Eyeshadow bases review

Here is an overview of my eyeshadow bases (struggeling with a plural here!). First I bought HEMA eyeshadow base (11ml, 3,95ml), next was NYX eyeshadow base (from Boozyshop, 6,99 EUR, 7g, in skin), then I got Urban Decay Primer Potion 3,7 ml, included in my NAKED palette, and finally, there is 1.45 g eyeshadow base included in NYC Individual eyes 939 Bryant Park palette.

This is probably not going to be any surprise if I say that the best primer is the Urban Decay Primer Potion, followed by HEMA eyeshadow base and then there are NYX and NYC, but you can pretty much put them together in the third place. I have to stress though, that there is a huge gap in quality between the second and third place :-).

Primer Potion has a light consistency, it dries invisible into your eyelid and it makes the eyeshadow last all day long. HEMA eyeshadow base has a creamy white colour and it does not blend that well into the eyelid, but your eyeshadow will not move one milimeter, that is guaranteed. NYX eyeshadow base has a very disappointing performance, it starts to melt about 4 hours after you put your make up on and NYC has about the same longevity. They are both of skin colour and have a light creamy consistency.

From left: violet eyeshadow from NYC palette, HEMA, NYX, Urban Decay, NYC.

I swatched all bases: first is an eyeshadow on its down (left), then HEMA, NYX, Urban Decay, NYC. Top row is a base on its own and bottom with the eyeshadow. Now it is also perfectly visibly why it pays off to wear an eyeshadow base, the eyeshadow colour just pops out!

My blush brushes

Now that we know how important blush is for our makeup :-), let's look at some blush brushes:

Top is is of course my beloved Sigma duo fibre brush, that has a wide range of usage, for powders or liquids. I prefer to use it for bronzers and blushes, it is super soft and it applies the product in thin, buildable layers.

Second from the top is the original blush brush by Sigma, again nice soft fibres. It's shape enables precise application.

Third brush is by HEMA, I already posted an article saying that some of HEMA brushes a bit harsh to your skin (as it is the case in this instance)...but hey, if you do not want to invest a lot, here is your pick!

The last and the smallest brush is my week-day morning favourite (Essence of beauty), fantastic for precise application and it was a complete bargain! (in a kit, via e-bay)

HEMA loose and compact powders review

I do realize that HEMA cosmetics is not a top-notch brand, but because I am so overwhelmed by their eyeshadow base, I decided to give their powders a shot as well (no pun intended :-)). So, I bought both cheapo products: compact powder (refillable, contaning Silk and vitamin A, C, E, no 21, 14 g) and a loose powder, contains light reflecting pigments (11 g), thinking they would have the same magical properties as the eyeshadow base.

Well, to cut to the chase, they don't. The compact powder has a cute mirror. The coverage is very sheer and it does not help the oily skin to stay matte, which is something very important for me. The loose powder - this was my first and I think the last loose powder. It just flies everyone with every time you snap the box open, on your clothes, in the sink....the light diffusing particles are nice but the effect was similar as with the compact poweder, a very low longevity. Not my favourite products and I will not repurcharse them.

HEMA makeup base review

While I am a huge fan of HEMA eyeshadow base, I can't say the same about their MAKE-UP base. It cost 4,99 EUR for 30 ml. It is supposed to mattify and smoothen your skin, extending the longevity of your makeup. The consistency is light and creamy. The first problem I had with it was its white colour, it did not quite blend into the skin and left white powdery streaks. Secondly, when I applied make-up, it started to rub off together with the primer. So, L'Oreal magic perfecting base remains my favourite.



HEMA makeup brushes - mixed feelings

When I ventured out to build up my collection buying any brush left and right, I also purchased these HEMA brushes. They are inexpensive so I guess you get what you pay for but once I tried SIGMA brushes, I will never go back to these.

