Review- Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer

Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer creates the perfect canvas for eyeshadow application. Wear this universal shade under shadow to increase longevity, or create the perfect nude eye by applying over the lid for an even tone. Size: 0.1 oz. $20

Oh, this is the exact beauty product missing from my essential makeup kit! Usually, I do wear some kind base for my eyeshadow, but I had been skipping that step lately when my old one ran out. So, no wonder my eyeshadow hasn't looked so great lately or the inevitable crease shows up no matter how many hours I sleep. I know a great product really really works when I can see a noticeable difference right away, recognizing how much better my eye makeup looks! This Smashbox Lid Primer did it. No more creases, the pigment in my eyeshadow looks smoother and richer than before, and I'm really digging the disappearance of fine lines! Plus, the eyeshadow lasts all day too. With such a smooth and pearl-like finish, this Smashbox Primer delivers a nice cream base that elevates our beloved eyeshadow to a higher level, while erasing a few lines here and there at the same time! For those reasons alone, I'm completely smitten! A definite try and a worthwhile choice indeed!

Movie Maven says: "I'm lazy," I whine. "I have too much to do in the morning, like roll out of bed and hit the snooze button 47 times. I can't be bothered to put on primer. It's not even a color." My common sense, however, fights back: "Do you want your eyeshadow to run out halfway through the day? Do you like looking like you rubbed all your eye makeup off? No? THEN PUT ON THE PRIMER." So I do, and inevitably I'm happy I took the extra - what - 30 seconds? 35, maybe, if I have trouble picking up the brush? Primer is key for me, as products - even powder ones - do not like to stay on my face for very long, and this Smashbox primer is a great one. Goes on smooth, doesn't affect the shade of your shadow too much, keeps the stuff in place all day. Try it!

Hillary says: Smashbox Lid Primer- Where have you been all my life?! I am a total Smashbox cheerleader, but I really do love this primer. I've used it on myself as well as several other people whose makeup I've done lately and it is just the trick to get perfect, long-lasting eyeshadow application. One caveat, I would say this is for light to medium tones only as it is the color of light caucasian flesh. I could be wrong, but I don't think it would work on women with darker toned skin. I think that Smashbox should come out with a second, darker formula for those of you who aren't as white as Casper like myself. I would buy it for my kit in a heartbeat! Still, anything that can make even cheap eyeshadow stay on for hours and hours gets a thumbs up from me. P.S. Smashbox- if I'm wrong about the color thing, please correct me.

Review - Aloette Look Alive Eyeshadow Base

Remove the appearance of dark circles under eyes with Look Alive Eye Base and Brightening Powder. $20.00

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I have been using this for almost a month now. In the beginning I wasn’t seeing a difference until I didn’t use it for a couple of days. I now realize that I need a base for my shadows. I have been wearing this with loose mineral shadow and pressed shadows. It has a light yellowish color and when I apply it, it does offer a nice light coverage that is absorbsed in and doesn’t just sit on top of my skin. When I layer shadows over this base the resulting effect gives my shadows a creamy smooth appearance. I think the biggest asset is when I am wearing loose shadows – I find that they tend to feather and not stay put. However, with this product I notice that I get much longer wear and the shadows aren’t ending up in the crease of my eyes. I have also worn this alone on the weekend, it give a nice natural look that brightens my eyes and give them a subtle pop! Also this is loose and one morning it did slip out of my hands and dumped over ½ of the contents onto the bathroom floor. UGH! I was very upset. I vacuumed up quickly and didn’t leave any marks on the floor. My advice is use a death grip when using, this is a precious little pot!

Sheba says: This little Aloette Look Alive Eyeshadow Base is one handy little tool for your eye area. Cityslicker said it when she said -- you might not notice any difference unless you stop using it. Then you realize just how wonderful it is. It does its job without screaming out - 'look at me'. Eye shadows stay in place and there is no slipping into the crease. She uses it alone -- I have and I think it brightened my eyes that way. I have also used it as a concealer when I awoke with racoon eyes or just looked ragged at the end of the day. It is so very useful and it works so well. It is a tiny little pot -- but you only need a tiny dab-- so you will get your money's worth for sure. Because it is so tiny -- Cityslicker is so right -- hold onto it tightly. I have actually wound a fat little elastic around it and the elastic gives me a good grip.

Hillary says: When I first got this powder, I didn't really understand how it was for under and over your eyes, so I just jumped in with both feet and started using it. I love it! I use a swipe of it right under my eyebrows to make my eyelids look bigger (I have short ones) and I use it under my eyes to get the perfectly finished and concealed look. Now I don't know what this powder would look like on darker skin, but on my fair skin it blends perfectly, totally eliminating dark circles and the best part- mistakes! The other day I was putting on my make-up on the subway when I suddenly got the brilliant idea to put mascara on my lower lashes. Well it appears my new Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes Mascara was not built for the lower lashes. It was clumpsville (otherwise I love the mascara). Anyway, here I am, on the train with racoon eyes. I wiped up as best I could then I applied my Aloette Look Alive and you would never have known there was ever a flub there. I was floored. This is a product I will be buying again and again.

Review - Urban Decay Primer Potion

Eyeshadow Primer Potion Packaged in a precious, genie-like bottle, Eyeshadow Primer Potion is an ultra-sheer, totally nude eye base that glides on with the wave of a wand and then disappears instantly. It's the ultimate eye prep for smoother, longer-lasting, crease-proof eyeshadow.

Ah yes, the legendary Urban Decay Primer Potion or UDPP if you're "in the know" on the makeup boards! Like Christina sings "I'm a Genie in a Bottle...." This little bottle of magic lives up to the hype. How a dry skinned girl like myself ended up with oily eyelids I'll never know - but such as it is...this potion primes your eyes and readies it for shadow and liner like no one's business. It really keeps your shadows put. Give it a minute or two to dry down then go ahead and apply your shadows and watch them stay for the day. I apply this on my lower lash line as well (it has a little doe-foot applicator) and it keeps liners intact. Marvelous! And...just when you think your bottle is empty...think again! Just go to youtube and type in product name and you will be amazed at videos that show you how just by breaking the bottle in half and scooping out the product you can find enough to last you at least two to three months longer. I was speechless when I saw it. Very cool tip. Very cool product. At Sephora for $16.