Prepped and primed: A guide to the eye products you didn’t know you needed

You’ve finally found a mascara that you love and you’ve got so many eyeshadow palettes you could never possibly finish them – great! But are missing game-changing eye products you didn’t know you needed? To make sure you don’t end up with cosmetic FOMO we’ve made an eye product checklist with a little help from makeup artist Tamryn Jefferies. 

Eyeshadow primer

If you’re using a foundation primer, that’s enough to keep your eyeshadow in place, right? Possibly not, according to Tamryn. “Many foundation primers contain silicone, which blurs imperfections and helps foundation glide across your face for a smoother finish. That’s great but it’s not going to help your eyeshadow stay the day,” she says. 

Tamryn’s advice is to buy a primer specially formulated for eyes. Its matte texture will give your shadow something to “grip” to, boost its pigmentation and prevent it from creasing for hours on end.

Lash primer 

Want thicker-looking lashes? Get your hands on a lash primer. “This nourishing, thickening product is a great way to bulk up your eyelashes,” says Tamryn. Simply swipe on two coats, wait for it to dry and then apply your regular mascara to enjoy a serious volume boost. 

Colour-correcting concealer 

If you’ve got very dark rings under your eyes, a regular concealer might not do a good job covering them. To really blitz that blue, Tamryn suggests you apply a colour-correcting concealer beforehand. “A peach shade neutralises blue circles on medium skin tones and yellow can minimise purple tones on olive skin,” she explains.

Bullet-shaped shadow brush 

“I’m always amazed by how many of my clients still don’t own a proper eyeshadow brush,” says Tamryn. “Please throw away that little sponge that comes with your eyeshadow and invest in a proper bullet-shaped brush. Once you see how it allows you to blend, you’ll never look back.”

Fixing spray 

If you really want to lock down your look, you’ll want to get your hands on a fixing spray. “Mist it over your entire face to keep your makeup looking fresh all day,” says Tamryn. “Fixing spray is ideal for the eye area as it can stop your concealer from creasing.” 

IMAGE CREDIT: 123rf.com