Can an eyeshadow primer keep your lashes curled? | Anita Bhagwandas on beauty trends

The hack
Apply eyeshadow primer on lashes with a small makeup brush to keep them curled.

The test
My lashes are so straight they point downwards, so I’m keen to try this hack that’s doing the rounds on TikTok, because even though I use lash curlers daily, the effects do seem to wear off pretty quickly.

The method is easy, but does add an extra step to my routine: I curl my lashes with eyelash curlers as usual, but then apply a swipe of eyeshadow primer (Milk Makeup Hydro Grip is my choice) to the lashes of one eye only, and leave the other as a control. I wait for it to dry a little, brush through any clumps, then apply my mascara.

I’m a little dubious that this will work, as in the past I’ve found lash primers disappointing. But by lunchtime, the lashes with the primer on have remained more curled than the non-primed one. It’s not a huge difference, but it is visible. Eyeshadow primers do have to work hard to grip on to eyeshadow on the lids, so perhaps it does make sense that they do the same on lashes, too (I also use that Milk primer underneath my eyes to keep my concealer in place.)

The verdict
The quicker way to do this is to have lash-lifting treatment, but if you don’t want to do that I’d use the eyeshadow primer with waterproof mascara for a curled lash that will last all night long.