Wearing Urban Decay Greed Eyeshadow Primer Potion
Blending powder, cream and pencil eyeshadows on top of the new Urban Decay Greed Eyeshadow Primer Potion ($18) might not be as effortless as it is to blend shadows on top of NARS Pro Prime, arguably one of the best eye primers on the market, but there are times (like these) when beauty trumps ease of use. The newest shade in Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion Line and the most glittery one yet, its striking shimmery gold intensifies eye looks with a long-lasting, water-resistant formula that helps it make up for sub-par blending.
My non-scientific tests involved a swipe on the back of my hand (it lasted through four vigorous washings and only came off with an oil-based makeup remover) and a late night out with the girls (dinner, drinks and then four solid hours of dancing). Greed withstood everything with nary a crease and no fading at all.
Urban Decay Greed Eyeshadow Potion Primer on far left
Swatch of Greed on NC35 skin unblended (left) and blended (right)
Girls who go ga-ga for golden glam looks might love Greed’s flexibility. Not only does it amplify the wear time and vibrancy of shadows when worn beneath them, but I think it even looks great all by itself.
Or how about supersizing your eyes? Use Greed’s light-reflecting golden metallic color to create an eye-widening effect. Pat and blend it into the inner V (the area next to the tear ducts) to cancel out any darkness from the eye and nose area. Then, dab a little under the brow bone to give your eyebrows a lift. Next, draw a thin line along the upper lashes with a liquid liner (the best I’ve ever tried: LORAC’s Front of the Line Pro), which creates the illusion of larger eyes, and finish by curling lashes with a lash curler and applying a few coats of your favorite mascara.
PRICE: $18
AVAILABILITY: Coming soon to Sephora, Ulta, Macy’s and urbandecay.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B
The Quest for The Ultimate Chai Latte Continues!
Last week in the comments Fieran said something about visiting the Bay Area and falling in love with chai lattes. That’s when it dawned on me: I’d never, ever had one before, so on Saturday I ordered my first, and, um, are you kidding me?!? They’re impossibly good! Spicy, sweet and rich like a pumpkin pie smoothie.
Now I’m determined to find the best chai latte in the Bay Area… So far I’ve tried Starbucks (pretty good) and one from Whole Foods (pretty bad).
How do you feel about chai latte? Are you a fan? Any other teas you think I should try?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
My starbucks drink is a latte, 6 pumps of chai, 180 degrees, and no water. best drink ever. and you’ll stay awake all day. lol, you look great in these pics by the way.
Wow, that is precise!! So you ask them to add the chai to your regular latte? I think that just might push me over the edge, LOL!
Best chai? Anything made with Big Train brand, and stay away from the “spiced” and the “vanilla”, go original or nothing! 🙂
Hi Bunny Masseuse,
Hmm, now I’m not sure if I had the regular chai or the spiced chai. Is one sweeter?
Regular chai is good I think, but the spiced is NOT normally sweet. Some chai’s come with Chocolate, or Vanilla too (either as part of the make up of ingredients or are added separately).
Brands that are my go-to:
http://www.oregonchai.com/
http://www.bigtrain.com/
Your normal big box retailers of coffee/tea won’t normally use these… it’s the Mom and Pop shops that normally use them as their staple.
Both stock liquid and powdered versions, of which some show up on shelves of your grocery stores or organic-esque food markets.
Oh, and if you want a powerful Chai in tea bag form, then STASH brand Premium Double Spice Chai Black Tea is the box to reach for.
Awesome, thanks Bunny! I’ll look out for those brands when I go to the grocery store. 🙂
Now I’m craving more chai, le sigh…
I second the Oregon Chai! Good stuff!
I can’t recommend egg nog chai lattes, though. I love chai and I am obsessed with egg nog, but I find the combination sickly sweet.
yay a new one! i have already have them all even the big tube lol ive been using the primer everyday for 4 yrs!
Hi Candace,
I take it you’re a devoted UDPP fan. 😀 My fave is Eden, what’s yours?
I really enjoy caribou coffee’s chai latte!
Hi Katie,
Is that a brand you can buy in a store?
I’m all obsessed now, LOL!
It’s a chain of coffee shops like starbuck, but maybe only in the midwest area?
Yay, I’m glad you tried the Chai Latte. The Starbucks one is a wee bit sweeter I believe, than the regular Chai Lattes. If you don’t feel like going out in the cold to grab a take out – you can make it yourself. Basically you’ll need one of those automatic hand-whiskers or a milk-frothing device. You heat the milk on the stove (or even in the microwave) but not till it boils. Then you whisk the milk to make a little bit of froth. Fill a mug halfway with hot water and place enough tea in it. The tea should be a bit strong because the milk is going to dilute it (you can use tea bags or tea leaves.. if it’s tea bags then you might need two tea bags, regular chai tea bags are quite weak). Let the tea steep for a few minutes then remove the leaves and pour the milk in. This is very pretty if done in a clear glass because then the layer of milk and tea is very visible. Top it off with a spoon of honey or more of the milk froth 🙂
*I am afraid at this point I should admit that I once worked in Starbucks…but no, my branch did not sell Chai Lattes 🙂
Hi Fieran,
Ooh, thank you for the recipe! I will have to dig out my hand mixer and try it. BTW, I love Starbuck’s lattes. They’re like crack to me and the reason why I never got around to trying the chai tea ones. How long did you work there? Did you have to get up really early?
