Photo Credit: www.thebostonbazaar.com
I used to spend $65 on my mascara. Yes, you read that right. Sixty-Five Dollars. You’re probably wondering what was in this product, was it made of gold? Did it spill ruby powder on my lashes? Did the world fall at my feet with every blink? Yes. Yes. And Yes. It was all that and more. But, then, like many other love affairs, this one came to an abrupt end. I finally realized that I was spending more on a mascara than my monthly cell phone bill. So, I set out on the search for the ultimate mascara. It was then that I realized that it’s not the mascara that really matters (unless you pay 65 bucks of course – then it BETTER matter), but it’s actually what goes on underneath. Just like foundations and eye shadows look better with a primer and lipsticks last longer with a liner base, eyelashes look 5x better with a protective coating underneath the mascara.
Now, I know that most of you out there have mascaras that you absolutely love and are faithful to, and over the course of time I hope to discuss all of them with you, YSL Faux Cils, Lancôme’s Ôscillation (with the vibrating wand), etc etc. But, with the eyelash primer, you can use any drugstore brand mascara and end up with similar or even better results.
Why eyelash primers are so necessary:
Photo Credit: www.clinique.com
1) Primers keep your eyelashes healthy – they protect and nourish with the moisturizers and vitamins they contain. This is very important if you’re a regular user of mascara which can dry out your lashes. The mascara adheres to the primer rather than your actual lashes.
2) Primers build volume and length. You will need to curl your eyelashes less, and you will need less coats of mascara thanks to the base you apply before.
3) Applying a primer causes your mascara to clump less and also helps prevent the dreaded raccoon look; you know the one I’m talking about – when your mascara ends up under your eyes. Be warned – it HELPS but it is not foolproof, especially in those with oily skin. If you are naturally oily, use waterproof mascara for best results.
4) Your mascara will come off easier at night, which means less tugging at the eye area, i.e. preventing really bad future wrinkles.
Just like any other product, you have to find the primer that works for you. I used Smashbox’s primer and was less than impressed. It wasn’t thick enough and smelled like glue. I’ve had great results with Clinique’s Lash Building Primer and at $13 it’s affordable. In total (with my mascara) I spend less than $20 to make my lashes look more amazing than with DiorShow or MAC mascaras (which I think are just awful overall).
I personally love my primer so much I just use drugstore mascara on top and I get the same results as my $65 mascara. For those of you that want to stick to the brands you love most, try them out with the base, trust me, your lashes will pop like never before. The best way to apply primer is to brush on a thick coat, you should play with the thickness to make your lashes look as full as you personally like them to, you may prefer a more natural look than others. Some brands tell you to wait until it dries before applying the mascara, but with the Clinique I have had the best results applying the mascara right after the primer while it’s still wet.
Yes, I do miss my darling $65 mascara, but, in all honesty, it’s mostly because the packaging was so pretty. Other than that, my lashes look just as spectacular.
Photo Credit: www.dailymail.co.uk
**UPDATE** In a recent comment, user “jtm” brought up an important point which I wanted to share with all of you. “i knew but didnt believe this until the mac guy showed me…if you line the inside of your upper lid, what is it called, the upper waterline?, it really makes your lash line appear thicker, darker, fuller. a little uncomfortable to do, but hey, worth the illusion.”
This is VERY true and a step I never leave out of my makeup routine. Here’s what to do: if you use a pencil just slightly lift your lid and line the upper rim like you would your bottom waterline (if anyone is wondering, the waterline is the inner rim of the eye where liner never seems to stay!). Be careful not to line inside the actual lid, the waterline is the thick line of skin right under the upper lashes (or above the lower). Do the same if you use gel or shadow liners, i wouldn’t recommend liquid liner for this. Wait a few moments to dry and then let your lid go. Also, as mentioned in the Smudge Brush post, wiggle your liner between your eyelashes it’ll help with the fuller lash look and will look more polished as it will fill the blank spaces in between.
youre a genious!…pure genious!…so if this is the first thing i read at work..i must be hooked…ok…its thursday…which means i can go and spend the enitre day tomorrow buying all the stuff youve recommended…aaahh…im hooked!
