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Avde eva's picture
Written on Monday, April 9, 2018
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Pros: hydrates, price, sinks in quickly
Cons: creamy correctors crease over it, difficult to apply correctors over

There are so many affordable yet good quality cosmetic brands out there. And the E.L.F. brand has become one of the most important discoveries for me. But still I have to say that not at all products by the brand are as great as they describe.

Today I want to speak to you about my last purchase which actually disappointed me a lot, yet I still don’t want to throw this product away, but keep on using it. This isn’t an absolutely terrible product, I do believe it can be tamed.

Today we’ll speak about the makeup primer by E.L.F. But it isn’t just a regular makeup primer, this one was specially designed to apply over gentle and thin under eye skin.

To pair this primer I also grabbed a setting under eye powder by the same brand. These babes are thought to be working wonders together with my skin. Both products were described as perfectly complimenting each other as the primer is meant to even out our under eye skin, allowing the concealer to apply more even and look better, while the powder is here to set the results and make the makeup stay on longer.

I’ll review the powder very soon, but now I want to talk about the primer, the E.L.F. Cosmetics Hydrating Under Eye Primer.

 

E.L.F. Cosmetics, Hydrating Under Eye Primer, Clear, 0.35 oz
E.L.F. Cosmetics, Hydrating Under Eye Primer, Clear, 0.35 oz

 

  • Price: $3.00

  • Vol: 10g

  • Made in: USA/China

 

Well, the price is super wallet-friendly, isn’t it? I don’t even get why. Maybe that’s because the brand is American but still they produce their products in China? But, I think you’ve already guessed that this product’s quality is absolutely true to the price.

 

  • Package

The product is housed in a small and thin black plastic container. The contents are easy to take out by pressing the pump. The nozzle here is very small, so the product comes out in a small amount, I’d say that would be as much as you need to apply for your both eyes.

After each use, a small amount of the product remains on the nozzle, clogging it which causes it to “jam” the next time I use the primer.

E.L.F. Cosmetics, Hydrating Under Eye Primer, Clear, 0.35 oz
E.L.F. Cosmetics, Hydrating Under Eye Primer, Clear, 0.35 oz

 

The container was packed into a carton box with some brief info about the product.

E.L.F. Cosmetics, Hydrating Under Eye Primer, Clear, 0.35 oz
E.L.F. Cosmetics, Hydrating Under Eye Primer, Clear, 0.35 oz

 

  • Product says

This must-have under eye primer not only preps the skin for concealer, but it also makes the eyes appear brighter and fuller. You’ll love the silky texture and the nourishing benefits of vitamins, shea, green tea, aloe, and Gingko Biloba.

 

  • Ingredients

E.L.F. Cosmetics, Hydrating Under Eye Primer, Clear, 0.35 oz
E.L.F. Cosmetics, Hydrating Under Eye Primer, Clear, 0.35 oz

 

  • Product’s characteristics

The product has a lightweight creamy texture which is very easy to apply and smear over the skin. The primer doesn’t leave any film or sticky feel. The color is light and pinky but on the skin it looks transparent. The scent is unnatural but it’s almost undetectable on the skin, only if I properly smell around.

The texture is very comfortable while wear. It doesn’t provoke any unpleasant feelings like irritation or burning sensation. Even if I apply it very close to my eyes (sometimes I can even get into my lashes with the product), there’s no negative reaction. I can’t say that it sinks in fully, still there’s a slight dewy finish on my skin.

 

Texture of the primer by E.L.F.
Texture of the primer by E.L.F.
Texture of the primer by E.L.F.
Texture of the primer by E.L.F.

 

  • Use

I use this primer only when I wear makeup. But those days when I don’t, I can’t see any point of applying this primer. It isn’t a hydrating eye cream after all.

I need the primer only when I layer a lot of makeup products over my skin and when I have to be sure that they’ll cake well together. Since I usually wear my makeup the whole day from morning till late evening, I don’t even have a chance (and desire as well) to touch-up during the day. This is where the primer should help me out.

I apply it over my eye cream. The product applies well, it doesn't crease and I can even feel how it moisturizes my skin a little, though small wrinkles are still there but the primer can’t do anything with them. So, if you want your skin to look younger and more evened out, it’s better to pay your attention to the silicone-based skin primers.

 

It sinks in quickly, leaving no traces of its presence. Even within a minute I can apply a corrector over this primer.

 

  • Results and impressions of use

You can see the primer working only if you apply a corrector or a concealer over it. If you don’t, there’s no need to use this primer at all. I even read the reviews where girls said that they used this product as an eyeshadow primer but I didn’t like this way of use because - first of all, I didn’t see any difference with the color intensity of the eyeshadows; and secondly, I actually have an eyeshadow primer which I like, so there’s no need for me to invent something new.

 

I use this product only for its directed use - to even out the under eye skin and make the concealer and corrector stay on longer on my skin.

Over this product all my foundations, concealers and correctors apply very well as though gliding. But this comes only to the application, as later it turns into hell!

Some concealers start to crease more in comparison to I apply them without a primer. The powder corrector starts to accentuate all the fine lines, even those I didn’t even expect to be existing.

 

  • Photos of the product by E.L.F. in action

 

!!! Click the photo to see it closer and in better quality!!!

 

My nude skin after the eye cream application (currently I use the Caudalie Polyphenol):

Naked skin, only with some eye cream
Naked skin, only with some eye cream

 

I apply the primer, wait for a minute unless it sinks in to apply the concealer afterwards:

Here I applied the primer by E.L.F.
Here I applied the primer by E.L.F.

