Welcome to the Age of the Eyeshadow Primer, young lady. Right now there are loads of them out there to choose from, many of them un-tinted, like Urban Decay Primer Potion, Too Faced Shadow Insurance, and my current go-to girl, NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base, to name just a few.
But there’s another great way to prime your lids, and all it takes is the right long-wearing cream eyeshadow.
Since they’re pigmented, some of them (especially the neutral ones) can also be used as color correctors, and they’re a great way to give depth to your other favorite eyeshadows. MAC calls their line of cream shadows Paint Pots, and one of my absolute faves of all time (okay, at least the past four years) is also my Unsung Hero today, Soft Ochre ($16.50).
Why Soft Ochre?
MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot ($16.50) touched down a few years ago with the MAC N Collection of neutrals and nudes, and shortly after that it was added to the company’s permanent line. It’s a neutral yellowish beige with a matte finish, and many gals consider it one of the line’s primo primers.
I think it looks great worn all by itself on my lids with some liner and mascara, but I also use it to extend the wear time of other shadows and to intensify shadows that contain yellow or gold tones.
Dang if it doesn’t brighten my eyes as well as anything. It also evens out the skin tone on my lids — mighty convenient when I’m chronically sleep deprived, as I’ve been this week.
For me, Soft Ochre actually seems to work better than many dedicated primers billed as color correctors do (Benefit Lemon Aid and Too Faced Lemon Drop, for example) as it doesn’t turn gray on my tan skin.
Today I asked Melissa Street, a makeup artist friend of mine who works on celebs for television and movies (she’s great; check her out on Twitter and Facebook), why some yellow-based color correctors turn funky shades on darker skin.
“Dark skin tones tend to have a variety of undertones,” she said. “Sometimes they have blue undertones, red undertones, orange; all kinds of different things.”
Yellow-based color correctors have a tendency to oxidize, changing colors or turning ashy on darker skin. “In the eye area,” Melissa said, “in general, there’s usually blue undertones. To counter balance that you need to use something with a peach tone or an orange tone, or you risk oxidation.”
SIDE NOTE: Melissa is down in San Diego, California right now working behind the scenes at Comic-Con. Earlier today she did the makeup for Jason Momoa, aka Khal Drogo, the former tightlining hottie from Game of Thrones.
Um, SWOON!
I dunno if Soft Ochre officially has any peach in it (I think I can see a little?), but for whatever reason it doesn’t turn ashy on my NC42 skin, and I love, LOVE it for that.
An application tip
If you’ve never tried any of the MAC Paint Pots before, they have a dense, somewhat dry texture that some find difficult to apply and blend across their lids. The texture doesn’t really bother me much, and I think its thick consistency makes up for it by helping the product latch onto powder shadows so incredibly well.
The quickest way I’ve found to apply it is by using warm, clean fingers instead of a brush. First, I rub my palms together, Mr. Miyagi-style, to warm them up. Then, I pick up a little bit of it with a finger and apply with a patting, rather than a swiping, motion to my lids. The warmth from my hands seems to soften the product and make it easier to spread.
Oh, and sometimes I also pat a small amount of MAC Fast Response Eye Cream, a non-oily, quick-absorbing eye moisturizer, on my lids beforehand, which seems to make the application even smoother.
When I wear Soft Ochre as a primer, I don’t have a problem with it creasing, but I’ve heard that some people with really oily lids do. If you have super oily lids, it might help to start with a layer of a colorless primer first, like Urban Decay Primer Potion.
Kettle Corn: A Love Story
Honestly, this stuff needs to be classified as an addictive substance.
I find myself wanting to both hug and slap whoever invented it. I got a huge bag at the Farmers’ market last night, and I kid you not — it took every ounce of my willpower to refrain from finishing it in the car.
Mmm… those hot and fluffy puffed corn bubbles, and that magical trifecta of butter, sugar and salt… ZOMG! I’m drooling on my keyboard right now!