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i think allure did a special on ‘fave discontinued products’ a while ago. i would have put christian dior’s mascara parfait on that list. i used this mascara throughout my undergrad days- it was quite pricey- esp if for a student. it had cashmere in it. it was the best mascara i have ever used- one day i found a drugstore brand- around 9 years ago- by l’oreal- it was a curling mascara (which is what i look for in a mascara). again, discontinued! what luck. finally, these are the mascaras i use and are my faves- for nightime use- ysl faux cils (it’s quite heavy) and day time ysl infini curl. another discontinued favourite- lancome amplicils. why do they keep discontinuing my mascaras!! a way to make your eyes look ‘fluttery’- apply the mascara at a 45 degree angel, ie take it away from your eyes to the side, so the eyelashes extend to the left and right. so apply not up and down but sweep towards the sides of your face. lashes looks extended. and put castor oil on your lashes at night to condition. always.
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I have spent more on Mascara than I have on clothes. I never ever thought of buying primer. Thanks for this! you may have changed my life.
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Yes I agree! A Primer is a must with mascara….my favorite is the Lancome Cils Booster XL. Just one coat and your lashes look twice their size! Works great with any mascara =)
I agree with Hooked….after I check my email at work this is the first website I go to! Keep up the good work =)
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Awesome post, as always! Haha my “shopping list” of cosmetics is getting longer with each new post…
Can you please let us know which drugstore mascara you recommend. And what do you think of Clinique’s high impact mascara and the new high impact curling one…have you tried either of these? I’ve been considering buying these but after reading your post, I think I’ll just spend that $14 on primer and stick with drugstore mascara.
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Mars!!
Fantastic advice. So for my friend’s wedding in Brazil they decided to put FAKE EYELASHES on me, (I was geeking out), and although it looked natural, I wish they had just done the primer/mascara combo. Far more “naturel” (as the gay Brazilian makeup artist kept saying to calm me down)!
You are taking a study break this weekend to take me makeup shopping! I command it!
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Lancome has a really great primer too, but I am going to try the Clinique one. And you are right, primer + drug store mascara is better than the expensive mascaras on their own. Thanks again!
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Awesome advice! I’m def going to try this out! You’re doing a fantastic job with the blog! I love it! I’m a make-up enthusiast/ artist/graphic designer/henna artist and this blog is such a joy to read. Bravo love, I wish I’d thought of it!
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Thank you and welcome! I would love any input you have for improvement, or any makeup tips in general!
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Thanks ladies! I use Rimmel’s Volume Flash mascara with my primer, I love how insanely coal-y their black color is. If you live in the US, they sometimes have a 2 for 1 special at CVS! At first application the mascara seems slightly betty boop-ish, but after a few minutes it relaxes and looks amazing. Some people are also fans of Maybelline’s classic Great Lash, but it didn’t work for me.
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i knew but didnt believe this until the mac guy showed me…if you line the inside of your upper lid, what is it called, the upper waterline?, it really makes your lash line appear thicker, darker, fuller. a little uncomfortable to do, but hey, worth the illusion.
(i am arrived!)
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thanks for the tip jtm.
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how the F do you do that JTM!!!
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come to toronto ‘hooked’, and jtm and i shall show you. like show.
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YES YES YES! I never apply mascara without lining my upper waterline. It really does work!
@hooked – if you use a pencil just slightly lift your lid and line the rim like you would your bottom waterline (if anyone is wondering, the waterline is the inner rim of the eye where liner never seems to stay!). Do the same if you use gel or shadow liners, i wouldn’t recommend liquid liner for this. Wait a few moments and then let it go.
Also, wiggling the liner between both the upper and lower lashes (as in Smudge Brush post) is very important – it’ll help with the fuller lash look and will look more polished without the blank spaces in between.
thanks jtm! completely forgot to share that tip, i’ll repost your comment on the page so everyone can see.
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Love the tip about the primer. will buy one before heading to Pakistan for my friend’s wedding!
But now I want to know..what brand was the 65$ mascara?
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Petulia, it was Sisley Phyto-Mascara Ultra-Volume mascara. It is amazinggggggg, makes your lashes look fake!!! Also, if you’re off to Pakistan in the warm months, I highly recommend waterproof mascara, the humidity there will melt all makeup right off your skin!
