Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer

12:12:00 AM mandy 1 Comments

The last time I tried to use eye primer was also the first—in preparation for doing my own makeup (and a few of my friends) for our high school prom. I had no idea what I was doing at the time. Just that all the gurus (did I just date myself with this terminology?) swore by how primers helped with longevity and color intensity. Truth be told, I got it because I was new to eyeshadows and like to be perfect from the get-go; however, I still don't remember if the eye primer I bought made a difference then because I rarely used it afterward to really care.

It wasn't until my recent frustrations with dewier sunscreen formulations and stinging eyes that I turned to Etude House's Proof 10 Eye Primer hoping for some relief. Inexpensive and effective, all bundled into one for my first dive into eyelid primers in...almost a decade. What's to not like?



Etude House's description:

Proof 10 Eye Primer supplies coverage to eyelids and around the eyes to enhance eye shadow color and intergrity for a longer lasting, Perfect 10 look.

High molecular substances coat your skin preventing eyeliner and shadows from fading, erasing, or getting in your crease.

Premium powder and mineral powder corrects even the finest wrinkles, leaving you with a silky, flawless eye base.

Smoothly applicable and finishes with a soft and dry touch.

Directions
Use fingers to gently apply primer to upper and lower eyelids prior to eye shadow application. Also applicable to eye lines prior to eyeliner application.

Ingredients
CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, TALC, MIC (CI 77019), HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE, TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE, ISODODECANE, TRIHYDROXYSTEARIN, VP/HEXADECENE COPOLYMER, POLYISOBUTENE, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, SILICA DIMETHYL SILYLATE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), BEESAX, PEG-40 STEARATE, SORBITAN SESQUIOLEATE, PROPYLENE CARBONATE, BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, CYCLOHEXASILOXANE, DIMETHICONE, 1 2-HEXANEDIOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, CI 77492, METHICONE, CI77491, CI 77499, BHT

Primer 10 ml / 0.35 oz

Etude House (Korean retail): ₩5,500
Etude House (American retail): USD $7.20
JOLSE: USD $7.08
YESSTYLE: USD $6.90
iHerb: USD $5.63

Packaging

A clear plastic bulbous, kind of teardrop-shaped, tube with a long cap (for better grip) and doe-foot applicator. It has a simple design that gets the job done. I can see how much product is left inside. The expiration date is also very clearly printed on the side. The end of the applicator does reach to the very bottom but I am not sure how well it would work to reach the widest part of the bulb because of the stopper at the top to help scrape off excess product from the wand.

Color, Texture, Finish, & Scent

The primer is pinkish in color in the tube. Once applied it blends in well and is virtually unnoticeable. There is an initial silicone-like slip and tack that does dry down to a matte finish. Etude House did not add fragrance so the primer itself has a very standard wax/silicone kind of scent to it. I don't notice it normally unless I purposely sniff the product.

How I Apply

After applying sunscreen and before any makeup, I spread a thin layer of the eye primer with the doe-foot applicator across my eyelids and near the bottom lash line. I make sure to use my ring finger to really smooth everything out and remove any excess product to avoid creasing of the primer itself.

Thoughts & Recommendations

Oily lids, rejoice! I can finally wear non-matte sunscreens without tearing up uncontrollably and having any eyeliner, no matter how long-wearing they claim to be, smudge like no tomorrow at the outer corners of my eyes. (Both are related but are conditions that can happen independently of each other if the products are right.)

I cannot say this product stopped ALL smudging. But the difference it does make when I do and don't use the Proof 10 Eye Primer is still very noticeable. Even the eyeliner itself holds up better when I add the extra primer step. Creasing isn't non-existent but it isn't quite as bad.

Since I don't have many wrinkles near my eyes at the moment, that isn't an aspect I can vouch for. However, I would say that I have to be careful when applying this because of my bajillion eyelid folds and constantly uneven eyes. Being too heavy-handed does cause the primer to crease and not set properly. If left to its own devices, it will mix with my eyelid oils through the day and the primer eventually finds its way into my eyelashes.

Really, who needs a more expensive product when the Etude House's eye primer works and comes in under USD $10? Even the doe-foot applicator isn't a huge hygiene issue for me either since the primer itself is such a small size—either I finish it fast enough or am not too hesitant to toss something inexpensive. My next eye primer would highly likely be this unless I want to spend some extra dollars to try the mini versions offered at Sephora.