 

Here I want to show you pictures of three different products in action when they are applied over this primer:

 

  • liquid concealer (Eveline)

  • creamy concealer (Catrice)

  • foundation (Yves Rocher)

How does the primer by E.L.F. will work over these products? I used the liquid concealer (Eveline), creamy concealer (Catrice), foundation (Yves Rochet)
How does the primer by E.L.F. will work over these products? I used the liquid concealer (Eveline), creamy concealer (Catrice), foundation (Yves Rochet)

 

1. Primer by E.L.F. + liquid concealer by Eveline. I applied it with a thin layer with a flat applicator. It doesn’t even matter what tool you use to apply the product - sponge, beautyblender or a brush, the result will always looks the same. The outcome can be a tad better if you apply it with your fingertips..

Primer by  E.L.F. + liquid concealer (Eveline)
Primer by E.L.F. + liquid concealer (Eveline)
Primer by  E.L.F. + liquid concealer (Eveline)
Primer by E.L.F. + liquid concealer (Eveline)

 

2. Primer E.L.F. + creamy concealer by Catrice.

Honestly, it’s a lost case to apply creamy corrector under the eyes, as there are special liquid formulations for this area created. But for the review I decided to experiment. I applied it with a thick layer using a sponge. And I can assure you that I didn’t like the result. When I tried to smear the product better, it immediately creased on my skin. (!)

I conclude that the E.L.F. primer doesn’t want to make friends with creamy textures.

 

Primer by  E.L.F. + creamy concealer by Catrice
Primer by E.L.F. + creamy concealer by Catrice
Primer by  E.L.F. + creamy concealer by Catrice
Primer by E.L.F. + creamy concealer by Catrice
Primer by  E.L.F. + creamy concealer by Catrice
Primer by E.L.F. + creamy concealer by Catrice

 

3. Primer E.L.F. + foundation by Yves Rocher. Here I like the result more. This is why I use this primer this way more often. Sometimes I can also apply some liquid concealer over the foundation.

This time I applied a lot of product and decided to toss the applicator or a sponge and used my fingers. But still in the end I had to dab my skin with a sponge a little.

 

Primer by E.L.F. + foundation by Yves Rocher
Primer by E.L.F. + foundation by Yves Rocher
Primer by E.L.F. + foundation by Yves Rocher
Primer by E.L.F. + foundation by Yves Rocher
Primer by E.L.F. + foundation by Yves Rocher
Primer by E.L.F. + foundation by Yves Rocher

 

All three cases showed that the primer didn’t even out my skin and all the products applied over it creased and accentuated even those fine lines that were non-existent before under my eyes.

 

I apply a little bit of a setting powder over my under eye area to make the primer look better and become of the same texture with other products that I applied over it.

I intentionally bought a setting powder by the same brand. And I can say that it works and saves the situation. If not for the powder, I guess it would have quickly found its way to the nearest garbage.

 

The powder works here as an eraser, it literally erases all the mishaps and uneven textures. Of course it’s detectable in macro shots and the wrinkles are also detectable, but guys, seriously, nobody looks at me from such a close distance. But within touching distance the trio of primer + concealer + looks very well on my skin.

 

E.L.F. primer and powder
E.L.F. primer and powder

 

I’ll show you how they work together:

If I apply some setting powder on my under eye area, then the correctors become less visible
If I apply some setting powder on my under eye area, then the correctors become less visible
My under eye skin when I applied: an eye cream, hydrating primer, foundation and transparent powder
My under eye skin when I applied: an eye cream, hydrating primer, foundation and transparent powder

 

And in the end I’d like to say a few words about the E.L.F. Hydrating Under Eye primer working as an eyeshadow primer. Yes, it may make your eyeshadows stay on longer but at the same time it doesn’t make the colors look more intense and bright. If you still want to try this product out as an eyeshadow primer, then don’t forget to apply the tiniest bit of it and quickly apply the eyeshadows over. If you wait until it sinks in, it’ll crease and you’ll have to smear it again to even out the texture.

 

E.L.F primer is used here as an eyeshadow base
E.L.F primer is used here as an eyeshadow base
E.L.F primer is used here as an eyeshadow base
E.L.F primer is used here as an eyeshadow base

 

The bottom line

  • the product is wallet-friendly

  • it sinks in quickly leaving no traces

  • hydrates my skin

  • it can be used as an eyeshadow primer but it won’t make the colors pop

  • it doesn’t work well with all creamy textured products

  • it makes my fine lines more detectable

  • it’s better to use it only with a transparent powder to counter-balance all the mishaps

 

In general the E.L.F. primer has got more negative than positive sides for me. Since I don’t have any other product to use instead of this one, I keep using it.

Of course if you want to use it as an eyeshadow primer, you should be ready to try hard and keep in mind that it won’t make the colors look brighter.

 

I can recommend it only for those who are ready to bother with its application, then smearing and the following fuss with concealer and corrector applications. If you’re not ready to endure it, then it’s better to toss this primer.

My rate - 2 stars

My other reviews of the E.L.F. products:

https://irecommend.reviews/reviews/make-up/elf-stu...

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Avde eva doesn't recommend E.L.F. Hydrating Under Eye Primer

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Type: Primer
Brand: E.L.F.
Category: Make-Up