Review: Rimmel Exaggerate Undercover Shadow Primer

So here's one of the items from my ASOS haul previously - the Rimmel Exaggerate Undercover Shadow Primer. Rimmel is generally a pretty reliable drugstore brand, so I got this together with the Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer.

It comes in a typical plastic tube, with the doe-foot applicator attached to the screwcap.

The formula is a lot paler than the other eye primers I have, but it blends pretty sheer and doesn't leave a cast, just a slight sheen. The texture is also runny, so it's easy to blend.

Left: Without primer, Right: On Rimmel Exaggerate Shadow Primer.

Top to bottom - Pout from Sleek MakeUP i-Divine Ultra Matte V1, UD Evidence and UD Dashiki.

I like the name of this product - Exaggerate - because it does exaggerate. The eyeshadows are popping ridiculously! Check out the gorgeous deep blue that Dashiki is displaying on the primer!

Here's appplication of UD Evidence on the lids over the Rimmel Exaggerate Undercover Shadow Primer. The colour is showing through so brilliantly on the primer, it's unbelievable! Well, it's unbelievable alright because the colour didn't hold up...

After 12 hours, MOST of the UD Evidence has faded. Furthermore, the eyeliner transferred. Can I just say that my Kiss Me Heroine Make Smooth Liquid Eyeliner has been absolutely amazing and has NEVER smudged or transferred? I daresay that the Rimmel Exaggerate Undercover Shadow Primer actually caused this transfer to happen. :(

I really wanted to like the Rimmel Exaggerate Undercover Shadow Primer, I did. The texture is lovely and I love seeing underdogs succeed but this just doesn't work.

I'm glad that I only paid GBP$3 for this as ASOS was having a sale. Well, off to the corner you go!

(No Face of the Day for this post because I look deranged in the photos.)

Rating: 6 / 10

You can get the Rimmel Exaggerate Undercover Shadow Primer here.

Review: NYX HD Eye Shadow Base

NYX is well-known for its wallet-friendly, yet quality products and I have been impressed with its range of pigmented eye shadows and moisturising lip creams.

Today, I'm going to do a quick review on the NYX HD Eye Shadow Base.

From its website:

Prep your eyelids with this lightweight eye makeup primer that makes skin appear smoother, more even toned, and ensures lasting makeup application. The High Definition Eye Shadow Base conceals creases and pumps up the vibrancy of your eye shadow.

I bought this off Qoo10 just before picking up the e.l.f. Mineral Eyeshadow Primer.

It cost me slightly over $11 if I'm not wrong, comes in a sturdy and practical looking plastic black tube, and the cap unscrews a doe-foot applicator (as e.l.f.'s does).

The colour does seem a lot paler than e.l.f.'s, which may cause concern for some but once blended out...

It's completely sheer; in fact, it's even more so than e.l.f.'s, which leaves a little bit of dry area on my eyelids. This product doesn't have any residue at all and is incredibly moisturising and blends really well, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have its flaws. More on that in a bit, after we do some swatches.

Left: Without primer, Right: On NYX HD Eye Shadow Base.

Even if you know nothing about makeup, I'm sure you can tell the difference.

Top to bottom - Maybelline Color Tattoo in Tough as Taupe, Bolt and then Sugarlite, both from Sleek MakeUP i-Divine Ultra Matte V1.

The taupe was a little hard to swatch since I usually have to really layer it on to really have a nice mushroomy colour and this was just one little swipe. But the difference with and without primer for both Bolt and Sugarlite is stark.

So now that it has proven its claim that it 'pumps up the vibrancy of  your eye shadow', let's see how it fares on the lids.

Remember when I said that it has its flaws? Well, technically, it's a flaw, and that is the wetness of its texture, which not only makes blending a dream, it also doesn't dry quickly upon application. Because I have hidden double eyelids (or hooded eyes as some would say), I almost ALWAYS get this unsightly crease when I use the NYX HD Eye Shadow Base, regardless of how long I let it set.

It takes me just 10 seconds more to blend it again after it creases and that really shouldn't matter but when it comes down to picking a HG eyeshadow primer, I guess this would factor into consideration.

So the above is after I blended it out for a second time. Notice that there is absolutely no residue?

After application of eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara.

