Everyone from makeup beginners to makeup experts has heard of (and likely uses) mascara. But mascara primer? It’s one of those superhero beauty products that largely flies under the radar, swooping in to save your mascara application without fanfare or fuss. Loved for its ability to combat clumping and flaking while also nourishing and lengthening your lashes, mascara primer (aka eyelash primer) is an absolute must in your makeup routine if you don’t already use it.
To apply mascara primer, brush the formula over your clean, dry lashes before mascara. Apply a layer (or two, depending on your desired results), wait for it to dry, then apply your favorite mascara right on top. Different primers will have different benefits for your mascara application, but most eyelash primers are designed to boost the efficacy of your mascara, from adding length to maximizing volume to increasing wear time and more. So which mascara primers are the absolute best on the market? We did the research so you can be on your way to the lashes of your dreams—no falsies required. Let’s dive in.
1. Best Mascara Primer for Straight Lashes:
TOO FACED Better Than Sex Foreplay Mascara Primer in Black
When it comes to curling your lashes (and making them stay that way), straight-lashed girlies know that the struggle. Is. Real. But there’s no need to go it alone, because TOO FACED has the solution to your lash woes: their Better Than Sex Foreplay Mascara Primer. This nourishing, ophthalmologist-tested formula helps improve mascara wear for over 24 hours and is infused with nylon fibers for length and volume, so you can condition your lashes while also achieving that false-lash effect. We love that the formula features a blend of argan and grapeseed oils and is even safe for sensitive eyes.
2. Best Tinted Mascara Primer:
BENEFIT COSMETICS They’re Real! Tinted Lash Primer
This tinted primer has a brown tint that makes your lashes look so good, some people opt out of wearing mascara altogether, choosing instead to rock this product alone for a natural eye makeup look. Ipster Ninja_jess said, “I absolutely LOVE this product. Didn't think I'd need eyelash primer every day, but it helps to hold my mascara longer. I also use it to run quick errands because it is tinted and gives my lashes some needed boost.”
The water-resistant gel formula conditions lashes with provitamin B5 and gives them a natural, feathery look (no clumping here!) when worn alone. But apply your mascara on top, and you’ll get dramatically boosted length and lash separation. Ipster RuMama found her favorite way to use this tinted primer, saying, “Loved this product! Separated my thin and short eyelashes. I liked it especially for my bottom lashes.”
3. Best Drugstore Mascara Primer:
L’ORÉAL PARIS Voluminous® Lash Primer
It’s 2 a.m., you’re scouring the internet for the best budget-option mascara primer, and you’re 10 pages deep into your Amazon search results. Wait—it doesn’t have to be like this! Because one of the best lash primers can actually be found at the drugstore…and it rings up at just $9.99. Enter: this classic pick from L’ORÉAL PARIS. It builds volume and length on each lash for a boosted effect, making mascara application a breeze. Tip: Since the formula is super lightweight, you can add an extra layer without feeling weighed down. We like applying two coats for max impact.
4. Best Luxury Mascara Primer:
DIOR Diorshow Maximizer 3D Triple Volume Plumping Lash Primer
This triple-action formula (it volumes, curls, and lengthens lashes) doesn’t just make us want to apply mascara—it makes us want to create a full-on smoky eye with eyeshadow and eyeliner to complement our newly enhanced lashes. Gentle on sensitive eyes, this balmy texture coats each lash with a dense and airy film that enhances the radiance, intensity, and color of whatever mascara you apply on top. It’s also formulated with cotton nectar to soften and protect your lashes. Those who love mascara swear by it, and appreciate that it not only resists clumping but also seems to help mascara stay smudge-free.
5. Best White Mascara Primer:
TARTE Opening Act™ Lash Primer
We love reaching for a white mascara primer when we want to see exactly where we’ve already applied product (plus any spots we might have missed!). This cruelty-free lash primer is packed with a whole host of feel-good ingredients: carnauba wax (to ensure a smooth application), olive esters (to help condition and protect), and vitamin C (to help fight free radicals). It’s like a lash treatment and primer in one—and we’re big fans of skincare-makeup hybrids here at IPSY. If you like tubing mascaras, this may be the primer to start with. Fans of the formula remark that it plays well with all their favorite mascaras, tubing ones included.
6. Best Whipped Mascara Primer:
URBAN DECAY Subversion Lash Primer
You read that right: This lash-softening mascara primer features a creamy whipped formula that coats lashes from root to tip, prepping your lashes for the ultimate length and volume. But while our beauty editors love the results this lash primer gives, it’s the conditioning ingredient list they love even more. It features panthenol to nourish your lashes and vitamin E to protect and condition, strengthening your natural lashes for that wide-eyed look.
7. Best Conditioning Mascara Primer:
LANCÔME Cils Booster XL Super-Enhancing Mascara Primer
Like the URBAN DECAY primer above, this cult fave from LANCÔME also features vitamin E to help improve lash length, thickness, and curl over time. It’s one of the best mascara primers on the market, and for good reason—it glides over your lashes to create an even layer of product that makes any mascara you put on over it look even better. Oh, and did we mention that this ultra-conditioning formula also contains vitamin B5? Thanks to all its lash-loving ingredients, this multitasking mascara primer can even double as a lash mask. Simply apply it on your bare lashes before bed to nourish and rejuvenate while you get your beauty rest.
8. Best Pink Mascara Primer:
LUNA MAGIC Va Va Pink Lash Primer
We’ve covered black, white, and tinted lash primers so far, but there’s one more shade we need to mention: pink! This award-winning pink lash primer contains tilia tomentosa bud extract, which protects follicles by forming a protective film; stearic acid, which helps maintain moisture levels to prevent flaking; and carnauba wax, which helps the formulation glide over your lashes. Bonus: The extra-slim profile makes this a great option to keep in your purse.
9. Best True-Black Mascara Primer:
BLINC Black Lash Primer
If colored mascara primers aren't your jam, try this true-black option from BLINC. The deep pigments help add to the fullness and thickness of your lash look, and the formulation also offers long-lasting moisturization and conditioning to help protect strands from damage and environmental stressors. Our tip for using this product? Apply as many coats as you want, but make sure to do so before the formula dries in about 60 seconds. When you’re ready to take your makeup off, use any makeup remover to gently wipe the eye area.
10. Best Clean Mascara Primer:
HONEST BEAUTY Extreme Length Mascara + Lash Primer
No clumping. No flaking. No joke—our list of favorite mascara primers wouldn’t be complete without a mention of this clean beauty formula from HONEST BEAUTY (which the brand claims is the #1 clean mascara on Amazon!). Formulated with jojoba esters, which are known to moisturize and condition, both sides of this two-in-one mascara and primer are designed to work together to lengthen the look of your lashes.
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