Once upon a time, around my sophomore year of college, my idea of makeup was a hint of tinted moisturizer and concealer combined with heavy bronzer, some kind of shimmery eyeshadow, too much eyeliner, not much mascara, and literally nothing on my lips beyond Burt’s Bees. It was a time. Luckily, I got my first magazine internship that summer and my view of makeup and beauty was forever changed.
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 dabbled with Too Faced, but when I heard about the brand’s new Better Than Sex Foreplay Mascara Primer ($29), I felt like I was called home.
Too Faced Better Than Sex Foreplay Mascara Primer is unlike many other eyelash primers on the market because instead of being a thick, white formula, it’s quite lightweight and jet-black in hue. According to the brand, the primer contains argan and grapeseed oils to condition lashes, while nylon fibers add length and volume. The combined effect? Long-lasting, healthy-looking lashes that are completely fluffy for more than 24 hours.
Now, I’ve tried many lash primers in my day, exploring everything from drugstore finds to fancy formulas. My general consensus has been that neither 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.
That’s precisely why I’m such a fan of Too Faced Better Than Sex Foreplay Mascara Primer, which comes with a double-arched 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 too clumpy, it’s the way the foundation works on its own that has earned it a spot in my makeup bag.
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On the back of the box comes the mascara, it says the product can be used on its own for “when you’re keeping things casual.” I did some comparison tests with the primer: first, alone, against my bare lashes; Then under my regular mascara, against my lashes with a few coats of the same mascara without the base. In both cases, I was struck by how natural, yet defined, they looked.
As someone with super light natural lashes, that subtle layer of color made all the difference in the world. It’s a pleasant surprise because for years I’ve wanted to enhance my pale lashes for everyday wear, when I’m out running errands or going to the gym, but the idea of using a heavy coat of mascara seemed off the mark (and even the lightest formulas seemed too thick). Fortunately for me, this now exists, and I have no doubt that I will use every last piece of the tube.
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