No problem 🙂 Yeah, I love Starbucks, but they don’t have branches in Norway, so when I travel I make sure I have Starbucks at least once. I worked in Starbucks for about 3 months or so, it was not very long – during my semester break – in a branch inside a shopping mall, in Malaysia.
This branch opened when the mall opened and closed when the mall closed – except for on Saturday nights, they opened a bit longer to cater to patrons of the cinema in the mall. Working in cafes is a lot of fun but it is also very tiring. In the branch where I worked at least, you barely got to sit. So your feet will hurt a lot. The fun part of the cafe is the really cool and interesting people you meet (*cough* hot guys *cough*). Some people really appreciate their coffee so they’re very happy when you make them a good coffee – and it is nice to know that you can contribute to their good mood.
Since the mall opened at 10, I had to be at the cafe by 9 something in the mornings. So it wasn’t too bad. For the closing shift, where I worked, you had to clean up the cafe – that was quite tough because there was the espresso machine that needs a lot of maintenance and then there’s the dishwasher’s grease trap. This is really icky and I have no idea why with today’s technology, these machines still exist 😉 They closed at 10pm most days, but by time we cleaned up, it was about 12.30-1am.
I know some Starbucks in the US open at 6am right? The one inside the Hilton I was staying at, in SF, they opened at 6am. It was awesome because I’d wake up out of jet lag, shower, head to the Starbucks at the lobby and grab some brekky, then head back to the hotel room and plan the day 🙂
Interestingly, smelling the scent of coffee so much put me off coffee and also made me not feel hungry. Eventually I stopped drinking coffee after working there. But a few months later I got the taste for coffee again 🙂 So it was all good.
One of my favorite things, especially this time of year, is an egg nog chai!
The spicy tea blends really well with the thick sweetness of egg nog.
Love it!
Hi Stephanie,
They sell that at Starbucks, right?
Greed is gorgeous!!! I must try it soon… I always order a venti no-water chai with two extra pumps 🙂 I like them strongggg
I need to try this no water thing! So it’s just chai and milk, right?
I love its effect! I have been looking for a primer that will make my eye make up last long hours of partying! I have a question though, when you used your oil-based make up remover, were you still having a hard time removing it? I am wondering if it can be easily removed using olive oil.
Hi Sunshine,
It came right off. 🙂 Whatever you use to remove water-resistant makeup should work!
Nothing beats Nordstrom’s soy chai latte!!
One of my favorite MAC counters is at Nordstrom… I’ll have to get one when I hit up the cafe!
I had a pretty strong Chai latte/tea phase a while ago, Mmm.. I love things that are warmly spiced! I like the look on the new UDPP as I am, and always will be addicted to the original ~ I dont even feel like I need to experiement in that area. I really wish I was in a position of being able to try/swatch this before I bought it 🙁
I take it that when a chai phase hits it hits HARD! I’ve already had mine for the day and want more. 🙂
If you like the original why mess with a good thing? I’m a big fan of Eden, myself.
Ooh pretty! I love gold so I gotta have this!
Sorry I’m not into tea so I can’t help you there. I have been loving hot chocolate recently, especially peppermint!
Haha, I JUST KNEW you’d be into this because of the color!
Do you live near a Trader Joe’s they have this hot chocolate powder that’s super delicious.
Ooh I’ll have to check that out at TJ’s!
Hardcore fan of chai eggnog lattes *raises hand* right here. I’m a fan of the regular ones, too, though. I like the Starbucks ones, even though I lived in Seattle for a year (where it’s almost a crime to like Starbucks… if you’re hip). Some great Seattle coffee shops, if you’re ever in the area, include Cafe Ladro, Muse, and Stumptown. When I know a coffee place has two different kinds of chai (usually one sweet, one spicy), I ask them to go half-and-half. Eggnog really adds that holiday kick. YUM.
Speaking of the holidays, Greed looks like it would be PERFECT for this time of year. I love the look you’ve got going in this post!
Ooh I know Stumptown is supposed to be good! I know at the last cafe I worked we were thinking of bringing it in, but just didn’t work out
🙁 I miss working with coffee! I am kind of against Starbucks, although every once in awhile I’ll get a little craving for something very sweet from them I have to admit *ashamed* 😛
I mean thinking of bringing their coffee in… Btw, I live in Canada but I’d love to go to Seattle someday!
Seattle ROCKS. At least, I think so. 🙂 And they’re pretty darn good at coffee. That good ol’ liquid sunshine…
No!! I can’t believe you’ve never had a chai latte before 😮 They’re so very tasty!
If you ever feel like making one at home, Celestial Seasonings chai is the best I’ve found so far 😉 Plus, then you get to micro-manage your drink (steep time, milk ratio, and amount of vanilla syrup). Yum ^^
I love your look!!!! What is on your lips??? I love it!!! THANKS
You have to try Oregon Chai. It is the absolute best chai ever.
