There are two main benefits of eye primer:

1) Does your shadow either fade away during the day or crease so you have a cakey line on your lids? This doesn’t just happen to oily-skinned girls, we all have natural oils on our face that make our shadow almost melt away. Primer combats this in two ways: 1) It helps to protect your lids from oils by forming a barrier between your skin and the makeup. 2) Primer acts as an adhesive so your shadow sticks to the primer rather than your moisture-filled skin. Your shadow lasts longer and color stays truer.

2) Have you ever been disappointed because the color in the pan doesn’t quite come out the same on your lids? Eye primer provides a neutral canvas on which to apply your shadow. Everyone has undertones and discolorations in their skin that interfere with how the color appears on your lids (this is especially true for desi ladies) – the neutral primer evens out these undertones and allow for the true pigment of the shadow to show, deeper and richer than before. Do a test: Apply a streak of shadow on the back of your hand. Then next to it, apply a little primer and put the same shadow on top of that. See the color difference?

So, why can’t I use foundation? Well, you can if you don’t want to spend extra $$$ on another product, however, foundation is formulated to be lighter to allow your skin to breathe. It does not have as much hold as eye primer or concealer. So, while your skin tone may even out, the lasting power will be as though you are wearing nothing at all. What about concealer? Concealer is an acceptable replacement for primer, but because it’s created for the under eye area where there is no natural moisture, concealers tend to be creamier. This means that while your makeup may stay on because of the thick consistency, your shadow will most probably crease.

Here are some of our recommendations:

- Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion (pictures left) – this is the industry favorite and is best for loose pigments. We advise you to get in the “Original” (nude) and skip the “Sin” (champagne shimmer). Silicone based for smooth application. $17 urbandecay.com and sephora.com .

- MAC Cosmetics Paint pots in “Painterly” and “Soft Ochre” are very popular $16.50. We personally prefer the light feel of the paint tubes in “Untitled” and “Bare Canvas” $16.50. Skip the regular Prep+Prime product – we found it too cakey. maccosmetics.com

- A great drugstore dupe of the Urban Decay: Lumene Beauty Base Eyeshadow Primer. Can also be used as a lipstick primer. Lumene.com

- If you want to save $$$ and want to go for a dewey look, some suggest using Vaseline. We have not personally tried this – sounds too greasy, but it has worked for many. Another great alternative that we personally like is Chapstick – it’s less greasy and adheres better, plus it’s super cheap – check out our previous post on using Chapstick as a primer HERE.

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.**Application tip to remember: a little primer goes a long way – you only need a dab or two for the entire lid. Anything more will result in a cakey look, defeating the purpose of using a primer.**

We and the other readers would love some more ideas of primers that actually work! So, go ahead and share what you use in the Comments section

Photo Credit: cvs.com

As much as we all love shopping to satisfy our makeup/shoes/clothes obsessions, parting with $$$ in this recession is not so fun. But, don’t worry, there are plenty of beauty products available to satisfy multiple needs at less than $5. One of our recent favorites is regular old Chapstick. Not only can you use it to moisturize your lips, but it also makes a great base for eye shadow.

The great thing about Chapstick is that it’s slightly emollient but not greasy like Vaseline. Apply a thin coat onto your lids and then apply powder shadow. The sheen from the Chapstick will give your eyes a dewy look that’s perfect for the Spring/Summer time, and the slight tackiness from the wax content will grab the pigment for longer hold.

Quick Notes:

- This should also work for you if you have oily-skin, but if you feel it’s too rich for your skin type try a regular primer like Urban Decay’s Primer Potion or one of MAC’s paints.

- You can also use Chapstick as a base for your lipstick – it’s perfect for turning matte lippies into creamy for the warm months.

- Make sure to not use the flavored/mint ones – eyelids are sensitive and the tingly sensation may irritate your lids – so be sure to use the original formula!