Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion is a game-changer.
I used to think there was something wrong with me. My friends’ makeup would stay put for the entire day. Not a crease in sight.
Me? My lids are so oily, my eyeshadows melted into greasy balls of colours within a couple of hours. What was going on?
Keep in mind, this was in the pre-internet days. I could only turn to magazines to find a fix for my problem. They swore a layer of foundation would make my eyeshadows stay put all day. They lied.
I tried a dozen different formulas. None worked. Was I doomed to be Crease Girl for the rest of my life?!
It was only when I discovered the wonderful world of beauty blogging that I first heard of an eyeshadow primer.
Rumour had it, Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion (UDPP) could give a pop of colour to the sheerest shade and make it last all day sans creasing – even on the oiliest of skin. I HAD TO try it.
- What’s In Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion?
- Texture
- Pigmentation
- Staying Power
- Fragrance
- How To Use It
- Performance & Personal Opinion
- Who Is This For?
- Who Isn’t This For?
- Packaging
- Does Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Lives Up To Its Claims?
- Price & Availability
- Do You Need It?
- Dupes & Alternatives
What’s In Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion?
Like all makeup primers, Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion is a mix of waxes and silicones.
Waxes create a barrier between oil/sweat and makeup, so the two won’t get in touch anytime soon. Silicones binds this film closer to the skin so that even if oil and sweat make it through, your makeup won’t budge.
While they’re at it, silicones also give slip to a primer and fill in every nook and cranny of your skin, creating a smooth, flawless canvas for your makeup.
Related: Are Silicones Bad For Skin?
Texture
I love the texture of this primer. It’s creamy, glides on smoothly and dries to a matte finish very quickly. You don’t have to wait minutes before putting eyeshadows on top. The best part? It’s so light, I feel like I’m not wearing it at all!
Pigmentation
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion has a nude, flesh-coloured hue that blends seamlessly into my skin. It evens out the skin tone and creates a smooth canvas for eyeshadows.
Staying Power
This stuff stays on the lids for ages. It keeps my eyeshadows looking flawless for at least 8 hours (depending on the eyeshadow formula).
Fragrance
It’s fragrance-free.
How To Use It
I like to apply it with my freshly-washed fingers, but you could use a stiff eyeshadow brush, too. I do my eye makeup first, so this is literally the very first thing I use on my face (after skincare). FYI, a thin layer is more than enough.
Performance & Personal Opinion
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion delivered everything I expected and more. I applied a thin layer on my lids before pressing on one of my sheerest eyeshadows. Usually, I had to apply 4 or 5 layers, but with UDPP I only need a couple. With a more pigmented eyeshadow, one layer is enough. UDPP makes them so vibrant.
The best part? When I use this, my eyeshadows last all day WITHOUT creasing. I could hardly believe it. Now I can put on any powder eyeshadow and see it survive intact until the evening, when I take my makeup off. Even if I rub my eyes during the day, some of the eyeshadow stubbornly clings on.
Who Is This For?
Anyone who struggles with creasing eyeshadows or needs their eye makeup to stay put from early morning to late night.
Who Isn’t This For?
If you don’t like silicones-based primers, this isn’t for you.
Packaging
When I first wrote this review, Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion came in a genie-shaped bottle. Super pretty but hardly practical. The wand could go only straight down into the tube, leaving a lot of product go to waste instead. You had to cut it open to get it out. The new packaging doesn’t have this problem. You can easily get every last drop out of the bottle. Phew!
Does Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Lives Up To Its Claims?
CLAIM | TRUE? |
No creasing. More vibrant color. Smoother application. |
Yes! Yes! Yes! |
Features space-age polymer technology that fills in any imperfections on the skin’s surface, prepping your lids for ALL-day shadow. |
Ignore the “space-age” crap (what does that even mean?). But the primer does contain polymers that help makeup better adhere to skin and last longer. |
Dries down invisibly | Yes. |
Price & Availability
£24.00 at Feel Unique, Nordstrom, Sephora and Ulta
Do You Need It?
If you wear eyeshadows, you do need a primer. This is one of the best out there.
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Dupes & Alternatives
- Milani Eyeshadow Primer ($6.99)
- NYX High Definition Eyeshadow Base ($4.90)
- Too Faced Shadow Insurance Primer ($22.00)
Have you tried Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Ingredients
Isododecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Trihydroxystearin, Polyethylene, Triethylhexanoin, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Hydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Dimethicone, PEG-40 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Synthetic Beeswax, Propylene Carbonate. [+/- (May Contain/Peut contenir): Mica, CI 77891 / Titanium Dioxide, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 / Iron Oxides].
oh yeah.. the packaging sucks! but this product is sooo good i don’t mind getting it online and have to pay ridiculous shipping! haha!
I love UDPP. Without it, I wouldn’t be wearing eyeshadows because I’ll crease like you wouldn’t believe! I have the most oiliest eyelids alive and it’s noticeable even without wearing eye makeup. :/
Sab: I agree. I have to get this online too and shipping is not cheap but I don’t care. I don’t usually like to spend too much on makeup but I think there are some products worth investing in like a great primer like this.
Alyssa: I love UDPP too and I’m glad it works so well for you as well.
I’ve been raving about this, too, ever since I tried it in House of Fraser and bought a bottle.
Amazing stuff. People don’t believe the results when I test eyeshadow swatches with this, I can use it and then do my eyeshadow at night, and it’s still perfect the next day!
The packaging is very weird, though, and makes it hard to get all the product out.
You should definitely try making your own mixing medium, too, that’s great at making eyeshadow (particularly loose) stay stuck to your lids.
I love this to bits too! 🙂
Anastasia: This stuff is really amazing! I honestly couldn’t believe it was that good until I tried it myself. I hate the packaging and I dread the moment when I’ll have to cut it open. Luckily, my boyfriend said he’s gonna do that for me, I’ll probably cut myself if I tried! lol. I’ce ben thinking about making mixing medium as well but, for some reason, I haven’t got around to it yet.
Nikki: yay! Another UDPP lover! 🙂
Go on, make mixing medium! It’ll totally revolutionise the way you think about loose powder eyeshadows, I swear. Do eeeeeeeeet!
I think I’ll probably will at some point. I just keep forgetting. That’s very bad, I know!