OMG! I LOVE CHAI!! My fave is from a place called T2 in Sydney, its choc-chip chai!
the best combination ever 😀 If it wasn’t Summer right now, I would be craving it!
OOH! And the UDPP looks so pretty! I wish they sold it here in Australia though 🙁
The Starbucks Chai Tea Latte is a little bit too sweet for me, but I love the spices they use in that one 🙂 Greed is a very pretty color, but I still prefer the flexibility of the original (just in case I want to stay matte)
Hi Karen, Seems like you are getting a lot of good tips, but I will add my two cents (is that how the saying goes?). I love the Tazo Chai Tea, steeped until extra strong. Then I add a dash of half and half and a small amount of raw cane sugar (hehe, don’t know if the raw and cane part are necessary).
i almost caved in and bought the UDPP set earlier … but since this is coming out next year, i think ill wait!
i <3 green tea lattes. the one at starbucks is pretty decent, but surprisingly, the instant sachet ones in the asian grocery store are pretty great too!
i also <3 soy chai tea!
Is UPDD greed much different to MAC bare study paintpot? Such a pretty ‘wet look’ on your eyelids.
I love chai tea! I much prefer the original indian style Chai Masala tea which is more fragrant and less sickly sweet and no foam. Had it every breakfast when I was in India working at an eye hospital.
Karen, my mom sometimes used to make chai for my sister and I.. But she did it from scratch where she heats the milk over the stove and adds all the spices, like cloves, cardamom, etc.. I don’t remember everything she adds but it is delicious! And if you already cook, then you might have those ingredients at home already!
I love chai!
I go on chai kicks from time to time and brew them fresh. Just tea, cardamom, peppercorns, and cinnamon. Sometimes I’ll switch up the spices — cloves, allspice, ginger. Whatever sounds good at the moment. Let it all steep until strong, strain, add sugar/vanilla/honey to your choosing. I like to mix it with fat-free half and half so I get the heavier creamy texture without crazy calories.
Now try it iced. Heaven.
I looove chai lattes! It’s my one drink where I actually prefer soy milk for the creamy, slightly sweet flavor! Try a chai latte with soy milk sometime and see how it stacks up! 🙂
Just got UD Eden, pretty sure Greed will join the club at some point!
It’s funny – being Indian I both love and hate Starbucks’ chai “tea latte.” By definition, chai means tea. By implication, to Westerners chai means “masala chai” – which is spiced tea with milk. So basically what Starbucks has done is name their drink “spiced tea with milk tea with steamed milk.” Definitely a pet peeve of mine! But that never stops me from ordering it, it tastes so good 🙂
This isn’t one from a coffee shop, but I LOVELOVELOVE the Oregon Chai blend one. They sell it pre-sweetened and unsweetened in boxes, usually near the soymilk, in the grocery store. You just heat it up and mix it with your choice of milk and it’s amazing! You can even buy a milk frother so that it has the foamy-milk thing going on.
At Starbucks, ask for a CHair Latte with soy, no water. It makes them super creamy and delicious!
I’m a fan of Teddy Bears (or at least that’s what the cafe I worked at called them!) They’re chai lattes with a shot of espresso. SO GOOD. It’s ridiculously good and ridiculously effective. Very very tasty. Any coffeeshop should be able to make it.
As for other teas? I recommend full-leaf Assam, with a splash of milk and some Nutria (or Splenda, or sugar, whatever floats your boat). It’s a strong tea and the milk softens it just enough.
Nothing beats The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s chai latte. i just love it. MUST TRY!
I LOVE chai lattes. They’re one of my favorite drinks. The one at starbucks is my favorite.
Oh, that primer is glitterific. I absolutely love it and nearly had to fan myself from the excitement! That’s an awesome look for you, btw. It says simple and rock star at the same time. 🙂
We’re a bit limited out here in the sticks, but I think Dunkin Donuts Vanilla Chai is like Christmas in a cup. It’s quite sweet, but definitely delicious.
My fav drink is a Starbucks soy chai latte. I’ve noticed they’re better (spicier) in the US than here, so I usually ask for 2 pumps in Europe. I want one know.
OMG CHAI TEA LATTE– Never change, it’s the best tea, hahaha– I get “Vanilla Chai” and it is SO GOOD.
BTW Love your top! You always look so cute!!!
Starbucks chai tea latte is wonderful. Do you have a Gloria Jean’s around you (I know they’re in some malls)? Because they make a pretty fantastic chai latte, and I think theirs tends to be a bit stronger.
Oh Karen! I so love your blog!
And this shade of lipstick is really beautiful!
I’ll come back! 😉
Hi from France.
Charlotte
No, I do not like the UDPP to begin with (prefer Artdeco eye shadow base) and this greasy looking one, I would not even try. Sorry.
i have to confess, i’ve never actually had a chai latte either 🙂 am off to the starbucks in my office’s food court right now to see if they have it on the menu 🙂
Bigelow…because it’s cheap and I can’t stand caffeine. XD I might try something else, but finals are coming up…