Really splendidly done, I wish I had discovered it sooner. Its easy on, one thin coat, dries easily and smoothly, and makes all the difference. Without it, most nail lacquers (OPI included) look quite thin and don't have a good colour. WIth it, one good coat or two thin ones makes a strong gorgeous colour, and it lasts. I tend to keep the same colour on, and topping up just the lacquer seems to work fine.
I'm not sure I agree with the claim that it prevents staining, as I had a very dark coloured lacquer which still stained, and never normally have problems regardless.
I find a really smooth vibrant long lasting finish just from using this, and don't bother with top coats or sprays, which I tend to feel are for shininess more than anything. But then I only do my toes, preferring just to file/buff my fingers. Relatively, though, its the base which seems to make it last. It seems to work with other nail varnishes as well, although I tend to like OPI the best.
Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 5 (small bottle around £10)
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 9 (Lasts approximately forever, doesn't need updating with seasons, and makes nail lacquers worthwhile.)
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 6 (Its hardly invincible but its not prone to issues)
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 9 (An absolute MUST within nail varnishes, only really superseded in nail care by clippers & file)
Importance 1-10 with 10 being the most: 4 (Nail varnish itself isn't that important. But its the first step, even with just one colour)
Smile Factor 1-10 with ten being the most: 1 (Doesn't mean it makes me UNhappy, so won't be tagged negatively)
Cool Factor: 1-10 with ten being the most: 2 (Only awarded cos OPI is a cool-ish brand)
*Do I think its the best in its field: POSSIBLY
*Could I live without it: YES, BUT MY LIFE WOULDN'T BE AS GOOD
*Target gender, age range, and possible further demographic targets : Female, Most ages
Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.
Showing posts with label beauty primers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beauty primers. Show all posts
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Make-up - Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer (Original)
Disclaimer - I have no financial interest in this company, and no-one asked me to do this review.
I know some people will have gone running to the hills as soon as I mention make-up, and thats not a gender specific problem, either. I don't mind what you do or don't do - this isn't a fashion blog! But lots of people do use make-up, and this is a highly genericly useful item.
I think most people have realised after a few tries that eye shadow just doesn't last more than an hour or so unless you use a primer. With a primer and the right shadow you can get all day/all night coverage, and sometimes the "all night" extends into the next day if you don't wash it off first... but this is a good thing in the long run. There are several out there, but urban decay is the best I've ever had, and most of the (limited) make-up professionals I've run into recommend it as the only one. It is pretty easily available around the world, which is also ace. As someone who wears it "most days" I'd say it last you about 1.5 years to a tube, so its not too bad with cost either (depending a little on country.. its only about £1/$1 a month (heavily estimated). And you won't get far without it, so buy that FIRST with just one eye shadow palette and two brushes, then expand.
Now, I have expanded, and I can tell you that creme eye liners also benefit loads from primer, and some pencil ones seem to as well (tho just pencil is fairly resilient on its own... if i only wanted 6-8 hours of pencil and no shadow I might skip it, especially if I would be wanting to change my make-up in the evening). A good liquid eyeliner has no need of primer at all, so if that and mascara are all you have, save it for the next shadow moment. I am specifically recommending original, they have four types these days however. They all work equally well, but are not all clear. Depending on your skin tone and the type of shadow you use, you may find another type besides original is sometimes or always useful, so do try them. But for me, they just didn't work, and so I will only come out firmly in favour of the clear version.
Final bonus, it fits easily into make-up bags and hand bags, and is a distinctive shape, so easy to grab by feel.
Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 7 (You are paying a fair amount for a tiny tube...)
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 10 (It lasts ages and completely makes everything worth it)
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 9 (Occasionally it wears off, but maybe twice a year?! And that when its older...)
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 9
Importance 1-10 with 10 being the most: 8 (I want it to be more, but have to recall that you can use liquid eyeliner etc to effect so there are limited other options (plus some people can just use mascara and a lips focus. I'm taking "if you wear make-up" as a given here, otherwise its a zero surely??)
Smile Factor 1-10 with ten being the most: 3 (Its useful, and not ugly, but it has no intrinsic smile factor)
Cool Factor: 1-10 with ten being the most: 5 (Urban Decay are a little cool, but it is just primer)
*Do I think its the best in its field: YES
*Could I live without it: NO
*Target gender, age range, and possible further demographic targets : Female, teenagers & adults, also useful for all genders/ages in theatre/tv/film/some photography, or any similar situation... even fancy dress, if you like. But value for money will go down with less uses, particularly less than once a week.
I know some people will have gone running to the hills as soon as I mention make-up, and thats not a gender specific problem, either. I don't mind what you do or don't do - this isn't a fashion blog! But lots of people do use make-up, and this is a highly genericly useful item.
I think most people have realised after a few tries that eye shadow just doesn't last more than an hour or so unless you use a primer. With a primer and the right shadow you can get all day/all night coverage, and sometimes the "all night" extends into the next day if you don't wash it off first... but this is a good thing in the long run. There are several out there, but urban decay is the best I've ever had, and most of the (limited) make-up professionals I've run into recommend it as the only one. It is pretty easily available around the world, which is also ace. As someone who wears it "most days" I'd say it last you about 1.5 years to a tube, so its not too bad with cost either (depending a little on country.. its only about £1/$1 a month (heavily estimated). And you won't get far without it, so buy that FIRST with just one eye shadow palette and two brushes, then expand.
Now, I have expanded, and I can tell you that creme eye liners also benefit loads from primer, and some pencil ones seem to as well (tho just pencil is fairly resilient on its own... if i only wanted 6-8 hours of pencil and no shadow I might skip it, especially if I would be wanting to change my make-up in the evening). A good liquid eyeliner has no need of primer at all, so if that and mascara are all you have, save it for the next shadow moment. I am specifically recommending original, they have four types these days however. They all work equally well, but are not all clear. Depending on your skin tone and the type of shadow you use, you may find another type besides original is sometimes or always useful, so do try them. But for me, they just didn't work, and so I will only come out firmly in favour of the clear version.
Final bonus, it fits easily into make-up bags and hand bags, and is a distinctive shape, so easy to grab by feel.
Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 7 (You are paying a fair amount for a tiny tube...)
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 10 (It lasts ages and completely makes everything worth it)
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 9 (Occasionally it wears off, but maybe twice a year?! And that when its older...)
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 9
Importance 1-10 with 10 being the most: 8 (I want it to be more, but have to recall that you can use liquid eyeliner etc to effect so there are limited other options (plus some people can just use mascara and a lips focus. I'm taking "if you wear make-up" as a given here, otherwise its a zero surely??)
Smile Factor 1-10 with ten being the most: 3 (Its useful, and not ugly, but it has no intrinsic smile factor)
Cool Factor: 1-10 with ten being the most: 5 (Urban Decay are a little cool, but it is just primer)
*Do I think its the best in its field: YES
*Could I live without it: NO
*Target gender, age range, and possible further demographic targets : Female, teenagers & adults, also useful for all genders/ages in theatre/tv/film/some photography, or any similar situation... even fancy dress, if you like. But value for money will go down with less uses, particularly less than once a week.
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