Primer, Primer on the Wall...

If you go in without a firm foundation, it can undermine what you believe. - Ted Cruz

...who's the best one of them all? With so many eyeshadow primers to choose from, the choices seem overwhelming, but after doing a bit of research, I narrowed it down to the faithful four. When I was learning to apply makeup and buying my first few real makeup products, all I knew was the Urban Decay Primer Potion, that slender, exotic purple bottle that morphed from squeeze tube to wand. I've been using the exact same brand on myself for 10 or so years now, so I felt it was time to see what else is out there. These chosen four are all pro brands, but not the "most pro" (aka "most expense"). They hang in the middle of the price-range and brand-hierarchy but are well-known for their effectiveness in durability, pigment pull, and comfort.

Too Faced Shadow Insurance - $20

This one was my favorite! Right out of the gate! I love the slight tackiness it had in the first few moments after application, allowing me a minute to tap on a high-shimmer pigment before it dried. The eyeshadow application was even and lasted all. day. long. No creasing at all!

MAC Prep + Primer 24-Hour Extend Eye Base - $23

A thick, slightly tinted primer here! It's creamy and smooth and applies beautifully, but it's not quite as durable as other comparable primers. Though the creasing at the end of the day wasn't horrific, it was enough to feel "ehh" about what I hoped would be another stellar MAC product.

Urban Decay Eye Primer Potion - $20

Old faithful. It's just that - no frills. I do find every now and then that the cream hardens and doesn't spread as easily over the lids, creating track marks once eyeshadow is brushed over. That is my only complaint though, and it's truly amazing how one brand can be so consistent in delivering a solid product for over a decade!

Smashbox 24-Hour Shadow Primer - $21

Yikes. Though it applies like a velvety dream, this little guy creases within a few hours. I'm guessing that the consistency is just too creamy and oily to hold up well on a fast-twitch muscle and would do better as a pore-filling face primer. I wouldn't recommend it!

I'm still not completely sold on any of them as I feel that all of them applied completely sheer, and it'd be nice to have a thin but flesh-toned primer to erase translucent veins and age spots. I've tried MAC Paint Pots, but they're terribly thick and drying and much too difficult to handle in a fast-paced bridal party environment. Any suggestions for a future primer test-run?