Review: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion & Liquid Liner

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

I wish I had something interesting and original to say about UDPP, but it's all been said before. This is the HG (Holy Grail) product of makeup artists, magazine editors, and aficionados alike.

The silicone based formula transforms your eyelids into a silky smooth canvas ready to grab and intensify colours and keep them on lock-down all day long. In the long run you will be using less of your favorite eyeshadows because it takes significantly less to get a great colour pay off. You will want to be careful with your already richly pigmented colours. 

I did a mermaidesque look using MAC's Bitter, Freshwater, and Humid about a week ago. Before UDPP I'd have to fight bitterly (teehee) to get any colour pay off from Bitter whatsoever. I was thinking of swapping it... until I tried it over top of UDPP. It looked as vibrant as it does in the pan. Freshwater and Humid already have a strong colour payoff, and I didn't know enough to use them VERY sparingly over top of UDPP so it made for a rather bold but striking eye. Wish I had pictures. Still working on the camera.

To apply this I start with a clean moisturized face. I scrape the brush on the edge of the jar on the way out so there's not so much product. I do a swipe across each eyelid, then another swipe just under each brow and blend. If you're going to apply shadow to the lower lash line I would trace that as well. I pat it in with my fingers and smooth it over. I go on to the foundation of the rest of my face while allowing UDPP to dry. I personally do not apply foundation over it, or under it. I suspect that might aide in creasing, as I believe it is meant to prime for powder and not creamier layers. So if you're using this and experiencing creasing that may be the problem. Or perhaps you are using too much.

I've tried MAC Shadesticks, Paints, Paint Pots, The Body Shop's primer, and Benefit's Lemon Aid. Urban Decay Primer Potion is the one I love best. Lemon Aid is absolutely awesome for dark under eyes, but just so-so as a primer. My runner up would be MAC Paints in matte shades. The shimmery ones tend to crease.   

 PS: Due to the cute but impractical style of the packaging, you'll want to google a tutorial, perhaps a youtube video, on how to depot this stuff when the well appears to have run dry. There's tons of excess in the bottle. You just need to take it apart.

Urban Decay Liquid Liner in "Perversion" (Black)

After swatching every black liquid liner in Sephora I decided to adopt this one. In case you were wondering, my finalists were Lancôme's Artliner, Tarte's Indelible Wink, and Urban Decay's Liquid Liner. In that order.

I initially felt that Artliner was a bit inky and was put off by it, but it did dry quickly, was a nice rich black, and lasted on my hand until the end of the day. I believe it had the highest price point, at about $40 CAD. I did see on an interview that this is what pinup sensation and MUA, Dayna Delux, uses- which is what happened to bring me into Sephora that day.

Tarte had the blackest black and it seemed to hold hold up the best, too. It had the middle price point, which was... $30 something. Sorry, I can't quite remember. The off-putting factor was that the packaging looked and felt cheap (to me, anyway) and I've had absolutely no experience with the brand. Might be worth checking out!

So that leaves me with my Perversion, the name of UD's black liner. This had the lowest price point at about $20 and judging by the packaging it's a lot of bang for your buck. Hopefully it won't need to be depotted, like the Primer Potion.

This is pretty much a little ink well with a teeny tiny brush, seen to the right. I do not like that the hole is significantly larger than the applicator wand. It's kind of messy when trying to wipe the excess on the edge, and is probably spillable.

The formula is very black and has a bit of a nice sheen. It glides on and dries quickly, but not so quick that you have to time to work with it. The applicator (even though I generally use MAC's 266 angle brush) is capable of creating those perfect, bold yet skinny straight lines. It's actually a decent applicator, even though I'd normally prefer a felt tip.

I love both products reviewed and would definitely recommend. Urban Decay knows what they are doing!

-H.Cat