Since Urban Decay changed my former favorite Anti-aging Primer Potion a few years ago, I have been lost. I’m using the “new” one, but I don’t love it. The formula is sheerer than it was, and I dislike that it comes in a tube with a doe-foot applicator. I preferred the old rather opaque “flesh tone” that came in a little squeeze tube that I applied with my finger. I sometimes use Milani’s eye primer, and that one comes in a small tube with no applicator. It’s a good one, but the shade skews too yellow for my skin tone. I liked the pink one from Elizabeth Mott, but I used up the travel size tube that I had and I haven’t ordered another on Amazon.
When I discovered that Anastasia Beverly Hills came out with an eye primer, I was very excited and hopeful. ABH does so many things well, I thought this might be the one for me. I stopped into Sephora in Boston a few weeks ago, and I decided to try the tester. I squeezed some out onto my hand, and a ton of it came out of the little tube. Ugh, what a mess. It was hard to clean up.
In spite of that epic fail, I decided to take a chance and buy a travel size ABH Eye Primer at Ulta during their 20% off sale a month ago. So I think I paid about $12 for the travel size on sale.
I like that it comes in a small squeeze tube. However, this squeeze tube is just dying to empty its contents all over the place. So it is mandatory to squeeze out just the tiniest amount. A little of this stuff goes a looooooong way.
I tried applying it with my finger, but for me, that was a no-go. The eye primer is an opaque bright ivory color. And it is difficult with a finger to apply it to only certain areas since I do not cover my entire eye area. So I now squeeze a tiny amount onto the bristles of a small brush, and I apply ABH Eye Primer just where I want it.
I apply it to my eyelid and my crease. I don’t apply it to the skin above my crease because I think that it emphasizes crepiness. Here’s what ABH Eye Primer looks like on my skin.
I think it is super bright. Because it’s so bright, light shadows don’t show up unless I really pack ’em on. But its brightness really makes eyeshadow pop. I love that.
Today, I wore ABH Eye Primer under a fabulous new cool-toned smokey neutral palette from NYX, Perfect Filter: Gloomy Days, that I also bought during the Ulta sale. I’ll review it separately. But I really liked how the light grey shimmer and the matte medium grey looked over the bright ivory eye primer.
I do not have oily eyelids. In fact, I have dry eyelids. Because ABH Eye Primer dries matte, is very lightweight, adds no moisture to speak of, the formula really isn’t ideal for my mature skin. But thankfully, it isn’t drying and it does provide a good smooth canvas for shadows.
So do I recommend Anastasia Beverly Hills Eye Primer? It’s probably not for everyone. You have to fuss with it. You have to be very careful squeezing the tube. You need to use a brush to apply it. It’s super bright and you have to pack on the shadows so they’ll show up. But once they’re on, they gleam and glow with vibrancy. And they stay put. Water-resistant formula.
Initially, I had planned to return the ABH Eye Primer, but it has grown on me. I will keep it, keep using it and see if I can continue to get used to it. To me, the end result is worth it. Should you try it? That’s up to you. But you have been warned 😉
Anastasia Beverly Hills Eye Primer comes in two sizes:
It’s available on the ABH website, at Ulta, Sephora and other retailers. Vegan and cruelty-free.
Ingredients: WATER/AQUA/EAU, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, ISODODECANE, VINYL DIMETHICONE/METHICONE SILSESQUIOXANE CROSSPOLYMER, POLYMETHYLSILSESQUIOXANE, TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE, DIMETHICONE, PHENYL TRIMETHICONE, GLYCERIN, ALANINE, ARGININE, GLYCINE, ISOLEUCINE, HISTIDINE, PHENYLALANINE, PROLINE, THREONINE, SERINE, ASPARTIC ACID, VALINE, SODIUM PCA, PANTHENOL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, ALLANTOIN, SODIUM LACTATE, PCA, XANTHAN GUM, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, HEXYL LAURATE, POLYGLYCERYL-4 ISOSTEARATE, SODIUM CHLORIDE, DIMETHICONE/VINYL DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, TETRASODIUM EDTA, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, PHENOXYETHANOL, BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE (CI 77163), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891)
Have you ever tried Too Faced Shadow Insurance primer? It comes in a squeeze tube but it doesn’t make a mess.
Paula, TF Shadow Insurance was my first eye primer. Sadly, there’s something in it that migrates into my sensitive eyes and irritates them. But thank you for the suggestion! While I have to think while I’m using this eye primer from ABH, the way it makes colors pop it is definitely worth the extra work.
I may try this because I honestly think that Urban Decay is so overrated. It does next to nothing for me, certainly not enough to justify its price tag.
Gabrielle, while it can be a bit of a pain to use (actually not that bad), the way it makes shadows pop it is definitely worth it for me. I had to go jogging yesterday after I did my eye makeup, and I truly hoped I wouldn’t run into my neighbors on my jog because I looked ridiculous wearing such standout eyeshadow to jog around the ‘hood. I agree with you on UD AA PP – I was so sad they changed the product.
