If you don’t own some already/ haven’t tried it before, I can imagine that pretty much everyone remotely interested in makeup has at least heard of the Urban Decay Primer Potion! It’s one of those cult products, that seems to have done the rounds on YouTube years ago and has been around forever, but it’s still here, stronger than ever and a firm favourite of many! Although Urban Decay do have a range of complexion primer potions too, it’s (along with their setting/ complexion sprays – read more about my favourite here) the eye shadow Primer Potions that really stand out and secure that all important status as a cult product.
In total, there are 5 varieties of Primer Potion available, 6 including the OG travel size. In today’s post, I’m going to concentrate on the newest edition, Enigma, but I’ll detail the others bellow –
★ NEW Enigma – (more about that later)
★ Original – colourless/ dries invisibly to suit all skin tones (Available from Debenhams*) *this one also comes in travel size (Available from Debenhams*)
★ Anti- Ageing – colourless/ dries invisibly to suit all skin tones with anti – ageing properties (Available from Debenhams*)
★ Eden – yellow toned full coverage matte nude (Available from Debenhams*)
★ Minor Sin – sheer champagne shimmer (Available from Urban Decay)
The ones I actually own at the moment are the original, Eden and Enigma. I don’t like the texture of the anti- ageing one personally, it seems to have way more slip than the others, which in the case of an eye primer, I don’t think that’s a good thing and is the one that I found to be the least effective on me. Saying that…if you have very dry lids, this one might work perfectly for you! Minor sin (a sheerer version on the original Sin) is one I’ve swatched, but never picked up, it just doesn’t appeal, I never use/ don’t really like a shimmery primer. If you do, you do you of course! The texture does seem more similar to the ones I do like, so can imagine it has the same effect too, just more shimmer. I do use the Original from time to time and it is a great eye primer, works well, but as a general rule, my eyelids need something with coverage/ to even out redness etc, so it’s the Eden Primer Potion that I’ve favoured and reach for the most up until now.
Eden has been my Primer Potion of choice since it’s launch. I love that it has a matte finish, the coverage I need and the slight yellow undertone cancels out my redness perfectly. And with me having a pretty light skin tone anyway (if you don’t know, I’m MAC NC15 ish/ KVD Light 43) I can apply from lash to brow and it just gives me the perfect canvas for makeup as well as keeping it in place all day! When I heard that Urban Decay were coming out with another matte nude tone, I knew I had to have it and give it a go! I’d also seen JKissa (Youtube) use it on her channel and really liked the slightly warmer tone of it. The new shade Enigma has only recently launched the UK and at the moment, the only place you can get it is direct from the Urban Decay website. I do believe it’s limited edition and exclusive to the UD site (eg. not going in to stores), if I hear any differently, I’ll update you!
(L – R: Enigma blended, Enigma swatched, Eden swatched, Eden blended)
So what’s different about Enigma? As I’ve mentioned before, it’s a full coverage, matte nude tone, similar to Eden, but instead of a yellow undertone, Enigma is slightly warmer, more of a neutral toned nude. It still has the same 24 hour, crease proof, smooth and even eyeshadow application benefits, but I feel Enigma would suit way more skin tones perfectly, going well in to medium skin tones as well as light. (A darker one still would be a great, very necessary addition to the range though!) It’s still light enough for me to wear from lash to brow as per normal, but I love how it’s more neutral on. I’d feel happier wearing Enigma alone too, just to even out my eye area on no eyeshadow days…it doesn’t look as pale as Eden, which can sometimes look a bit stark and chalky with minimal makeup.
The other stand out difference between the Enigma Primer Potion, and all of the others, is that not content with just being an all round brilliant primer and one of the worlds most coveted at that, this one’s also a primer with conscience. 100% of the purchase price of Enigma (which I think is amazing!) will be donated to women’s empowerment non- profits, selected by The Ultraviolet Edge, Urban Decay’s global initiative to empower women…read more here.
The Urban Decay Primer Potions and in particular, Eden and the new, limited edition Enigma are well deserving of their cult status! I’ve tried loads of dupes over the years and some really great ones, but I always come back to the UD Primer Potion and use it daily! The Primer Potions keep eye makeup in place all day and they enhance the colour payoff of any shadow. I even buff the excess on the brush under the lower lash line too, for extra staying power there, it work’s really well…we prime the lid, so why not underneath the eye too?! If serious staying power is what I’m after as well as bolder colour intensity, I also use it under any other primer/ base eg. under the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils (Available from Boots*), which I love to use under shadow in either a black or a similar colour to the powder shadow being used, to give a more intense finish. Urban Decay also changed the packaging of their Primer Potions not that long ago, which I way prefer…they now come in a tube with a doe foot applicator, which makes it so much quicker and easier to use, less messy too!
It’s safe to say I’m a big fan of the Urban Decay Primer Potion and I’m loving the new Enigma shade! (Available from UD) Have you tried it? What are you’re thoughts?
Lyd x
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