I’m pretty sure it’s high in calories…but hey, at least it’s got fiber! 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
The MAC Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorite products from MAC’s permanent collection
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Texture Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Saddle Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Cork Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Fleur Power Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Swiss Chocolate Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Costa Riche Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Mineralize Skinfinish Natural
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Havana
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Chicory Lip Pencil
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Smoked Almond Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Half ‘n Half Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Chili Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Coffee Eye Pencil
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Mineralize Skinfinish in Global Glow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Havana
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour in Burnt Spice
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Mineralize Foundation/Loose
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Giddy Lustre Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Amorous Alloy Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Texture Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Prep + Prime 24-Hour Extend Eye Base
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Swiss Chocolate Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Saddle Eyeshadow
- Unsung Heroes: MAC In Extra Dimension Waterproof Mascara
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Minted Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Take the Plunge Technakohl Liner
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Cork Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: 221 Mini Tapered Blending Brush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Matchmaster Shade Intelligence Compact
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Oh My Mocha Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Pro Longwear Waterproof Colour Stick in Lilacked
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Satin Taupe Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: High Tea Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Blooz Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Fleur Power Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Layin’ Low Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Constructivist Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Prep + Prime Fix+
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Mineralize Skinfinish Natural
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Persistence Matte Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow in Brownluxe
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Costa Riche Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: The Studio Chromagraphic Pencils
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Brun Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Staunchly Stylish Pro Longwear Lip Pencil
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Warm Soul Mineralize Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Reflects Antique Gold Glitter
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Style Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Shaping Powder in Lightsweep
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Painterly
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Era Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bronze Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Honey Lust Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sun Rush Lustre Drops
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Nice Buzz Plushglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: 33 Lash
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Shale Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Harmony Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Careblends Pressed Powder
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Fulfilled Plushglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bamboom Paint
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sublime Nature Paint
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Face and Body Foundation
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Prunella Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: The 239 Eye Shader Brush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Greensmoke Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Ample Pink Plushglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Indianwood Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bare Study Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Rubenesque Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Tarnish Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Big Baby Plushglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Kohl Power Pencil Liner in Feline
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Format Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Ambering Rose Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in Silver Dusk
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in Golden Bronze
- MAC Unsung Heroes: C-Thru Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Fresh Flare Pro Longwear Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam V Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Loud & Lovely Cremesheen Glass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam VI Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Breezy Sheertone Shimmer Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Care Blends Essential Oils, Grapefruit + Chamomile
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye Primer
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Right Image Cremesheen Glass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Modesty Cremesheen Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Double Dare Cremesheen Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bamboo Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Speak Louder Cremesheen Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sandy B Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Club Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Uniform Technakohl Liner
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sweet Satisfaction Pro Longwear Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Red Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Lady Danger Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Tempting Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Ruby Woo Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Retrospeck Eyeshadow
P.S. Kinda random, but have you heard the new Kanye/Jay-Z song with the killer Otis Redding sample? I’m not sure if I like it, but I can’t stop listening to it over and over for some reason (probably because of the awesome Otis Redding song).
Thanks for the great article. I’m an NW15 and I like to use MAC’s paint pot in painterly the same way.
Painterly is great! Do you find that you need to layer anything beneath it, or do you use it on its own?
Have you done a review on the MAC Fast-Response Eye Cream? And if not, could you? 🙂
Hi Stephanie,
I haven’t! Are you currently looking for an eye cream? It’s great if you need light moisture and want something that absorbs quickly. Plus, it mixes with MAC liquid concealers really well.
Ehhh. I’m not fond of the shade.
Try some of the other Paint Pots! You might like Groundwork.
I love that song, Karen – I’ve been listening to it like crazy too. Kanye/Jay-Z collabs are terrific. And I love how the Try a little tenderness sample is used. The shizz!
…and I love Soft Ochre too. Used it the other day when I was looking like a zombie…although I think paint pots could be a weeeee bit smaller just because it takes me forever to get through one and I am always deathly afraid of them drying out before I get to finish them. I swear I used Rubenesque on a daily basis for about a year and it looks barely dented.
Otis’ music moves my soul, period. A Change is Gonna Come always gets me, you know?
Speaking of Paint Pots drying out — do you store yours upside down? I think it helps retain the moisture.
I love Soft Ochre! It’s my go-to when my eyes are red with allergies, a cold, or the morning after a bad night’s sleep. I couldn’t live without it!
It’s the best, isn’t it? Have you tried it with Ricepaper?
I was considering getting some paint pots. Groundwork may be my first purchase. I feel like UD Eden PP basically gives me the same effect I’d want from Soft Ochre, so I have been holding off on buying it. But now you are starting to sway me…
Groundwork is an awesome color too!
Hmm, you’re making Soft Ochre sound really tempting! I’ve never actually tried a Paint Pot, despite all the love they get from the makeup community – but it sounds like I’ll have to ^^
My god, the day I found out that you can totally make kettle corn at home (and it’s super easy) — no words. *swoon*!
