Once upon a time—around my sophomore year of college—my idea of makeup was a touch of tinted moisturizer and concealer paired with heavy-handed bronzer, some kind of sparkly eyeshadow, way too much eyeliner, scarce mascara, and literally nothing on my lips beyond Burt’s Bees. It was a time. Thankfully, I got my first magazine internship that summer, and my view of makeup and beauty changed forever.
Eventually, I discovered Too Faced, and fell in love with its cute packaging and highly pigmented products. The brand’s iconic Better Than Sex Mascara quickly took the pedestal in my eye makeup routine. That was back in 2014, though. It’s been a long time since I’ve dabbled with Too Faced, but when I caught wind of the brand’s new Better Than Sex Foreplay Mascara Primer ($29), it felt like being called home.
The Too Faced Better Than Sex Foreplay Mascara Primer is unlike many other lash primers on the market because instead of being a thick, white formula, it’s quite lightweight and pitch-black in tone. According to the brand, the primer is infused with argan and grapeseed oils to condition lashes, while nylon fibers add length and volume. The combined effect? Long-lasting, healthy-looking, fully-fluffed lashes for upwards of 24 hours.
Now, I’ve tried many lash primers in my day, exploring everything from drugstore finds to luxe formulas. My general consensus has been that none worked well for creating a casual everyday lash look—the volume was so intense when layered with mascara that the only option was to reserve the formulas for going out.
It’s precisely because of this that I’m such a big fan of the Too Faced Better Than Sex Foreplay Mascara Primer, which comes with a double-arch crescent brush for easy application. While the black formula works well with mascara to dramatically separate and lengthen lashes for long wear without making them look super clumpy, it’s how the primer works on its own that’s earned it a spot in my makeup bag.
On the back of the box the mascara comes in, it says the product can be worn on its own for “when you’re keeping things casual.” I did few comparison tests with the primer: First, on its own, against my bare lashes; Then, under my regular mascara, against my lashes with a few coats of the same mascara without the primer. In both instances, I was wowed by how natural, yet defined, they looked.
As someone with super light natural lashes, that subtle coat of color made all the difference in the world. It’s a welcome surprise because, for years, I’ve wanted to enhance my pale lashes for daily wear—when I’m running out for errands or going to the gym—but the idea of wearing a heavy coat of mascara felt out of place (and even the lightest formulas seemed to go on too thick). Luckily for me, now this exists, and I have no doubt that I’ll use every last bit in the tube.
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