I've been a loyal fan of Urban Decay's Primer Potion (UDPP) ever since I started getting into makeup, which I would say was maybe three or four years ago? It's hard to say when it started, but now it's in full throttle and I never do my eye makeup without my beloved primer. I started hearing about Too Faced's Shadow Insurance (TFSI) a bit, seeing it in YouTube tutorials, reading reviews, etc. But I held tight to my philosophy that Urban Decay could not be topped. Finally, for curiosity's sake, I had to give in. I tested them both at Sephora with eyeshadows over them. I just swatched them both on my hand and went about my day. The results leaned in TFSI's favor, so I decided to purchase and investigate more thoroughly. I re-did the hand swatch test as well as applying each one on different eyes and doing the same look on both eyes. Here's the breakdown:
Initial Application
I first applied both primers to the back of my hand and blended each one in. I noticed that the consistency of UDPP is slightly thicker, and dries to a nude matte finish, not invisible like their website claims. The color is not very obvious, but this is notable for people with very light or dark skin, it may show up on you. TFSI is very smooth and dried completely clear for me. I also had a dab of UDPP left on my hand (more came out than I wanted) that I just let dry. The dab I left on my hand turned very dry and chalky and cracked. So beware of putting too much on! Also, this may not work as well for drier skin types.
Holding power
In both my swatch tests as well as when I tested each one on different eyes with the same makeup, TFSI kept the color vibrant and uncreased longer than UDPP.
Value
Urban Decay Primer Potion is $18 for .34 oz and Too Faced Shadow Insurance is $17 for .35 oz, so they are very comparable -- with TFSI being slightly cheaper with ever so slightly more product. Another important thing to note is that UDPP's packaging makes it very difficult to get all the product out of the jar. The wand is unable to reach the nooks and crannies of the bottle and, unless you use extreme measures to get it out (such as sawing open the bottle and scraping the leftover product out), you're going to be losing a ton of product. Because TFSI comes in a squeeze tube, it doesn't have this problem.
Overall
Both products are great, and you can't really lose with an excellent primer -- either of these will do a great job. But, I have to say, Too Faced totally trumped Urban Decay in my tests. Besides that, it's better for my skin type (dry.) I didn't think it would ever happen, but I'm a Too Faced Shadow Insurance convert!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
A simple formula.
Nerd + Makeup obsession + Compulsion to make lists of everything + Boredom = this.
Yes, I made a Google spreadsheet to track my ever-growing makeup wishlist. Don't judge me. I'm actually at little bit scared to keep a running total, but this is actually a good way to decide what I really feel like I "need" and prioritize a bit, so as not to waste money. Because obviously whittling away at my paychecks with makeup isn't a waste of money :P. Hey, to each their own.
It's past my bedtime. Work early early in the morning.
Yes, I made a Google spreadsheet to track my ever-growing makeup wishlist. Don't judge me. I'm actually at little bit scared to keep a running total, but this is actually a good way to decide what I really feel like I "need" and prioritize a bit, so as not to waste money. Because obviously whittling away at my paychecks with makeup isn't a waste of money :P. Hey, to each their own.
It's past my bedtime. Work early early in the morning.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Superfoods!
Ah, I already missed a day in my blogging adventure. I guess this is a habit that's hard to pick up... like remembering to bring your reusable grocery bags to the store. Oh well!
I've decided I need to incorporate more 'superfoods' in my diet. Through a little research online, here are some ideas for adding more of these nutrient-rich ingredients to my daily routine:
• Blueberries! I'm sure you've heard it before -- blueberries are super good for you. They have antioxidants as well as potassium and vitamin C. They help reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. Not to mention the fact that they're delicious with some yogurt and granola (my personal favorite, besides unhealthy pies and muffins -- but we can save that for another day.)
• Speaking of yogurt, fat-free or low fat yogurt is a good source of calcium that also contains protein. So, in other words, yogurt + blueberries = superfood-packed breakfast.
• Broccoli. I actually really love broccoli, and so do a lot of Americans. It tastes good, is available all year, and is a good source of vitamins C and K, as well as fiber.
Other foods on the list: eggs, nuts, quinoa, salmon, kiwis (this surprised me, but apparently they're one of the most nutrient-rich fruits out there!), beans, & sweet potatoes. I figure if I keep these at the top of my shopping list, I'll be getting the nutrients I need to stay healthy.
Other ideas for a more sound body:
• Drink lots and lots of water. I need to get in the habit of doing this. I feel like I'm chronically dehydrated, because I usually only drink when I eat. I've noticed some dry patches on my face lately, and I assume it's in large part due to dehydration. I'm going to test out drinking the suggested daily value of water a day, and see if my skin improves.
• Cut out sugary drinks. I'm proud to say that I weaned myself off of my Coke Zero addiction. I didn't want the artificial sweeteners anymore, and I feel I don't need that amount of caffeine in my life. Every now and then I'll sip from my boyfriend's Coke or drink a sweetened iced tea, but I've been trying my best to stick to water.
• Use alternative transportation. I finally got a bike that works well enough to get me around town, and that's all I need. I love the freedom of riding a bike, not sitting in traffic or using up expensive gas. Most of the places I need to get to in town are within a couple miles from my house (love the central location of my humble abode), with key places even closer. We've found we can ride our bikes to Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, CVS, my bank, as well as a variety of restaurants and other shops faster than we can drive there, with the time it takes to park and such. It's really great!
