The Makeup Anarchist

Eyeshadow base is something I was never told about and it was never something I saw advertised on television, and I have to wonder why? It’s no wonder it took me so long to discover it. I’ve started to believe it’s a big marketing conspiracy to keep us unhappy with our makeup. That way we will remain constantly looking for that perfect brand and perfect product that makes us look like that airbrushed model on the cover of a beauty magazine… when all it takes is that perfect base.

Well… maybe that and a professional in Photoshop, but the point is, eyeshadow base is a little miracle in a tube. Or jar, or whatever you use. It makes the cheapest eyeshadow look high-end and can avoid problems such as creasing and caking depending on the type you use. It can be anywhere from Urban Decay’s Primer Potion or Too Faced Shadow Insurance, to L’Oreal’s Decrease or even a concealer or a good layer of foundation or a cream shadow… the ultimate purpose is to give something to give something for the shadow to grab onto and bring out the color.

Have you ever bought a dark or bright color of eyeshadow and when you went to put it on, it looked nothing like you hoped it would? An eyeshadow base could fix that! Need some proof? I took 3 eyeshadows (unfortunately I realized they were all matte after the fact) from different brands, from drug store to high-end and swatched them on my arm, once without a base, and once with. Lately I’ve been favoring my MAKE UP FOR EVER Full Cover waterproof concealer as a base, and that’s what I used here:

For a fun idea, you can use different color bases to have different effects on the eyeshadows.  If you have darker skin, you can use a light or white base to make colors show true.  You can use the same color base to brighten up a color or to alter it slightly.  You can even use a black base to bring out the undertones or shimmer color in an eyeshadow, or simply to darken it up.

I wish I had been told about primers and bases in high school; it would have made it that much less miserable.  Yes, my makeup hoarding started young, but I didn’t know much if anything about it until after I graduated.  And yes, I know there are plenty of sites and blogs that say what I’m already saying, but I like to think my site is cooler if not a bit more personal… but I might be a bit biased.