Fluttery, flirtatious lashes are on many of our wish lists, but even the best mascara has its limitations. While some may lengthen and others thicken and curl (or combine all three benefits), the trick to applying a great mascara is never to add too much. So, what do you do when you want to accentuate the result?
Of course, many people opt for fake eyelashes or eyelash extensions, but for those who are still mad about mascara, there is another option. Let me introduce you to mascara primers: the secret step to achieving longer, stronger lashes without any concern of clumping.
What is a mascara primer?
Just as foundation and eyeshadow sit better on the skin when prepped with a primer, mascara works much the same. But, although mascara primers look very similar to the lash products we all know and love, their function isn’t purely aesthetic.
Including key ingredients such as beeswax, collagen and coconut oil, mascara primers work as a treatment as well as a makeup product, smoothing and strengthening lashes from root to tip. Not only does this improve the health of the lashes, but also separates hairs, lengthens and lifts, leaving you with a better base to layer onto.
How to apply a mascara primer
Mascara primers can be applied just as you would a regular mascara. Work from root to tip and brush through the lashes until you can feel each and every one coated.
The amount needed will depend on which product you’re using, but just one coat should have you covered. And yes, you should apply right before the main event (your actual mascara).
What are the best mascara primers?
There aren’t as many mascara primers on the market as there are classic mascaras, but they also aren’t hard to come by. These are my personal faves that add another level to a full lash look:
Beauty Pie Über Volume Fibre Lash-Building Primer, £20
As with all Beauty Pie products, this mascara primer is prize-worthy. With instavolume fibres, yogurtene and waxes such as beeswax and rice bran, it lengthens, thickens and nourishes each lash to create a more defined curl.
It comes out white, so be sure to apply just a small amount so it can properly soak in. The wand is however rather wide, so coats every lash in an instant.
Rimmel London Ultimate Boost Volume Mascara Primer, £7.99
For a more purse-friendly mascara primer, this Rimmel London option is one of my favourites. The wand is incredibly thick, designed to add volume, thickness and length to lashes while conditioning with a mix of argan, jojoba and coconut oils.
Coming in at under £10, who could ask for more?
Morphe The Big Prime Lash Primer, £12
This mascara primer is bright blue, but don’t let that put you off. Offering all the same benefits as the other five options, with rice bran wax, stearic acid and vegetable oil nourishing lashes, this product promises better colour payoff, and it doesn’t disappoint.
The bold blue shade works as either a blue mascara when used alone, or intensifies the black of a classic mascara, to really define the eye area.
Pacifica Vegan Collagen Lash Serum Primer, £18
The majority of lash primers include beeswax or animal collagen, so this vegan option is sure to be a blessing for many. Made with plant waxes packed with vitamins B and E, it nourishes each lash, while vegan collagen helps to promote hair growth and keeps them in good condition.
No7 Lash Impact Primer, £13.95
A black mascara primer may seem like common sense, but they aren’t as common as you may have first thought. This No7 find really stands out from the crowd thanks to its dark colour, which can be worn alone or under mascara.
Being black and water resistant, you can also layer it on top of your mascara-coated lashes to add a waterproof element to any eye look, too. So, this pick really did tick a lot of boxes.
Clinique Lash Building Primer, £19
This Clinique Lash Building Primer promises to double lash volume, and I have to say I can only agree after giving it a go.
A thickening polymer blend works to ramp up the intensity of the natural lash while moisturising ingredients hydrate each hair from within. It’s incredibly easy to use and pairs perfectly with the brand’s mascara for longer, stronger lashes that last day to night.
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