We're always looking for ways to shorten our morning routine. Meaning, if a step isn't absolutely necessary, we're likely to ditch it. One step we were never certain about was eyelash primer. Applied before mascara, it's meant to act as a buffer between the product and your lashes, all while making them look longer and fuller. But does it actually do anything?
According to beauty influencer, makeup artist and YouTuber Evette Santos, the answer is a resounding yes.
We recently saw Santos using eyelash primer on her Instagram and had to know her take. She told us, "I believe in mascara primer as if it was my own religion. It helps me get the longest, thickest and most voluminous lashes ever," adding that she "can't live without it."
Santos' personal favorite is LANCÔME Cils Booster XL Super-Enhancing Mascara Base ($27), a conditioning formula infused with micro-fibers and vitamin E to add extra length and thickness to lashes while also nourishing them.
She applies a coat of primer before going in with regular mascara and—if the look calls for it—falsies for even more volume.
Moral of the story, if primer gets us lashes like hers, it might be worth the extra 20 seconds.
Shop eyelash primers: Tarte ($22); IT Cosmetics ($25); LANCÔME ($27); Marc Jacobs Beauty ($27)
More Long-lash Tips
1. Apply Mascara from the Top
Skip multiple coats, which can get messy. Instead, run the wand over just the top side of your tips first. Then sweep on a second coat from base to tip as usual.
2. Heat Your Lash Curler
Zap it with your hair dryer for 15 seconds, and then curl your lashes as you normally would. The heat will bump up the volume—and deliver staying power, too.
3. Use Your Wand Wisely
When you want to open your eyes up for a more youthful look, brush your lashes toward the inner corners of your eyes. If sultry is what you’re going for, work the brush outward. Same brush, two very different results.
Shop mascaras: Covergirl ($10); Benefit Cosmetics ($25); Wander Beauty ($26)