The bristles feel a bit harsh on the skin, they never reshaped  fully into its original form after washing and became frizzy. Their shape makes the powder/blush/bronzer application imprecise. The short handle brush broke within a couple of hours after I bought it, I glued it back on and now only use it as a back up brush in my office makeup kit.

Favourite brushes list

You do not have to search long and hard if you want to start building up your brush collection - that is once you know where to get what. I bought my starter brushes at a pharmacy (yes, a pharmacy at Merode, on the same side as EXKI, T.LeClerc brand) HEMA and Réserve Naturelle. (RV)
Here are my favs:

T.LeClerc is a luxurious brand: both price and quality of these are high (cca 20 EUR/brush)
1)eyeliner brush
2) eyeliner and eyebrow brush
3) crease brush
4) concealer brush
I love all of these, but with time I found cheaper alternatives. Quality is superior in these, though.

Furthermore, any of these brushes will be invaluable in your collection:
ESSENCE (Kruidvat)
5) gel eyeliner brush, came in the package with the eyeliner itself. Actually a very good brush. (4 EUR)

MAYBELLINE (Di, Kruidvat)
6) gel eyeliner brush, again come together with the eyeliner, price at Di 12,99 EUR. Also a very good brush.

HEMA (price ratio between 2 - 10 EUR)
7) small angle brush - I only use it to define my brows with an eyeshadow
8) eye shading brush, good quality
9) fluffy blending brush, works best if you have a lot of eyelid space
10) flat shading brush, your best buy for eyemakeup in HEMA
11) foundation brush - super soft bristles make the job of applying foundation really easy

Kruidvat and HEMA haul

A while ago, I went to Ninove shopping center and I of course ended up buying some beauty stuff.

Kruidvat
Essence 6 in 1 buffer filer, to file and prime your nails for varnish application, Essence Sun club shimmer for eyes, body and face (because it reminded me of a Bobbi Brown shimmer brick), Essence oil control paper (you want to blot your face after you have applied the foundation, that way your face is going to stay matte for a longer period).

Catrice allround concealer, beige for imperfections, pink for dark undereye circles and green to neutralise redness. Catrice C3 spiced red eyeshadow (unfortunately, it irritates my eyelids for some reason).

2B Cosmetics jumbo pencil - in the vain hope it would produce the same results as NYX jumbo pencil (as seen on YouTube). It is excellent for highlighting under the brow bone, in the inner eye corner and as a base for shimmery eyeshadows.

Hema
Hema Lovely Eyes false lashes - full and natural sets. They come with their own glue and a stick to facilitate glue application on the actual lash. Made of pure hair, they are super soft and super long, so I would not wear them in a day time (drag queen alert!). I found applying the eyelashes for the first time extremely hard, but practice makes perfect, so...I loved how they enhanced the look of my eyes, but I am going to trim them and apply them only at the outer end of my eyes in the future.

How to prevent your eyeshadow from creasing

Our eyelids happen to be one of the oiliest parts of the face, so you may have realized that unless you do something about it, your eyeshadow is going to end up all creased already around lunchtime. And it makes no difference whether you applied a fancy DIOR ombre à paupières or Ruby Rose quad.

If you are familiar with YouTube gurus, then you know all about Too faced Shadow Insurace and Urban Decay Primer Potion (don’t you just love that name). However, I was not ready to cough up 18 $ for a primer in New York, especially if I have already discovered a very inexpensive way to prevent my eyeshadow from creasing - HEMA EYESHADOW BASE.

It was recommended by a friend and the moment I tried it I knew I was onto something great. It makes sure your eyeshadow stays put in place, it costs under 4 EUR and will last an eternity (you will have to depot it after 6 months, to get maximum out of the product).

The product has a consistency of a stiff cream, it is slightly shimmery and comes off lightly white on the eye lids.

For the record. I bought also NYX eyeshadow base in skin colour (6,99 EUR, Boozyshop, available in skin, pearl and white). My eyeshadow creased halfway through the day, as the texture is quite creamy, but still, it is better than no primer.