a light bronze that can be built up and used alone or with eyeshadow. The bronze color, in my opinion looks best on light-medium to dark skin tones. Using it, especially lightly, can make those with lighter skin tones look tired–of course, with the right eyeshadow application, it will work with all skin tones.
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| Picture property of toofaced.com |
This brings us to the last of the shadow primers (not including the glitter glue, which I, personally, don’t care for): Lemondrop. This is my favorite because it works like most yellow-based color correctors. It lightens up any dark areas of the lids and provides an all-day, no-crease base for your eyeshadow. This primer is matte, so I do not recommend that it be used solo.
Overall, I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE Too Faced Shadow Insurance. It’s long-lasting formula sets the foundation for amazing eyes all day (and night) long! Each type provides something extra to your look, whether you’re it’s simple or sultry. The tubes last for ages, and as I said, just a drop will do. They fit great in any makeup bag/kit, and the primer can be applied with your finger tips, brush, or sponge.
Sadly, I will not be attending this coming IMATS. Because of the changes that have been made, it is no longer a pro-focused event. If you are attending, be sure to pick up one, two, or all of them, and let me know what you think. Do you have a favorite primer? If so, I’d love to know what it is. Drop a comment or send me a message.
Pro Tip: If you want the truest shadow, apply a small (and I mean SMALL) amount of a white concealer or base, such as Inglot’s Cream Concealer 37 after you’ve applied the primer and it has set. Next, apply your shadow. Be careful, though…you don’t want to buff everything so it doesn’t
look like your lids are covered in white paint–when you’re done, the white should not be noticable.
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