Lets Compare! Elf Mineral Eye Primer vs. Mac Bare Canvas Paint
September 12th, 2009 | 
Author: 
A few words on ELF… So I have been seeing Elf products all over the blogs lately. Honestly I never imagined myself purchasing something from this company. In my opinion I just could’nt expect something that cheap to actually work.
Over the last few months I have been really trying to be a smart consumer and use my “makeup smarts” that I have gathered over the last few years to guide my purchases instead of just giving into the hype. So I have started to test “cheaper” products, as well as looking at ingredients, etc. Recently I found a 75% coupon code online and for almost pennies bought almost the whole Eyeslipsface mineral line. I figured at least if I didnt like it. I hadnt really wasted much money…
Today as I was rushing out to get ready to pick up Rick (the husband) at the airport. I saw the ELF Mineral eye primer and decided to give it go. Then I thought what would be more fun? To do a primer comparison for all of you! So I applied ELF Mineral Primer on one eye and MAC Bare Canvas Paint on the other. 
Can you tell which eye is which? With the day almost half over each eye looks pretty much the same. The colors are just as vibrant and neither eye has creased. I am truly surprised and excited at the same time! The texture of the mineral primer is very similar to Too Faced Shadow Insurance or Urban Decay Primer Potion. But since the MAC paint is what I use daily, thats what I compared it too. 
Above are the shadows I used in the look on top of the primers. 1- Ben Nye Lumiere Powder in Cherry (love) 2- ELF Mineral Shadow in Royal (another one of my cheap purchases) 3- MAC Haux Shadow 4- Mac Shroom Shadow. Before I forget! Now that I have kept you guessing… In the eye shot above Left eye is MAC Bare Study and the Right eye is Elf Mineral Primer! Were you right?
So what do you think? Does the more money always mean better quality?
Above are the shadows I used in the look on top of the primers. 1- Ben Nye Lumiere Powder in Cherry (love) 2- ELF Mineral Shadow in Royal (another one of my cheap purchases) 3- MAC Haux Shadow 4- Mac Shroom Shadow. Before I forget! Now that I have kept you guessing… In the eye shot above Left eye is MAC Bare Study and the Right eye is Elf Mineral Primer! Were you right?
So what do you think? Does the more money always mean better quality? 
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Posted in Mac Cosmetics, Makeup, Reviews, swatches | 
Tags: Elf Cosmetics, Eyeslipsface, FOTD, Looks, Mac Cosmetics
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i was skeptical at first like you too., but i gave in and tried some. I'm not a fan of some of the eyeshadows, but i do love their contour set!
I have love/hate experiences with ELF
I do like their mineral primer though and a lot for their studio line! I tend to not like their lippies and face products tho -_-;;
i almost bought this and then didn't and now i'm regretting it a little – arg, that's ok there's always next time ;o)
I was sooo disappointed in my elf buys way back in january, I ROAK-ed them on MUA and haven't ordered again! I kept a few of the mineral shadows, but they are sooo shimmery and fall-out-y and not at all what they look like on the site.
I can't wait for you to review more!
I'm not quite sure about the more money better quality thing…I usually just go by what others thought about a product before I buy it….I have that mineral shadow in Royal just haven't used it yet….
wow… I thought u had the first eye pic as one of the product and the other one below is the other one I can't tell! I've purchase some ELF eyeshadows and they're OK, not as good as high end or drugstore products of course but its "do-able". If you are starting with makeup, ELF is a good brand to start I guess just to play around with makeup. I'm in love with MAC paintpots
I just got my ELF mineral primer and thinking of doing a comparison with UDPP. Maybe I will… Thanks for the review/comparison
Wow… thanks for doing this. I love a bargain, but when there are cheap products with great quality then I've gotta get it. I am definitely gonna get that primer now.
i'm glad that it worked for you. i just bought one but i bought it for the liner sealer. but i hope the primer works for me too!
Just wanted let you know…the MAC product is Bare Canvas Paint..according to the picture, unless you were talking about the MAC paint pot in Bare Study.
Thanks for the review though! love the comparison you did and the makeup looks awesome!
Yay! I was right!
I haven't tried ELF since they first came out. It's nice to hear that you like their eye primer!
High end, low end, I'm a try before you buy kinda girl.
@ Eugenia- oh I will have to look at that next time! Thank you!
@ Emotion- I know what you mean! Im glad to know to stay clear of those!
@Lizzard- ahh man! Good thing it will always be there!
@Lisa Kate- I know what you mean. The royal worked for me today. But wasnt as vibrant as I expected. I used it on the base, but was thinking next time to try with a mixing medium and see how that goes!
@BLkprincess- I know what you mean! I have quite a few more things to test out. So know what you mean! let me know what you think of it once you try it!
@Jbreezybaby- I agree complelty. Im sure everything has a good and bad. I have noticed the pigmentation isnt as much as other brands. Somethings I know I would never use. But others are fine…
@Tish- Good Idea! Cant wait to see it!
@RaybeeQueen- I know what you mean! Its a really good feeling to know you can save money and still have a product that is gonna get the job done!
@Crystal- Fingers crossed! Cant wait to know what you think!
@ Mary- Thank you soooooo much for catching that! I was in a zone and just typed what was in my mind vs on the package lol!!! I updated the post!
Thanks so much!!
cool! I have just received my order from elf. I don't know about the eyeshadows, they don't really seem to be good for me (I'm very picky with eyeshadows), but the tools are great. The blending brush is so fluffyyyyy and so is the studio contour brush!!! I have also gotten the studio eye primer and sealer and gave it a first try and it looked very cool. we don't have primers here in Italy. I'm also trying out the brow kit…everything seems very good for the price I paid! good stuff, elf!
Thank you for this review. You have amazing eyes.
Great post! Of course money doesn't mean better quality. I think everyone has different expectations when it comes to our cosmetics. What works for one person, may not work for the other.
Like MAC for example. All their eyeshadows ARE NOT always heavily pigmented. I have a LE one that my sister gave me and it SUCKS! lol
Sara check out my giveaway!
You may be interested in trying this product.
@Lyd- I know what you mean! there are def alot more brands with alot more vibrancy. So it seems to be a good and bad with the brand which is to be expected.
@Kessa- Thank you so much!!
@Rai- I know what you mean. Some of MAC shadows are less pigmented. But that maybe due to the texture too. I remember when I first started with MAC I was using some mac matte shadows on my lid and I got really frustated with them. I learned certain textures in certain places! ok on my way to your blog!
Hi Sara!
thanks for the post!!
may i know for this ELFmineral primer?
how long does it last before the colour of yr eye shadows fade or crease? cause i have slightly oily eyelids so im thinking of buying a primer before applying the eye shadow.
thanks:)
@Xannon- Hi there! I dont have oily lids so I cant say for sure exactly how it will compare. I wore it the whole day and did not have any problems with creasing… Some people have mentioned they did have creasing problems with it.. I am very curious to know how it works for you!~
thanks for the reply.:)
i will decide on the mineral eye primer and ELF Eye Primer & Liner Sealer..2 of this is almost the same with the same funtion right?
@Xannon- I have only tried this one product from ELF so I am not really sure. I think I think they would be the same… But the mineral one is the one I used and had success with. The Liner Sealer sounds more like a product to use mineral poweders as shadows. Hope I helped!
I bought this ELF product yesterday, before i read this. I wasn't sure if it was good but if you say its the same, nice:)