I really appreciate your review, btw, because at least now if I try this I’m aware in advance of the pitfalls and can use it more effectively. And hey, if it kept your eyeshadow vivid through a jog, the downside might well be worth it!
Yes it did, and it was hot and humid too! Get the travel size 🙂
The tube sounds like it could be far more efficient, and it’s too bad that it isn’t fuss-free. Thank you for your honest assessment!
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ABH definitely needs to work on the tube, but the way this bright ivory primer makes the colors of shadows pop makes it worth it for me
I have been committed to UD PP for so many years but recently I’ve found it’s not enough. So I use it with MAC Painterly over it. Which is nice because it evens my skin tone. But it adds an extra step! Sometimes I can get away just with Painterly but I’ve been thinking about a change. I’m not a fan of the Smashbox 24 Hour. I’ll have to give Milani’s a try. I prefer a tube and to use my finger to apply primer but I like applying Painterly with a cream shadow brush. All that to say – I love your look with that NYX palette!
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I often use MAC Painterly too over eye primer and under shadow (in fact I just bought a new pot) or even as my shadow because I have red lids, but the eye popping color I get from the ABH Eye Primer is becoming worth the extra trouble 😉
Bummer about the packaging. I rarely wear primer…I’m the worse make up person ever. LOL I seem to use the trial sizes I get in and they last me forever. I do really love the eye look you created! Smoky eye looks always look amazing.
Thanks, Kristi!
The next sale opportunity you might want to try Supergoop’s cream shadow with sunscreen. It’s in a pot so I need to use a small brush with it but it makes my shadows look great. I have it in First Light (https://www.sephora.com/product/shimmer-shade-spf-30-P442701) and may end up with Golden Hour. Too bad the ABH is so messy.
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I have been eyeing that Supergoop cream shadow! Next sale. Thank you for the link. It is too bad that the ABH is messy, but once you figure out how to deal with it, the eye popping color it gives is making me feel like it’s kinda worth the trouble
Sounds messy! LOL I’d have to pass on this one because im lazy and dont want to use another brush! I forget to use primer a lot@
Sounds a bit too fussy for me. I’ll stick with my UD primer potion.
Hi, Allison – I just bought another UD PP because I ran out and didn’t know if anything else safe for sensitive eyes. I see everyone else is looking for something better, too! Someone can make a lot of money if they invent a better eyeshadow primer! I’v been wondering if there is such a thing as an eyeshadow primer brush. It sounds like no. Thanks – Angie, http://www.yourtrueselfblog.com
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For me sensitive eyes, finding an eye primer is trial and error. I can’t use Too Faced Shadow Insurance, but so far most of the others I’ve tried have been OK for my dry, itchy eye lids and dry eyes. I used to love the old UD AA PP when it came in a little squeeze tube without the applicator. The one they replaced it with a few years ago is OK but not my HG eye primer anymore. Yes, there are primer brushes. The one I showed in the photo works very well. In fact, ABH has 3 brushes that they will sell for $10 each they recommend to use with their eye primer!
You know, sometimes I still use products even when they are too fussy. Maybe a matte primer would be good for my oily-ish eyelids, especially this time of the year. I’ll check this out!
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I didn’t know that Urban Decay changed their formula. It’s still my go to but I also still have some in a doe foot applicator bottle (I’m sure it’s old and should be thrown out but meh). I do want to try other brands though!
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I don’t use eye primer but sometimes I use concealer (whatever is the residual from under eyes) for my eyelids. It works just as good as primer
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I have yet to find my perfect primer. It is so hard! I have aging lids, but they are oily, so my shadow fades badly in the crease.
I have yet to find an eye primer I really love. I used to like the UD one, but the last one I had didn’t do much so I gave up.
Have you tried Milani Eye Primer?
I may try the travel size at some point, since I have such oily lids. The color does sound strange, but I wear brights a lot, and this would be great.
The key benefit of the ABH Eye Primer is how it makes shadows pop. I think it would be outstanding with brights. I bought the travel size, and it will last me for ages. I think it’s the way to go. LMK if you do try it 🙂
This is definitely NOT for me then. I will stick to either my Milani or Smashbox eyeshadow primer.
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The ABH Eye Primer definitely requires a bit of fussing to keep it from pouring out of the tube – I definitely hope that ABH will fix that. Also, you do need to apply it with a brush, while I prefer using my finger. But in terms of how it makes eye shadows pop, I’ll do the extra work, but it definitely isn’t for everyone.
Wow, your makeup in this photo is GORGEOUS–YOU are gorgeous!!! If an eye primer can do that to me, I’m in 🙂
Thank you, thank you, Kim! Wish I could find the ABH eye primer. I had 2 tubes, but where did I put them?