How many of you are using eye shadow primers to extend the life of your look for the day? Here’s a look at four primers I’ve been trying, including a new one by Glory Box Cosmetics.
The testing group includes the Glory Box primer, Fyrinnae’s Pixie Epoxy, e.l.f.’s Mineral Primer, and The All Natural Face’s Eyeshadow Primer.
Since, it’s new and I haven’t talked about it before, Glory Box Cosmetics’ TKO Eyeshadow Primer boasts all day wear without creasing. The 7ml tube of white primer applies clear and a tiny amount goes a long way. It goes on feeling slippery, like a silicone face primer, and the company advises that you wait 15-20 seconds before applying your eye shadow.
For the stripe tests, I used Glory Box Cosmetics’ Battersea aqua eye shadow and applied with a brush using the same amount for each stripe.
The first swatch is the eye shadow without primer. Next is Glory Box, then Fyrinnae, e.l.f, and finally The All Natural Face.
The Glory Box and All Natural Face primers both made the color a bit darker and bolder. Glory Box also seemed to bring out more of the shimmer. Fyrinnae’s Pixie epoxy was the next in terms of bringing out the color in the eye shadow, while e.l.f.’s primer didn’t do much but add a lighter base.
I let the swatches sit for about half an hour and then just brushed them lightly a couple times with my hand. This was the result:
Without primer, the eye shadow was mostly gone. The Glory Box primer did about as well as the All Natural Face primer. The e.l.f. primer actually did worse than no primer – it’s almost gone. The best performance came from Fyrinnae’s Pixie Epoxy – there was a bit of shadow lost, but it’s still mostly there.
I did another quick swipe with my hand a few minutes later:
Again, the Glory Box and All Natural Face primers performed more or less equally. The stripe without primer and he one with e.l.f. primer are both pretty much gone. The Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy performed the best, once again.
My preferred eye shadow primer for long wear is always going to be Fyrinnae’s Pixie Epoxy. For daily use, I would either go with The All Natural Face or Glory Box – even though they didn’t do well on the rubbing test, they work find during the day if you’re not touching your eyelid all the time. I give up on e.l.f. primers.
All of these primers were easily removed with soap & water or your usual make-up remover.
Pixie Epoxy is available from Fyrinnae‘s site (lately it’s been down a lot, but orders still seem to be making it out). The All Natural Face sells their primer on their website and their Etsy shop. Glory Box Cosmetics also has an Etsy shop and the e.l.f. Mineral eye primer is available from their website.
