DIY Eye Primer

Since I've done posts previously on eye bases and primers (click here) and cream eye shadows (click here); and while the subject is still fresh, I'd like the opportunity to share a recipe on how to make your own eye primer, completely free of cost at home.

To test this primer, I swatched a NYX single eyeshadow in shade "Springleaf". The first swatch is the eyeshadow without primer, the second with Urban Decay Primer Potion and the third with my own home made primer:

Eyeshadow, UDPP, DIY primer

Corresponding swatches

Makeup Brushes 101

When I first got into makeup, brushes were around, only not in the host of types and brands nowadays. Back then good ol' fingers were the main makeup application tool for at lot of your look. I know how overwhelming it can be to go out there and see 10 different types of eyeliner brushes and not know what to do, only to walk out in frustration. I hope this post can help you know what are the basic tools required to apply makeup and then you can shop for brushes with the intent of the brush you want to buy. This is singularly the most important question when buying makeup products...what will this product help me achieve.

Brush overload: Be gone...

Before starting you should know there are 2 types of brushes: Synthetic (man made fibres) and Natural (as apparent from the name, animal hair). The preference is a personal choice mostly. I don't mind either but synthetic brushes are generally more easier to clean and more commonly used.

Essence Stay All Day Long Lasting Eyeshadows (cream based)

Well since I discussed some eye primers yesterday, I thought it would be nice to talk about some cream eyeshadows.The difference between the 2 is that whereas primers are not pigmented, cream eyeshadows are meant to function as color for the lids. Primers prevent or minimize creasing but some cream shadows do crease, some sooner than others....so in fact primers can be used underneath to reduce the creasing and improve longevity. By design creams are quite pigmented to there is no issue there, although layering powder eyeshadow on top can give multidimensional effects as well improve the overall eye look duration.  These come in the tubs/pots or in pencil form. Today I'm talking about the Essence ones which come in these small tubs.

Many companies make them. MAC make paint pots, Chanel and Estee Lauder have some good ones and Maybelline have the all famous Color Tattoos. I intend to do a clash of the cream shadows (drugstore edition) some time in the future.

So onwards:

I have 6 of these:

Top row L to R: For Fairies 09, Raise the Curtain for... (limited edition) 02,Stars and Stories 04

Bottom row L to R: Coppy Right 01, Glammy Goes To 02, The Magic Must Go On 08

Price: Around 15-20 dhs and easily available at major supermarkets.

Packaging: Plastic tubs, twist open lids and a cute 3d design on the lid. There is 5.5 grams of product which is not bad.

Clash of the Eye Primers: Urban Decay Primer Potion vs Essence I Love Stage Eyeshadow Base

So what do eye primers do...I mean what is their function exactly? So far as all the key words regarding this makeup product is concerned, they are 'long lasting', 'more true to color, pigmented' and 'prevents creasing'.

Now its true that these do all the above to some capacity. Obviously every individual's skin type if different. Very oily eyelids  may need a cream eyeshadow or something extra, some people may find that its just the same anyway.

So here I want to put 2 primers to the test...one, the giant of all primers- the all famous UDPP and the other the lesser known the Essence I Love Stage Eyeshadow Base.

On the left: UDPP (sample size)

On the right: Essence Base (full size)

So I picked up some random Revlon 12 hour Colorstay eyeshadows and swatched them without any base:

I picked 3 shades, a light one, a medium toned and a dark shade.

My Perfect Shade of Red

I've always been on the hunt for a red that wouldn't make me look like Bozo the Clown. So whenever I strolled into the malls I'd swatch the red just for the heck of it, convinced the red of my destiny probably did not even exist. None ever clicked..and none were just your classic red...they always had pinky undertones or corally, or orangy and though they were beautiful, they were not quite what I was looking for. Until I picked up this lipstick. It whispered to me almost and I knew I had found it. Ladies...I'd like you to meet the red of my dreams:

 

Maybelline 14 Hour Lasting Lipstick in 540 Ravishing Rouge

What's in my out the door to-go Makeup Pouch?

Sometimes we're in such a darn hurry that we don't get time to even smear on some lipstick. For just such a situation, or if I have to be staying overnight someplace, I keep some hassle free easy to use products. A random moisturizer suffices as a primer which is usually haunting some dark nook and cranny in my purse but since the pouch is quite tiny, that does not get to hang out with the makeup itself. I would not normally use these makeup products or most of them if I have some time before headed out. I do admit that the only mirror I have is the tiny one that comes with the Bobbi Brown concealer but lets move on to the actual stuff:

From the top : Rimmel London Makeup Pouch

Victoria's Secret Metallic Eyes Palette

Max Factor Mineral Foundation in Warm Almond

Lancome sample size Mascara-Virtuous

Sample size Urban Decay lip gloss (came in one of the Naked Palettes)

Ecotools powder brush

Bobbi Brown corrector in Peach

MAC blush in Raizin

Avon Everlasting Lipstick in Ginger

Essence Long Lasting eye pencil in 02 Hot Chocolate

Little brush that came in the Nude 'tude Palette by The Balm

Sigma Blending brush, travel size E25