Try Estée Lauder Little Black Primer for Lashes Curled Like Roman Arches, Lifted Like My Bangs in the ’80s and Defined Like Merriam-Webster

Holly Golightly. 🙂

I wonder what Holly would have thought about Estée Lauder’s Little Black Primer ($24), because I know what Kendall Jenner probably thinks about it, or maybe, since she’s the official spokesperson, but I dunno…I’ve always been more of a Holly Golightly gal.

And Holly sure did love long lashes and little black dresses.

Not that Holly would have needed a lash primer like this one because her fringe always looked fierce, even when she was rolling out of bed at 2 in the afternoon (probably because she was wearing false lashes).

As for me, I will happily complicate my makeup life when it comes to things like eyeshadow (“Absolutely! A third color in the crease sounds like a brilliant idea!”), but not so much when it comes to mascara.

When it comes to mascara, I usually keep it simple. One tube, a couple coats on my top lashes, and that’s it.

Most of the time.

Sometimes, though, like when I’m feeling fancy, I’ll do a separate swipe of MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash mascara on my lower lashes.

But Estée Lauder’s Little Black Primer is turning me into a Lady Layers-a-Lot. When I use it with my regular go-to mascaras, my lashes look downright dreamy — curled like Roman arches, lifted like my bangs in the ’80s and defined like Merriam-Webster.

More than just a primer, although that’s the main way I use it, as a lash-lengthening, lash-separating, curl-locking base coat for other mascaras (its effects aren’t too dramatic; more casual, but definitely noticeable), it can also be used in a couple of other ways.

Like, as a straight-up mascara by itself, because unlike most lash primers, which are white, the formula is black, so it darkens yo’ fringe.

And you can also use it as a top coat. Yup, right on top of your regular mascara, to which it adds a layer of water-resistance and reduces smudging and flaking.

Honestly, I never expected to be impressed by anything called a mascara primer, but I’m starting to come around to the idea.

Stuff I wear with it just pops, even problematic mascaras that usually make my lashes clump or refuse to hold a curl. I’m serious, it turns a sad, overcooked baked potato into garlic mashed potatoes and gravy.

When used as a primer, Estée Lauder Little Black Primer really sets mascara up for success. It separates the little lash hairs, smooths everything out and locks down the curl. Any extra length it adds, while noticeable, isn’t extreme, but what it does for separation, smoothing and curl hold makes it worth the extra step for me.

It also stops flakes and smudges from ending up under my bottom lashes, keeping my under-eye area so fresh, so clean.

Now, truth be told, you can achieve a similar effect by loading your lashes first with a lengthening/separating/curling waterproof mascara before applying your regular mascara, but Little Black Primer was made for this. It smoothly takes to mascaras that you layer on top of it.

Smoooth…

It works hard for you, like your own personal backstage crew, to make your mascara the star of the show.

PRICE: $24
AVAILABILITY: Permanent, available now at Estée Lauder counters and online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen