A while back Benefit sent me the new edition to their family – They’re Real! tinted primer (R295, selected Edgars stores and Red Square).

First up, can we get a round of applause for the fact that this dude is brown? So many primers are needlessly white and your final look ends up being ashy.

As for the formula itself it’s very, very nice in that it’s seriously waxy and almost putty-like so you can build and stretch. If you’re looking for a great brown ‘natural look’ mascara this is it. In fact, this is how I intended to use this guy as I’ve always felt like primers were a waste of time in that they don’t do anything two coats of mascara could do.

Having said that, I’ve since gone on to use it and can say it admittedly does create more drama than two coats of mascara.

I think it’s because I’m currently using quite a fluid, ‘wet’ mascara (Lancome’s Hypnose Volume-a-Porter for no other reason than I found it in my stash and am trying to use things up*) and two coats of it kind of just glides over the other. Lancome on top of Benefit’s primer, however, creates a more voluminous look and I think it’s because Benefits formulation is a bit more waxy/tacky so the mascara kind of grabs on to it.

The difference between a primed lash and a regular mascara two-coater lash is visible so if you’re all about ekeing every drop of drama you can get or, if you’re a blondie like me, and want a seriously brilliant, ‘two thumbs up’ natural-look mascara Benefit’s They’re Real! tinted primer is your baby.

Love, love

Leigh

*For the record, Lancome’s Volume-a-porter is a lovely mascara if you like definition but if you’re into drama you have to try the original Hypnose. It’s fabulous!