March 18, 2011

Cover FX Eye Prep FX Primer Review

Since I’m heading into my second tube of Cover FX Eye Prep FX Anti-Age Smoothing Primer now would be a good time as any to give the good word.

This is Cover FX’s solution to priming your eyes for concealer while providing anti-aging benefits along the way! Yay for multitasking products. Considering their are so few products that actually prime UNDER your eyes this could prove something to check out particularly if you have issues with concealer creasing.

Check it!


An eye-smoothing primer with supposed anti-aging benefits that reduces under eye puffiness, wakes up eyes, firms them, and lightens darkness while doubling up as a primer for your concealer.


Ok, Cover FX dubs this as a primer for above and below your eyes personally I’d stick to using it under your eyes and not above them but I’ll tell you more about that in a bit.

This comes in a tube with an easy depressor mechanism that distributes just the right amount of product out. No having to deal with annoying pumps that shoot out way too much product!

The formula is a thinner gel-like cream which you can gently pat under your eyes. I like to use this after my eye cream, prior to my concealer so think of it as the middle man. I pat it gently under my eyes and proceed to wait for it to dry down prior to following up with concealer. It’s hydrating but not overly much so it doesn’t leave the area feeling too moist but delivers just enough to create a smooth canvas for your concealer. I think it’s particularly a helpful aid when your day eye cream just needs that extra boost of moisture.

What does it do versus what it actually says it does?

I do feel it promises a bit too much. Lightens dark circles, keeps shadow in place, reduces puffiness, strengthens the eye area, etc….it has alot of multitasking abilities but in my experience it only actually masters some of them. Sadly, dark circles are still there, it reduces puffiness very little, and does not hold shadows in place (the formula is a cream, how it would act to hold shadow on your lids is beyond me).

What it actually does do is ease fine lines every so slightly or at the very least it diffuses them or at least in my experience it did. I took note that my eyes appeared a little fresher, a little more awake, and a little less puffy after use. In other words, my eyes did look considerably better when using this paired up with my regular eye cream.

As far as concealer wear goes…

It actually helps drier concealers go on brilliantly well and just concealer in general seems to smooth on easier, blend out simply, and proves easier to work with thanks to the extra hydration the product provides. I notice my concealer seems to keep from creasing as well thanks to this.


I think it’s a tad silly to dub this as a solution for holding shadows in place as no cream could tackle such a feat. Prepping lids with a hydrating cream and topping with shadow if you’re under 60 should prove to be a messy experience for most. Perhaps if you really have drier eyes due to mature skin, sagging, etc…this might prove a God sent but for most you probably won’t think this is a great solution for actually prepping your lids with.

It does promise alot of things however I think it only succeeds at a few of them.

The price tag of $43 hurts my feelings. Ouch! Perhaps a shave down to $32 would be a bit more reasonable as $43 for a 0.67 oz tube definitely reaches the full size eye cream zone.

  • Anyone needing a perfect prep that will aid in concealer application.
  • Anyone in need of a little extra boost of hydration that will give eyes a fresher more awake appearance.
  • Anyone needing the aid of a product to keep concealer from creasing or fading.
  • Those with finer lines that need a product to treat and diffuse them

  • Those with serious baggage that needs deflating (puffiness eases slightly but not dramatically).
  • Anyone wanting to rid themselves of dark circles.
  • Those wanting a primer to keep shadow in place.


I like Cover FX Eye Prep FX Primer alot however it does have a few downfalls that were worth mentioning in this review. It’s not a product for everyone due to its heavier price tag but it’s a very useful aid for creating a good working canvas for concealer and for brightening tired eyes up a bit. It does a superior job of keeping my concealer crease free from morning to evening without a hiccup in between and extends the wear by giving the area a good hydrating base to adhere to so my eyes are moister, longer. However, certain promises such as all day shadow wear, lightening dark circles, and treating puffiness are larger battles that it didn’t excel out for me. The price tag prevents me from Muse Approving it but I will say it is worth a trying out if you experience major problems with your concealer creasing.

Disclaimer: I was given a sample to try out and recently purchased a second tube with my own money.

Available at www.Sephora.com

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Larie

    Do you use this in the morning after eye cream? Or omit the eye cream? I use a Bliss eye cream in the am and pm, but the under eye concealer I use (coincidentally – it’s the CoverFX one!) is still a bit dry/crease-prone.

    • the Muse

      eye cream first larie, let it set, follow with this 🙂 and follow up with concealer!

      • Larie

        Thank you! The price is making me cringe a bit, but I’m sitting on a Sephora order right now (need more moisturizer, but can’t bring myself to do more damage atm) so I’ll have to look into it.

  • Karolyn

    Your timing is funny Muse. I ordered this earlier in the week and it arrived last night, so I haven’t had a chance to try it yet. I bought it for the sole purpose of preventing my concealer from creasing and I’m thrilled to hear it delivers on that promise! I hear you on the price, but it is the only under eye primer I could find. So, if you need it you pay for it, right?