Face Primer: POPBeauty Face Magnet
Foundation: MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation
Eyeshadow Primer: NYX HD Eye Shadow Base
Base: NYX Eyeshadow in Skin Tight
Lid: Rosette (from Stila In the Garden Palette)
Contour: Breeze (from Stila In the Garden Palette)
Eyeliner: Bourjois Contour Clubbing Waterproof Eyeliner in Neon Blue
Lower Lashline: NYX Slide On Pencil in Jewel
Mascara: Dejavu Fiberwig Paint-On False Lashes Extra Long Mascara
Blusher: MAC Powder Blush in Springsheen

So I had a typical work day, and came home about 10 hours later to...

Remember when I said in my review about the Bourjois Contour Clubbing Waterproof Eyeliner in Neon Blue that it smudges? The NYX HD Eye Shadow Base helped to hold the eyeliner and prevented it from smudging, something which I am truly delighted at. Well, save for that little mess in the corner but this is an achievement, really!

So what do I say?

If I were to pick between NYX and e.l.f., I will probably pick this just because the texture is so blendable and it's a true sheer. Plus, it doesn't accentuate any dryness and is amazing in bringing out the colours of the eyeshadow. It's just a wee bit pricier than the e.l.f. though, so I would say to the makeup fiends out there...grab both!

Rating: 9 / 10

Review: e.l.f. Mineral Eyeshadow Primer

If you were to ask me to name a cheap and reliable makeup brand, e.l.f. would definitely be mentioned (along with NYX and Sleek MakeUP). Because e.l.f. is so ridiculously cheap, I don't understand how they make any money off it.

I picked up the e.l.f. Mineral Eyeshadow Primer when Smoochiezz was running a roadshow, which they usually do - I've even seen Smoochiezz at Watsons and Robinsons fairs. Smoochiezz brings in brands which you can hardly find off the shelves locally such as NYX, e.l.f., Coastal Scents etc, and you can probably purchase from them on Qoo10. Retailing at US$3 on the e.l.f. website, I got it for about S$6.50 or S$8 at the fair, which is still really cheap for such a quality item.

Off the website:

This gentle and completely sheer Eyeshadow Primer has key vitamins A, C and E to help prevent aging and moisturizes the skin. The formula glides on easily and disappears instantly to create longer-lasting, crease-proof eyeshadow. The Mineral Eyeshadow Primer is designed to be used with your favorite mineral eyeshadow to provide ultimate staying power for beautiful and vibrant color that lasts. All our mineral makeup are mineral-based with no parabens, no preservatives and no chemical dyes.

This is in the colour Sheer, and is a relatively large tube. The cap opens up to a doe-foot applicator which is just so easy to apply - dab some on each eyelid and blend!

The texture is not as tacky as UDPP and blends easily, but it also isn't as slippery as NYX HD Eye Shadow Base. It dries quick, and as sheer as it's supposed to be, it sometimes still leaves sort of a beige layer on my eyelids. However, I use eyeshadow so that is easily masked. It does accentuate any dryness around my eyes though, so I suggest you prep your eyes with your eye cream/gel before putting this on.

Top: e.l.f. Mineral Eyeshadow Primer in Sheer, Bottom: Blended in.

It blends sheer enough if you use just a tiny little amount. :)

Left: Without primer, Right: With primer.

From top to bottom - Copper Red, Black, Purple (all from NYX 10 Colour Eyeshadow Palette in Strike a Pose)

Note that the above colours are achieved with just one swatch. If you look at the black and purple, it's evident that the colours on the e.l.f. Mineral Eyeshadow Primer show a lot more.

Face Primer: POPBeauty Face Magnet
Foundation: MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation
Eyeshadow Primer: e.l.f. Mineral Eyeshadow Primer
Base: Virgin (from Urban Decay Naked Palette)
Lid: Buck (from UD Naked Palette)
Contour: Smog (from UD Naked Palette)
Outer V: Hustle (from UD Naked Palette)
Eyeliner: Barry M Wink Marker Pen
Mascara: Majolica Majorca Lash Enamel Glamour Neo (discontinued)
Blusher: Illamasqua Powder Blusher in Hussy

After a full 12 hours...

I think it held up pretty well - eyeshadow stayed on (I could still see the shimmer of Virgin on the lids) and eyeliner didn't budge as well!

If you don't fancy spending loads of money on UDPP or TFSI, I think one of the best and cheapest alternative would be the e.l.f. Mineral Eyeshadow Primer. Honestly, some people call this the dupe for UDPP! It isn't exactly since the texture isn't as similar and I believe that UDPP would outlast e.l.f. but $6.50 vs $32 - would you pay so much more for that little bit of extra mileage?

Rating: 8.5 / 10