A few weeks back I finally ticked off one of the things on my Christmas wish list. I know it's really late but I was just so undecided about purchasing the NARS eyeshadow base! The reviews were all positive and awesome but I simply couldn't decide if I need yet another eyeshadow primer. I already have some favorites - why explore? How many primers could I possibly need?

But then I got some Rustan's GCs and thought what the heck, it's practically "free". Lol. It's not really free because the GCs were from a job but yeah, I didn't have to put out any cash for it which makes it easy to buy. Anyway. I'm glad I did, because this is everything everybody on the Internet promised it would be!

The NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base (P1,350 from Rustan's) is a clear primer for the lids. It's super effective in keeping eyeshadow solid and in place all day, with minimal to barely any creasing. It's also a great product under eyeliner as it keeps such waxy formulas from smudging!

The texture is kinda watery, more fluid than the Urban Decay Shadow Primer and TFSI. It's white off the doe foot applicator but it dries completely clear. Some people hate that they can't see where the primer has dried, but it's not so difficult if you work fast and cover the lid area ASAP! I see how it can be a tad difficult if you're applying makeup on someone else but you can always use a brush with this like Lisa Eldridge. 

I hereby declare the next five days as Bobbi Brown Week at Project Vanity. Seriously, I have quite a few Bobbi products piling up (they're all fantastic) so I want to release the reviews in one themed week. I'll be featuring one Bobbi product everyday for the next five days, so stay tuned for those posts. ;)

To start off the series, here's an FOTD-slash-review of the Bobbi Brown Twilight Night Shimmer Ink. This is unfortunately limited edition from the Desert Twilight collection last year. However, I think that the brand has something similar in the cream eyeshadow line. I'm sure you can also find dupes in other brands if you're on a budget. ;)

Now Twilight Night is actually a gel eyeliner, but the twinkly dusky color is so pretty that it deserves to be used as a cream eyeshadow.

A dark cream base can make eyeshadows really pop up, plus the uber fine shimmer in this particular product adds more dimension and light to the eyes. I dabbed a layer of it on my lids using just my fingers.

There is an unfortunate scarcity of good, locally-available eyeshadow bases in the country. I talked to a couple of people who works with local beauty brands, and you know what they said? They don't make eyeshadow bases simply because there is no demand for it. Filipinas aren't really that advanced when it comes to makeup application, so they don't have a need for an eyeshadow base.

In other words, only people who know makeup know why they need a proper eyeshadow base. And not a lot of people really know makeup, so let's pat ourselves in the back! :P

Anyway! Good thing that ArtDeco is back here. Why? Because the brand has one of the most popular eyeshadow bases out there: the ArtDeco Eyeshadow Base (P450 at Beauty Bar). I tried getting this three, two years ago, but it was always out of stock! Swear. There's a lot of rave reviews about it online, even getting a solid 4.3/5 at Makeupalley (98 reviews). 

So is it worth all the attention? Well yes, but I am not going to give it a mega rave review. Here's why!

What I love about the product

• It intensifies eyeshadows extremely well - perhaps even better than UDPP. This ArtDeco base doesn't dry up immediately, so a coated lid grabs more pigment compared to the cult classic. 
• Eyeshadows are easier to blend on top of this compared to UDPP.