I can't believe I've gone my entire writing career without talking about lash primers. (I know, shame on me as a beauty editor.) Usually, you'll find that folks fall into the "yea" or "nay" camp when it comes to lash primers, but I'll make it very clear where I stand. I'm full in the "yea" camp and will use this opportunity to talk about why I love them so much. The best part is you don't even need to spend a fortune on a good one, either. There are so many great drugstore formulas out there that cost as little as $5.
Not bad for a little product that can condition your lashes, strengthen them, add volume, and enhance your mascara shade. If you've been considering adding one to your repertoire, look no further. I've rounded up the best formulas you can find at both places like Sephora and your local drugstore. Keep scrolling.
Our Top Picks:
Best Overall: Essence Volume Booster Lash Primer ($5)
Tarte Opening Act Lash Primer ($25)
Milk Makeup Kush Lash Primer ($28)
Morphe The Big Prime ($12)
Milani The Violet One Lash Primer ($7)
Urban Decay Subversion Lash Primer ($26)
Lancôme Clis Blooster XL Super-Enhancing Mascara Base ($30)
Grande Cosmetics GrandePrimer Pre-Mascara Lengthener & Thickener ($25)
Dior Diorshow Maximizer 4D Lash Primer-Serum ($33)
L'Oréal Voluminous Lash Primer ($11)
Covergirl Lash Blast Amplify Eyelash Primer ($13)
Do you need a lash primer?
Do you absolutely need a lash primer? No, you don't. Celebrity makeup artist Judi Gabbay isn't necessarily a fan. "I personally don't love lash primers," she says. "While some promise to make the lashes thicker, it can actually create a clumpiness and can add weight to your lashes, resulting in spider lashes without any lift. Alternatively, layer your mascara in light coats for the most lifted, natural effect."
I won't lie; some days I find it easier to use hacks like Gabbay's and call it a day, but others, I need to call in the big guns. Personally, I think using a lash primer can boost your mascara formula and help keep it in place if used correctly. If your mascara tends to flake or smudge throughout the day area, lash primer can keep that from happening. It's been a lifesaver for me on many occasions, and I now prefer using one over not. It's all about personal preference. The best thing to do is give one a try for yourself and see if you like it.
Do lash primers work?
I think an argument can be made for both sides here. On one hand, like Gabbay said, lash primers can add a lot of weight if you're not careful and can make your mascara clumpy. On the other hand, though, I have a few lash primers that I absolutely swear by. Using a lash primer has also been one of the only things that prevents my mascara from smearing all over my under-eye area. My under-eyes are already naturally oily, but now that I use an eye cream as well, let's just say it doesn't always mix well with mascara.
I think that primers work as long as you use the right formula for your lashes and don't go overboard on using one. A little trick I also use is to let the primer dry just a tad before applying your mascara. Otherwise, it can get a bit messy and clumpy. If you wait a minute though, there are usually no issues. For the best of the best ones, keep reading below.
Best Lash Primers
Best Overall Lash Primer: Essence Volume Booster Lash Primer
Essence's Lash Princess mascara is still one of my all-time favorite budget formulas. But recently, I've discovered that I've been using it all wrong because I haven't been priming my lashes with the brand's Volume Booster Lash Primer. It does everything a lash primer should including conditioning and boosting volume. I can't wait to try it out with Lash Princess for even better results.
Pros: Affordable, boosts lash volume underneath mascara, buildable formula
Cons: Brush can cause product to be clumpy
Key Specs: 0.24 oz, infused with açaí oil, mango butter, and vitamin E to condition lashes
Customer Review: "This is the best lash primer that I have ever used. Much better than expensive brands. The price is amazing. I will switch to Essence primer from now on."
Tarte Opening Act Lash Primer
Tarte's Opening Act conditioning treatment is a favorite lash primer of mine. It features cellulose, a plant-based agent to thicken; carnauba wax to ensure a smooth application; and olive esters to condition and protect your lashes.
Pros: Conditions and adds length to lashes with olive esters and cellulose
Cons: Can be clumpy if you use too much
Key Specs: 0.24 oz, contains caranuba wax to help ensure a smooth application
Customer Review: "This lash primer is hands down the best. Every once in a while I will be tempted to try a new lash primer, but always come crawling back to this one (sorry Dior). This makes such a difference in how my mascara looks. When I use this, my lashes look so much longer and thicker. Absolutely love this and can’t wait to finish my Dior lash primer so I can buy this again!"
Milk Makeup Kush Lash Primer
Milk Makeup's clean formula is packed with cannabis sativa seed, poppy seed, and sunflower seed oil to nourish, hydrate, and strengthen your lashes naturally.
Pros: Contains thickening, heart-shaped fibers to add volume, cannabis sativa seed oil conditions lashes and provides a smooth application
Cons: Can be clumpy if you use too much
Key Specs: 0.32 oz, poppy seed oil and sunflower seed oil nourish and hydrate lashes
Customer Review: "THIS LASH PRIMER IS AMAZING! I can really see the difference in how my lashes look when I use primer beforehand. I pair this awesome primer with this brand's Kush Mascara. Both together are an absolute dream."