    • the Muse

      Karolyn I agree totally girl but not everyone has that mentality, they kinda gasp and think OMGZ but there aren’t alot of primers out there to deal with the issue and this does just what it says it will. It’s particularly great if you have super dry eyes as it really keeps the area moist so you won’t experience the creasing/fading prob! let me know how it turns out in the next few weeks? Curious what you think!

  • Sandy

    Is there any other under eye primer that you recommend? I am allergic to one of the ingredients in this product.

  • winni

    Speaking of eyes and dark circles and such, I have something I wanted to share with you; last week I applied my under eye concealer (eve pearl atm), and i was looking for my sonia kashuk powder that I purchased on your recommendation (and I like it!), couldn’t find it, so I grabbed my Hard Candy Moon Glow and used it as a setting powder under my eyes……and the heavens opened and angels began singing! The first thing I thought was “WOW!” and the second was “I have to tell Muse!”

    IT is the best under eye brightener I’ve ever used, it has reached HG status and I’ve been using it for a week. Have you tried it in this capacity?

    • the Muse

      winni brilliant! have not tried it like that but will be doing so now ;-D thanks girl! gonna try it tonight!

  • Renata

    Yes, your timing is funny, Muse! I’ve been looking for something *exactly* like this. I was considering Benefit’s Stay don’t Stray or the Mally primer for eyes but this sounds so much better! And I agree with you both: expensive, but affordable if it is worth it. I’d rather buy one of these and go with two lipsticks instead of 12. 🙂

    Thank you!

    • the Muse

      the mally is really great if you’re dry renata. my pleasure ;-D Hope it works for you as great as it did for me. Erase Paste isn’t quite my BFF sadly ;-D

  • Renata

    Oh, and I like Erase Paste better than the BB corrector (I don’t know about the concealer, but erase paste n.2 is the same color and coverage as BB bisque, but erase paste gives me a better finish. Maybe it’s about skin type or age, I’m 41…)

    😉

  • kharanya

    So, can’t you just use your primer under your eyes? I apply a vitamin C serum all over my face, then when it sinks in, my SPF30 sunscreen which is really moisturizing instead of a moisturizer (Alba Botanica Hawaiian Green).

    Then I prime my eyes, do my eye makeup, clean up job and then use my face primer all over my face including under my eyes before applying any face makeup. Works like a charm and I don’t need to have a separate under-eye primer.

    • the Muse

      sure kharanya, regular primer is fine, I normally like this b/c I feel like it eases the puff slightly and wakes my eyes up.

      • kharanya

        100% Pure Coffee Bean Eye Cream really worked wonders for that btw. I loved the texture and performance of it, just hated the smell. I don’t really care to walk around smelling like a latte.

        • the Muse

          hey kharanya been wanting to try it for a while! How’s it work on puffiness?

          • kharanya

            Totally awesome, I gotta say that caffeine stuff really works. I’d buy it again, but I have some other eyecreams to finish up first (Derma-E hyaluronic acid and deluxe sizes from Jurlique & Mario Badescu). I do love the dermaE cream, b/c its so moisturizing and absorbs really fast, but the 100% one really did help for puffiness and brightened my undereye circles somewhat.(I’m east indian/white with fair olive tone skin and have genetic undereye darkness)

          • the Muse

            kharanya I read a few reviews that dissed it ;-D I’m so happy it worked for you as now I wanna try it again ;D!

  • Josie

    I got a free sample sized tube from Murale (a Canadian store like mini Sephora) and since you only have to use a little, i don’t think i will make a dent in the tube in a year! Its really pricey here in Canada (i think around $30-40) but i really like it. It does take bit longer to dry but works really well as a primer. The price is the only thing that would stop me from re-purchasing as my $3 ELF mineral primer gets the job done as well for me.

  • kharanya

    I guess I don’t expect miracles from anything, so when a product works, I’m evaluating realistic results rather than what it claims.

    • the Muse

      i try not to expect miracles but it’s damn hard sometimes kharanya ;-D they really SELL you on products sometimes!

      • kharanya

        *laughs* I guess I’m too cynical, but I always expect that the sales pitch is a bunch of crap and rely on the opinions of people who’ve bought & used (like you :P) or check out the ingredients and take a risk.

        • the Muse

          ha kharanya can’t blame you (thanks flattered) as I’ve splurged on so much crap b/c of a great sales pitch ;D!

  • Alaiah

    My eye area looks smoother since i started using Made From Earth’s Vitamin C Moisturizer and that makes me happy.! I t is also very soothing, has almost no odor and goes on so effortlessly, it’s a real pleasure to use.
    I apply the Made from Earth Moisturizer every day and night but because it is also refreshing, I’ve slipped it on in the middle of the day just to feel a little luxury. Very, very nice product.

    I can’t think of one negative thing about this eye cream.