You have to try them! They’re all sorts of fab.
Random question is the necklace your wearing part of the A21 campaign for charity?
Hi Sheena,
Wish it was for something nice like that, but it’s not. I bought it a few weeks ago on lulus.com.
I don’t have any paint pots but I’ve swatched a few at the MAC counter. Unfortunately Soft Ochre is way too yellow and dark for my skin tone and would make me look sickly. Is there a good paint pot for cool toned fair skin?
Yes! Check out Painterly. 🙂
Would you say, price-wise, soft ochre would be better than UDPP for a primer?
Hi Lauren,
Are you thinking of using it as your go-to everyday primer? If that’s the case I do think the Paint Pot will last longer.
I have been using my Soft Ochre paint pot as a primer since uh… 2008 I think and it’s not even half gone. I feel that a synthetic brush like the MAC 249 applies the paint pot very smoothly.
Hi Sylvie,
It’s a fab color. What shades do you like to pair it with?
I’ve been wanting to buy soft ochre for ages, I love how the colour seems to counteract redness and brighten up eyes. I have the same issue with spreading paint pots- going to try Mr Miyagi palms next time!
Hi Jen,
You might want to try layering it on top of a little MAC Fast Response Eye Cream. It seems to help spread it out!
First: who is that man and why is he not my pillow right now?? Yowza magowza.
Second: You weren’t kidding about looking wide awake. It’s as if fishing line is jerking your eyelids upward. I don’t know how well this would work on a pale person, but I’ll make sure I check it out, as a unique neutral base.
OOOH GURL! Have you not been watching Game of Thrones? He’s half naked in all his scenes!
You look so amazing good!!! 🙂
But I don´t like Soft Ochre…I like Bare Study 😉
xoxo
Bare Study is a great color. So is Painterly!
How quickly does this dry up on you?
It doesn’t, which is really nice. I’ve held onto pots for years. One thing that seems to help is to store them upside down.
Hey Good Morning Karen-
Just wondering…I LOVE LOVE LOVE the soft ochre paint pot. Wondering if anyone else here uses a fluffy brush to apply theirs??
I love using my 217 to apply the paint pots. All of them. Its quick and easy and you pick up so little product I think it makes it last EVEN longer. And you can layer the color in an area if you want it more opaque.
Try it next time, just like with concealor I think you are going to love it.
Hi Brian!
I haven’t tried it with the 217 yet. I’ll give it a go today!
BTW, I just picked up MAC Face & Body Foundation and I think I’m in love! Do you ever wear it?
i am not a paint pot fan … but i might check this out!
and yay for kettle corn! even the popcorn indiana ones at the grocery store are pretty yummy! 🙂
You’re more of a NYX Jumbo Pencil girl, right?
Hi Karen,
I love your Unsung Heroes series. I’ve picked up some new favorites based on your reviews.
Hi Nadine,
That’s awesome! What are your favorites so far?
I heard that soft ochre is going to become a pro only product, not sure if it’s true though. And to add, I also have an insane love for kettle corn !!!
Hmm, I’ll ask next time I got to the Pro store.
I woke up this morning wanting kettle corn for breakfast!
this pot reminds me of urban decay’s primer position in eden
I have that one and like it too. I think Soft Ochre might be a touch more yellow… they’re both great, though!
Karen, love this series of MAC Unsung Heroes…I have found some real gems through this
Great, Maddy! What are your faves so far?
Totally digging it since I’m a sucker for primers but I do feel like I’ve quite too many..decisions..
I don’t think you can ever have enough. 😉
I have always wanted to get either this one or Painterly but still haven’t. I have too many stuffs. Currently trying to finish Benefit R.S.V.P., the small pot, by using it as an eye base.
Want to add since this s permanent, so it can wait. 😉
Karen, I LOVE this look. How do you get such a smooth and thin application of this paint pot? Also, would you do a vid/tut/blog on how you apply your foundation? Do you wear it daily? thanks!!!
Hi Karen! I’m about to purchase this today but I was wondering if you could tell me what lipstick and blush you used as well? :o) Thanks!
Hi Karen! Would this shade work as a primer for me on my nc45 skin? Would you suggest something else?
Yes it would. The trick is to not use too much and really buff it into the skin. I can also recommend NARS Pro Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base. I think it’s the best eye primer out there right now. 🙂