Beauty Q&A: What Does Mascara Primer Do?

Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Sky High Tinted Mascara Primer

This tinted primer from Maybelline New York is the dynamic lash-lengthening product your makeup bag is missing. You can wear it alone to add natural-looking length, volume and color to your lashes, or pair it with your favorite mascara for an extra impactful look. Plus, the serum-infused formula nourishes your lashes while you wear it.

Lancôme Cils Booster XL Enhancing Lash Primer

Infused with vitamins E and B5, this formula not only improves lash thickness over time, it also creates a smooth, even base for mascara. It amps up the pigment of every mascara for a false-lash effect. You can even swipe this on before bed to condition your lashes overnight.

L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Boosting Primer

For a drugstore lash primer, we love this lightweight option by L'Oréal Paris. When applied before mascara, the product helps thicken and separate lashes for a voluminous, fanned-out effect. Swipe it on in the morning and night for four weeks and you’ll notice your natural lashes starting to look fuller, too.

Urban Decay Subversion Lash Primer

This lash-softening primer includes panthenol and vitamin E to nourish and protect your lashes. The whipped formula adds extreme volume and helps your mascara last all day.

NYX Professional Makeup On The Rise Lash Booster

This serum-primer hybrid is infused with castor oil to condition your natural lashes and encourage them to grow long and strong. Its soft black tint makes it perfect for no-makeup makeup days when worn alone, but paired with mascara, it creates dramatic pigmentation and volume.

This innovative product combines a peptide-enhanced lash primer, an inky black mascara and a super precise eyeliner all in a single formula. The teensy-tiny wand makes it easy to lengthen every single lash — even the stubborn ones at the inner corners. Wiggle the brush horizontally along your lash line for a tightline effect.

Grande Cosmetics GrandePRIMER Pre-Mascara Lengthener & Thickener

Are you tired of your mascara flaking off by the end of the day? Try this smudge-proof, water-resistant lash primer, which has miniature flake-free fibers and peptides to help condition your lashes and extend your mascara wear time.