I Tried Using the e.l.f. Cosmetics Putty Face Primer as Eye Primer — Here's What Happened

I've recently (and begrudgingly) accepted that if I want to create an eyeshadow look that actually stays on my oily eyelids for more than two hours, I can't skip the priming process.

However, after making this conclusion, I realized that I don't even own an eyeshadow primer. Instead of waiting to wear eyeshadow until I bought one, I decided to try to make do with what I did have in stock — the e.l.f. Cosmetics Luminous Putty Primer ($9). According to the brand, the product can be applied on the eyelids before eyeshadow to help keep it in place.

After cleansing, moisturizing, and washing my hands, I applied a very thin layer of the putty primer to my entire face using my fingertips. The product is designed to give skin a subtle radiant glow and to improve the wear of makeup. Using my ring finger, I gently applied an even lighter veil of the primer to my eyelids, too. Then, I waited the recommended 30 seconds for the primer to set before starting on the rest of my makeup.

When it came time for eyeshadow, I found that having primed eyelids allowed me to apply and blend my shimmery, rose-hued powder shadow much easier. My eyeshadow brush glided over the surface of my lids, allowing me to better distribute the shadow across my entire eyelid.

Of course, I was way more interested in seeing if my face primer could help prevent eyeshadow creases and smudges for more than an hour or two.

I applied the eyeshadow around 9 a.m., then immediately logged onto my email for a full day's work. I was seated at my desk for a good portion of the day, but I did take a few breaks for lunch, to take my dog for a walk, and to run some errands in my neighborhood. I made sure to check my makeup in the mirror every hour and document any changes. It wasn't until 5 p.m. that day that I noticed some of my eyeshadow had creased slightly. Overall, that was a huge improvement from my pre-primer days; I'd be lucky if I got to a coffee break at 2 p.m. without a smudge or a smear.

The creasing was also pretty easy to blend out with my ring finger. Before heading out for dinner, I touched up my eye makeup a little with some more shadow and a swipe or two of mascara.

I think I'll still invest in a proper eyeshadow primer, like the e.l.f. Cosmetics Putty Eye Primer ($4-$5), but I'm happy to know that my face primer will always be there as a solid backup.