I’ve really been struggling with eyeshadow primers in the last two years. I’ve been unable to use a single primer on my greasepit eyelids and have had to double up (lately I’ve been using Too Faced and Milani in conjunction). This is expensive, time consuming and, frankly, quite frustrating.
So I’m ALWAYS up for trying out a new eyeshadow primer in the hopes that I can find THE ONE. Suddenly… along came Maybelline‘s brand new Master Prime Long-lasting Eyeshadow Base in 420 Prime & Matte (although I believe this is the only shade available).
Here are the basics: The Master Prime contains a colour grip formula to hold pigments in place – making any shadow a 24Hour formula. It creates a perfect, smooth canvas for pure colour impact – no creasing or smearing to get in the way of showcasing your eyes. It retails for approximately $11 CAD.
24 hours is a HUGE claim, but the reality is that most people just want their makeup to last an entire workday (which is somewhere in the 10-12 hour ballpark area when you factor in commuting).
The Master Prime comes with a typical doefoot applicator. It does collect a lot of product on the wand as I think the filter on the inside of the packaging isn’t very tight. That being said, it works out quite well because the amount of product you see on the wand above is exactly how much I use to cover both eyelids.
I almost totally disregarded this product based on how it looked. I mean, it’s this awkward colour of brown that doesn’t go translucent (or so I thought), how the heck was I going to wear this on my eyes as a base? I was very, VERY wrong however. Despite the stark colour difference in my hand swatch, the colour seeps into my lids and loses a lot of its colouring. I don’t know how it does that, but it works for me!
So here’s how it plays out. On the left is my eye makeup at 7:30 AM right after I’d applied it to go to work. The shot on the right is how my makeup looked when I got home from work at 5:15 PM. Aside from a slight lighting change, I see no difference in my eye makeup at all.
Here’s a close up shot of my closed lid so you can see a little bit more. I’m starting to show faint signs of creasing on the inner most corner of my eye where the deep fold in my lid is. And… that’s it. For 10 hours, while only using a single primer, this is INCREDIBLE for me. I’ve been using it for a week solid now and it’s the same results every single day!
Final Thoughts
I may be totally done with all of my other eyeshadow primers, because the Maybelline Master Prime is totally doing it for me! I’m so pleased with the long wear time, the lack of creasing which I’m excessively prone to and the fact that this is a drugstore product with an excellent price point. If you’ve been struggling with your eyeshadow creasing on you like I have been, you may want to give this one a shot!
The product featured in this post was sent to me for consideration.
Cool – I’m going to see if it’s at our good ol’ US Walmart. The Urban Decay you had previously recommended works pretty well for me, but I’m anxious to try this since you had such good luck with it!
I’m fairly certain this would already be out in the US because Canada seems to get the products a few months later. (And your price point would be a bit lower too, I think this has a suggested retail price of $12 CAD, so yours might be around 7-8 USD.) I hope this works as well for you as it does for me. I was really surprised because I’ve had a lot of problems with my eyelids just not holding the shadows even with primer, so to find an inexpensive option is REALLY encouraging!
This is definitely going on my to-buy list! My lids are horrible after 4 hours, and I’ve been trying to wear eye shadow more often now (In-part thanks to all your lovely tutorials!) Thanks so much for sharing this! And it doesn’t break the bank at all!
Lindsey Elyse recently posted…Free From… Chemicals + What They Mean
Awww thanks Lindsey! I really love the price point on this one AND the fact that it’s currently working better than anything I already own. I’ve had to use two primers on my lids the last few years and I hate how time consuming and expensive it gets. I pray this one holds out forever!
I was so excited to read this post because virtually no eye primers work on my oil eyelids! I’m definitely giving this base a try because your eyeshadow looked flawless after so many hours of wear. Thanks Chelle 🙂
I tested this out for five days and the results were always the same, so I’m really, really happy about that. Right now I’m trying to use up my Milani and Too Faced primers so I can get back to wearing this one! I don’t know why I struggle so much with eye primers – it’s such a frustrating thing! Let me know how this works on you!
SO exciting! I have super oily eyelids and NARS and Lorac are the only ones that actually do something for me! Glad to have a cheaper alternative
See, I struggled with the NARS one, which is really frigging annoying since it’s touted as THE BEST for oily eyelids. I don’t know what the hell my lids are made of, but they TORE through NARS like nothing else. I was surprised this worked so well for me given my previous experiences with all other primers lately, but I’m so very happy to report that this one worked for me. Fingers crossed it does for you too!
Wow, I’m totally buying this asap. I also have a hard time with my eyeshadow creasing and buying luxury eye primers (and using them up so quickly!) is just too damn expensive. Thanks for the great review!
No problem Annick! Let me know how this one works out for you. I haven’t heard much about it from anyone at all, so I’m hoping it works just as well for everyone as it did for me!
yes to before and later photos! makes the results so clear.ie i need to get this
jenn recently posted…Clean is Getting Sophisticated (ft. Amber Saffron and Smoked Vetiver)!
Yay, I’m glad the photo helped! I hope you love it as much as I do!
I think this is another example of where I just assume products from Sephora would work better because they are more expensive. Thanks for this comprehensive review, I will definitely be trying this product!
Tiffany recently posted…My Drugstore Beauty Favourites
I know, I often feel the same. Usually we equate more money meaning better products. And I feel like that used to be true, maybe 5-10 years ago, but I think a lot has changed in the last decade or so and we’re suddenly seeing a lot of cheaper, inexpensive options that do just the same thing. We all know makeup is actually inherently cheap to produce (Makeup Geek’s Marlena speaks to that quite a bit), but it’s the branding, packaging and promotions that cost the bulk of the money, which is why we end up paying more money for more expensive brands because they have the funds to get the word out better, stronger, etc. Let me know how this primer works for you when you do pick it up – I hope everyone has the same results as I did!
Excellent! I didn’t expect it to be so dark. I will have to see if stores here have it yet!
Yeah I didn’t either, and it almost totally put me off the product!
I’ve been using the Too Faced shadow insurance for . . .about 7 years now (yikes). It’s one of those products that I absolutely have to apply whenever I’m doing eye makeup. I’ve been looking for a cheaper alternative for a while now (the TF one use to be 18$ when I started using it, which was pricey, but it’s gone up so much). I love Maybelline products, and this one seems to be amazing too. Thanks for the review!
Katherine || The Green Bows
The Too Faced one has unfortunately never worked on its own for me (always have to pair it with another one). I was surprised and pleased by just how much this worked BETTER so I’m allll for a cheaper alternative!
Yayyyyyyy this is so so exciting!!!
Jodi recently posted…David’s Tea Apple Strudel Black Tea
I know!!!!
So this morning I put on some nice brown eyeshadow with a different primer brand and now there’s nothing left but a smudge.
I’m going to go and look for this. I’m glad it’s an easily attainable brand.
Do you know how much (aprox ) it retails for?
I believe it’s about $11.50 CAD, so if you’re in the USA it’ll be under $10 USD I believe. Definitely 50% cheaper than most eye primers I’ve bought in the past!
Ooh, I will have to remember this one! I currently use Benefit Stay Don’t Stray and it works like a charm, but it is more expensive.
Chantal recently posted…SLANKY Body Warming Underwear in Lace
Yeah, every primer outside the drug store is expensive!
This is my holy grail stuff! ♥
So glad you love it Kate!