Morphe The Big Prime
This lash primer from Morphe really grew on me. At first, I was a tad apprehensive about using a bright-blue formula, but trust me, you won't regret trying it out. The electric blue hue in this primer is actually meant to amplify your mascara color and make it appear more vibrant. I've received the best results with black—it makes your mascara really pop.
Pros: Affordable, blue tint intensifies your mascara color
Cons: Blue tint is sometimes still visible underneath mascara
Key Specs: 0.34 oz, contains conditioning ingredients like paraffin and rice bran wax
Customer Review: "I hardly ever write reviews but this product might be a new HG! I was a little shocked at the blue color (that's on me—I wasn't paying attention when I bought it), but it dries beautifully and makes my lashes look like I'm wearing falsies with just normal mascara on."
Milani The Violet One Lash Primer
Milani's lash primer is designed to be clump-free and helps amplify volume and length underneath your mascara. It forms a flexible, lash-extending film that lengthens while the violet hue of the primer also works similarly to the Morphe primer. It boosts your mascara's color to make it stand out even more.
Pros: Conditions and primes lashes for mascara, violet tint enhances your mascara color
Cons: Can be clumpy if you use too much
Key Specs: 0.34 oz, jasmine flower wax hydrates, preps, and conditions lashes
Customer Review: "Use this every day under my mascara. Makes the color pop."
Urban Decay Subversion Lash Primer
With ingredients like vitamin E and panthenol, this formula from Urban Decay provides the perfect amount of extra lift and length before you go in with your regular mascara.
Pros: Coats your lashes from root to tip, buildable formula
Cons: Expensive
Key Specs: 0.28 oz, vitamin E and panthenol condition and protect lashes
Customer Review: "I have used this product for years. It’s always a repurchase when there is a sale. When I apply, I make sure there is not an excess on the wand. In my opinion, this primer makes any mascara look good over it."
Lancôme Clis Booster XL Super-Enhancing Mascara Primer
Infused with microfibers, vitamin B5, and vitamin E, this option from Lancôme helps improve lash thickness over time while the white color of the formula also helps create an intense false-lash effect when paired with your mascara.
Pros: White tint intensifies mascara color, helps improve lash thickness and length over time
Cons: Expensive
Key Specs: 0.19 oz, contains microfibers, vitamin B5, and vitamin E
Customer Review: "Best mascara primer. I loved my lashes after using this, definitely going to buy it again. Highly recommend."
Grande Cosmetics GrandePrimer Pre-Mascara Lengthener & Thickener
Grande's lash serum has a lot to offer, but so does its lengthening and thickening lash primer. Pop this on as a first step. It has peptides to strengthen your lashes and a natural wax blend to promote volume.
Pros: Smudge-proof, water-resistant formula, contains strengthening peptides
Cons: Can be clumpy if you use too much
Key Specs: 0.32 oz, peptides strengthen lashes, natural wax blend promotes length
Customer Review: "Love the thickness this adds to my lashes for a more dramatic evening look!"
Dior Diorshow Maximizer 4D Lash Primer-Serum
This formula from Dior boosts volume, enhances curl, and helps improve your lashes over time with daily use. It contains cotton nectar to soften and protect lashes and cornflower floral water to enhance your mascara's color.
Pros: Acts as a lash primer and serum in one to add volume, curl, and length
Cons: Expensive
Key Specs: 0.33 oz, cotton nectar softens and protects lashes, cornflower floral water enhances mascara color
Customer Review: "This stuff sits wonderfully under mascara! I have yet to try it on its own but it adds so much volume and length to my lashes prior to putting any mascara on. The brush makes for a gorgeous clump free application and really separates my lashes."
L'Oréal Voluminous Lash Primer
L'Oréal mascaras are classic (and efficient), but why not amp up your formula by using one of the brand's lash primers, too? The Voluminous Lash Primer instantly thickens every lash, builds dramatic volume, conditions, and amplifies your mascara formula of choice.
Pros: Affordable, highly rated, boosts lashes instantly, conditions lashes over time
Cons: White tint can sometimes still be visible underneath mascara
Key Specs: 0.24 oz, thickens, volumizes, and conditions
Customer Review: "I have virtually non-existent lashes that generally need four coats of ANY mascara to get lashes. With one coat of this and one coat of mascara, I look like I have extensions!!!"
Covergirl Lash Blast Amplify Eyelash Primer
This creamy, lightweight mascara primer gives an instant boost to your lashes. It glides on evenly and really maximizes your results.
Pros: Lightweight formula, boosts lash length from root to tip
Cons: Brush could be better
Key Specs: 0.44 oz, oil blend conditions lashes
Customer Review: "Covergirl Lash Blast Amplify Primer It's such a game-changer when it comes to prepping your lashes for mascara. This primer really helps to amplify the volume and length of your lashes, giving them that extra oomph! It's a must-have in any makeup routine."
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This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
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