I tried four drugstore lash primers to find out if they're a scam.
I’m Ann Curry and this is a Dateline Special Investigation into one of the most side-eyed makeup products in the entire beauty industry—locally, nationally, globally, and intergalactically. Even the Martians are like, “Sus” on this one.
Lash primers.
Why are they even? “If I need a lash primer to make my mascara work then it’s not a good mascara," is what I thought about lash primers. Scam.
But… I use a face primer to make my foundation more flawless. I use eye shadow base to keep my pigment from creasing. I use a lash curler when I want to torture myself...
Makeup is about being extra. And if I’ll try every mascara under the sun for only a half a millimeter of difference, why not try lash primers? So away we go. Warm up your side-eye.
The lash primers under investigation
And the wands.
The claims they need to live up to
All of these primers advertise "thickening" and "volumizing" effects in bold type on the front of the packaging. Some mention lengthening on the back in smaller text. I'll do a spoiler and say that, in this review, there were no dramatic lengthening effects from any of the primers. So we're looking mainly for a difference in volume and definition.
Methodology (for the review nerds)
The goal here is to see if "lash primer + mascara" is better than "mascara alone," so each review includes a photo of my naked lashes, my lashes with only mascara, and my lashes with primer + mascara.
A control mascara, Maybelline Sky High in Very Black, was used for consistency. All tests were done on my right side, which is my good side for lashes and brows. The lighting is my bathroom vanity because I did this over five or six days when the weather/sunlight was shitty. The angle is “eyes up” so you can see the full effect. As per the brands' instructions, I fully coated my lashes (top lashes only) with the primer and allowed it to dry for 15 to 20 seconds before going in with mascara.
Up front, I will say none of these primers made my mascara flake or do anything weird or different than normal. Removal of mascara + primer was the same as mascara alone.
These are listed in no particular order—except that I saved my favorite for last.
1. Essence Volume Booster Lash Primer
NO DIFFERENCE. Scam. Also this one was very sticky and a little of the primer got stuck on my eyelid and every time I blinked it felt like I was unsealing an envelope. This was the first primer I tried and it did not set a bright fucking tone.
2. Covergirl Lash Blast Amplify Primer
I'm reaching here, I know, but this lash primer did provide more definition. The mascara pigment stuck to my lashes better and coated the Covergirl-primed lash slightly better than the unprimed lash.
3. L'Oreal Voluminous Primer
Again, I see a feather light difference in volume and definition, most notably on the tips of my lashes, which appear better coated with the primed lashes.
4. MY FAVORITE: L'Oreal Lash Paradise Primer
This was my favorite of all the primers. I'm not surprised because L'Oreal Lash Paradise is one of my favorite mascaras period. You can see definition at the root and tip.
I wasn't over- or under-whelmed by it. I was just... whelmed. But I kept using it.
That's the thing about makeup for me. Even if something only makes me look a tenth of a percent different, I'm gonna want that tenth of a percent.
I'm gonna get addicted to it.
So L'Oreal Lash Paradise Primer is in my routine now. Here's me wearing it yesterday.
Head-to-head comparison
There are zero filters or editing in any of these pics. The difference is foundation vs. tinted moisturizer and bathroom lighting that changes with my iPhone camera focus/position.
She's a writer armed with an iPhone and zero photography skills and she's doing her best!
Investigation conclusion
You don't need a mascara primer. But if you're a person like me who's always looking for products that make tenth of a percent difference in how good your makeup looks, try it. These are all between $5 to $9.
Essence is a scam—straight to jail—so don't buy that one. The other three deliver somewhat on the thickening and volumizing claims.
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