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the combo of YSL faux cils and Clinique’s Primer is leathal
and not only does the primer add length and volume it has made my lashes healthy !!!! thank you so much for reminding abt it…i had bought it a month back and had completly forgotten abt it….
Shayma loved your tip abt the 45 degrees, will try it 2moro and give you an update.
tried it today on you recommondation and was bombared vth compliments
Btw my lists of makeup must buys is getting longer and longer….. do we get any discount if we read your blog
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yes, i think we need some sort of discount! sadaf do remember to put castor oil on your lashes at night. i used to wear mascara every day to work but started alternating- one day eyeliner, one day mascara, otherwise our eyelashes will fall off very soon!!
to remove- hope everyone is using a cleansing oil- everyone makes one now- but the original is shu uemura’s. rub oil all over eyelashes and wash off. gentlest way of removing eye (and other) make up.
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oh! i feel like a star.
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nice alias, jtmsos, also hooked.
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This blog’s great!! Thanks
.
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Primer??? So that’s how you get your lashes to look that great! I love the Chanel mascara that SOS gave me but I think that with primer it would look even better. Send me one asap!
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I find that if you were contact lenses and you try and put liner on your upper water line it ends up leaving a trace on the contacts. Is there a way to avoid this? It ruins my contacts!
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Mars
I love the post about primers because i feel they are really important for nourishing. My eyelashes feel manky after a night out so I do npt wear mascara that often and they irritate my lenses. This may help.
I know you have a post on mascara’s coming up but another suggestion is everybody needs an eyelash curler. One good curler will last you for life. They look quite evil but once you get the hang of them there is no going back. I know so many girls/makeup artists who swear by them. They IMMEDIATELY lengthen your lashes and your mascara can build on that. Great for a false eyelash effect. I think shu uemura does an amazing one but otherwise metal ones are better than plastic.
Another tip is to use your gel/liquid eyeliner on the corner of your lashers using the 209 brush mentioned post to flick out. This brush is naturally angled for this. Liquid liner works well but not too dramatically. This makes your corner eyelashes a little more full and dont do this with kajal because it smudges.
I cant wait for your mascara post.. a lot of desi girls just dont understand the difference between mascaras (ie thickening or lengthening) they just go on brands their friends tell them, we’ve all done it. Again, one type of mascara does not suit all..
Either way, the primer is a good starting point/great for students who cant afford 50 pound mascaras which dry out in 3 months and to maximise the effects of any mascara (and help it stay put so you dont get those annoying little flakes under your eyes by the end of the day/night-my pet peeve.)
Again, great and informative post.
Its so lovely to hear everyones input as well.. i def need to get a good cleansing oil because the old ponds cold cream and cotton buds trick still leaves a bit on that migrates under the eye appearing to give bags.
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SJP, I am dying for a Shu Uemura curler. They are supposed to be amazing because the are specially curved to not give you that dreaded flat shelf effect like other curlers do. In fact, I had it in my hand last night at the store but put it away because I thought I was being greedy hahaha.
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i will go and buy mascara primer tommorow!!
thankyou
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[...] things you can do. My primary recommendation would be to try out the eyelash primer I swear by (CLICK HERE), but there is another secret practiced many celebrity makeup artists that uses a product you most [...]
I am a mascara FREAK…i must buy every new cool one that comes out…unfortunately I can’t splurge on the expensive one (i.e. DiorShow) so I try to make do with my drugstore variety…so these tips come in handy!
I love the tip about the inner waterline…and the tip about putting powder as a primer/thickener…thanks for adding to my lush-lash arsenal of tricks!
By the way, the shu uemura eyelash curler is AWESOME..i HAD to buy it…
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Lipstick Masala Reply:
December 21st, 2009 at 3:38 am
Hi there MJ!
I’m glad to help! As much as I love buying department store products, I feel expensive mascaras dry out too fast for me to justify spending $$$ on them. The Shu Uemura lash curler is brilliant – I should do a post on it soon!
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p.s. still can’t get my lashes to looks like Aishwarya’s though! lol
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Lipstick Masala Reply:
December 21st, 2009 at 3:39 am
No worries – as beautiful as Ash is – even her lashes are with the help of falsies and photoshop
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