With these ideas in mind I'm hoping to feel better, less tired, lose weight (that's a whole 'nother blog), and enjoy the feeling of eating healthy.
I've decided I need to incorporate more 'superfoods' in my diet. Through a little research online, here are some ideas for adding more of these nutrient-rich ingredients to my daily routine:
• Blueberries! I'm sure you've heard it before -- blueberries are super good for you. They have antioxidants as well as potassium and vitamin C. They help reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. Not to mention the fact that they're delicious with some yogurt and granola (my personal favorite, besides unhealthy pies and muffins -- but we can save that for another day.)
• Speaking of yogurt, fat-free or low fat yogurt is a good source of calcium that also contains protein. So, in other words, yogurt + blueberries = superfood-packed breakfast.
• Broccoli. I actually really love broccoli, and so do a lot of Americans. It tastes good, is available all year, and is a good source of vitamins C and K, as well as fiber.
Other foods on the list: eggs, nuts, quinoa, salmon, kiwis (this surprised me, but apparently they're one of the most nutrient-rich fruits out there!), beans, & sweet potatoes. I figure if I keep these at the top of my shopping list, I'll be getting the nutrients I need to stay healthy.
Other ideas for a more sound body:
• Drink lots and lots of water. I need to get in the habit of doing this. I feel like I'm chronically dehydrated, because I usually only drink when I eat. I've noticed some dry patches on my face lately, and I assume it's in large part due to dehydration. I'm going to test out drinking the suggested daily value of water a day, and see if my skin improves.
• Cut out sugary drinks. I'm proud to say that I weaned myself off of my Coke Zero addiction. I didn't want the artificial sweeteners anymore, and I feel I don't need that amount of caffeine in my life. Every now and then I'll sip from my boyfriend's Coke or drink a sweetened iced tea, but I've been trying my best to stick to water.
• Use alternative transportation. I finally got a bike that works well enough to get me around town, and that's all I need. I love the freedom of riding a bike, not sitting in traffic or using up expensive gas. Most of the places I need to get to in town are within a couple miles from my house (love the central location of my humble abode), with key places even closer. We've found we can ride our bikes to Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, CVS, my bank, as well as a variety of restaurants and other shops faster than we can drive there, with the time it takes to park and such. It's really great!
With these ideas in mind I'm hoping to feel better, less tired, lose weight (that's a whole 'nother blog), and enjoy the feeling of eating healthy.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Intro, Flurpees, and makeup
I've wiped the slate clean, and I'm starting a new blog.
Is a blog even what I should call it? Just a place to write my thoughts, rants, raves, interests, lists, reviews, and if you're lucky... late night liquor-fueled manifestos and confessions (though that sounds a little too starving artist for my tastes.) My goal is to post something each day and see how I've progressed over the year.
What better day to mark the start of this new journey through blogging than July 11, a.k.a. 7/11 a.k.a. Free Slurpee a.k.a. Flurpee Day! The Flurpees this year were smaller than usual, it seemed -- almost not worth the mile or so I biked into town to get them. But they were enjoyable. That enjoyment was offset a bit by a crowd of teenagers hovering outside, going in and refilling their cups several times and blocking the entrance. Oh man, kids these days. You give them something free and they want more. I remember when... okay, I won't go there.
Moving on, I guess I'll tell a little more about me. I'm 23, I live in Sonoma County, CA, and I'm always searching for adventures. Something anyone who reads this blog should know about me is that I'm a little overly obsessed with makeup -- MAC makeup in particular. I don't know what it is, I love the satisfaction a pretty new lipstick or eyeshadow can bring me, or creating new looks all the time, or making someone else up... it's just fun. I guess it's a way to reinvent myself in a fun way. I've considered doing makeup artistry either as a profession or freelance, but I don't know if that will interest me as a long-term career.
I guess that's enough for an intro. See you tomorrow!
Is a blog even what I should call it? Just a place to write my thoughts, rants, raves, interests, lists, reviews, and if you're lucky... late night liquor-fueled manifestos and confessions (though that sounds a little too starving artist for my tastes.) My goal is to post something each day and see how I've progressed over the year.
What better day to mark the start of this new journey through blogging than July 11, a.k.a. 7/11 a.k.a. Free Slurpee a.k.a. Flurpee Day! The Flurpees this year were smaller than usual, it seemed -- almost not worth the mile or so I biked into town to get them. But they were enjoyable. That enjoyment was offset a bit by a crowd of teenagers hovering outside, going in and refilling their cups several times and blocking the entrance. Oh man, kids these days. You give them something free and they want more. I remember when... okay, I won't go there.
Moving on, I guess I'll tell a little more about me. I'm 23, I live in Sonoma County, CA, and I'm always searching for adventures. Something anyone who reads this blog should know about me is that I'm a little overly obsessed with makeup -- MAC makeup in particular. I don't know what it is, I love the satisfaction a pretty new lipstick or eyeshadow can bring me, or creating new looks all the time, or making someone else up... it's just fun. I guess it's a way to reinvent myself in a fun way. I've considered doing makeup artistry either as a profession or freelance, but I don't know if that will interest me as a long-term career.
I guess that's enough for an intro. See you tomorrow!
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