E.l.f. Eyelid Primer Collection
Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at 2:32PM I'm low on eyeshadow primer so I went on a swatching spree a couple of weeks back to decide on a new one. I LOVE the Urban Decay Primer Potion and the Too Faced Shadow Insurance - two cult favorites in their own right - but I still want to check out other locally available eyeshadow primers. Laura Mercier's primer looks promising, but I didn't want to spend P1,000 at that time.
I ended up buying the E.l.f. Eyelid Primer Collection (P249)
The E.l.f Eyelid Primers aren't comparable to UDPP or TFSI, but hey do the job of intensifying eyeshadows and keeping them more or less intact during the day. That's not too bad considering the friendly price tag they come with.
The set has three shades of the primer: Champagne, Sheer, and Pearl. Champagne is a dirty, shimmery beige-brown that looks weird on my lids as a primer. It definitely doesn't look like the usual champagne shade! Sheer is, well, sheer, although it leaves a whitish cast on my medium skintone that I still need to blend out afterwards. Pearl is white with big, gritty glitters that really look off on skin.
Champagne, Sheer, Pearl
Blended out
I only used Sheer as a primer since I got it. I like it, actually. Although you do get what you pay for. It has a chalky texture and doesn't have that "adhesiveness" that UDPP and TFSI has. My eyeshadow fades (doesn't matter if it's the expensive kind) and creases after three hours. It's nothing like the other primers I've tried, and that's fine, because the price should speak for itself. Plus, it's E.l.f. Not really a brand with groundbreaking, high-quality products.
I would recommend the Sheer primer if E.l.f. sold it here separately, but as it stands, you need to buy the P250 set to get your hands on it. The other two are useless so you'll be wasting P166 just to get this primer. That's not a good deal, if you ask me.
Besides, you wouldn't want THIS to happen to you. First time I opened the tubes, I noticed a thick caking of product on the lip. It means that they've been used REPEATEDLY before they got sold.
Talk about unsanitary
Sheer was the only one with a clean lip so I assumed it has been, er, gently used. It's really my fault for not scrutinizing the products before I bought them so yeah, major lesson learned!
Moral lessons:
1. Save what you'll spend for half-assed drugstore products and invest in reliable brands.
2. NEVER buy anything that you haven't swatched, no matter how cheap it is.
3. Always open boxes to make sure that what you're buying is brand new.
I'm getting that Laura Mercier primer next time I'm in Rustan's. Sigh.
Reader Comments (11)
Oh no. That's so bad. I remember an almost similar incident to this when I was checking out one of their products that didn't have a tester (a mascara, if I remember it right) and the sales assistant offered to have me try one on the display. She said she'll just put it back and whoever buys it will never know. Why on earth would they do that? I agree, talk about unsanitary and unhygienic.
P.S.
I got the Mineral Eyeshadow Primer and though it's not as comparable to UDPP, it works pretty good. And I heard it's so much better than the Essetials primer.
And oh, experienced that on ELF too. :(
I have both UDPP and TFSI. Try the Palladio Herbal Eyeshadow primer - I use it alternatively with my UDPP and TFSI. It's actually good and at about 300-ish in Beauty Bar, you can't go wrong. :) I too, was in search for a good alternative eyeshadow primer since UD and TF is not yet available locally. I was very happy with how Palladio makes my shadows stick and intensify colors :)
Seriously?! Thanks for sharing this. This should be reported to ELF. ELF should be providing enough testers, so the sales people won't have to get from the shelves.
MAYBE YOU SHOULD TRY THE ELLANA MINERAL EYE PRIMER? I have heard they are super cheap for 150 pesos a small pot. And they are so great DAW. =p
I have not bought yet kasi I still have my UDPP in professional size. Super big tube for only 1900. =p
Oh that sucks! I'm so sorry.
I bought the ELF eyelid primer, the sheer one, sold separately at Php130 even after you've posted on your FB page the horror you've experienced. I swatched it on the back of my hand, and bough it instantly. I am on a tight budget that's why I settle for cheap yet reliable brands. Haha! No creasing on me, and the color stays put for at least 4 hours. Pero as you've noted, Sheer leaves a white cast, I have a darker skin tone than you, and it takes some effort to blend it out.
Sabi mo nga, we all get what we pay for. Hopefully, you find a locally available good primer next time! LET US KNOW WHEN YOU DO. :)
@Christine ELLANA MINERAL EYE PRIMER does really wonders, I have tried it.
Got an ELF blusher (Glow) two weeks ago and it's really nice although it doesn't last long on my cheeks.
I have also tried ELF liquid eye liner (black) it is so messsssssssy. And parang tuyo na ang product or it must have been used already. From that time on, I said to myself that I would never ever buy liquid products to them.
Perhaps ELF should evaluate the performance of their sales assistants, see to it that they are selling the product well not RUINING IT............
Have you tried Etude House's Proof 10 Eye Primer? Tried it a few times and it does the job. Easy to apply, e/s stays put longer and looks more pigmented. (Would use it more if i wasnt so lazy.) I think it was only P298 when I got it. Had to try a few stores because it was out of stock. Oh and it got a 4.8 rating at Makeupalley. Definitely worth a try.
I think Etude House's Proof 10 Eye Primer works way better than this product. Although IMHO I think it's a tad too tiny. The staying power is quite good plus it really makes the colors of your eye shadow brighter/more vibrant. From my personal experience, it didn't crease as much and the lasting power is quite strong.
Aww... that's so bad! Well, I guess that ELF really has low-quality products. I remember that I bought their eyeliner pen. When I tried it, it's really good. The liquid liner is clear black. They said that it'll last for about 2-3 months (depends how much you use it). But the 5th day that I used it, it's like it runs out of liquid eyeliner! I guess, that's why their products are affordable. Money wasted. Tsk...