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If you had to start your collection over, what would be the first three eye products you'd buy?

Definitely start with mascara, then I’d go for Marc Jacobs Intor(vert) Eyeliner and Tom Ford Platinum Cream Color for Eyes!

— Christine

92 Comments

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Patricia Avatar

Well, the first three must haves I would purchase would be
1. UD original eyeshadow base
2. Marc Jacobs gel eyeliner in black or Cargo Swimmables in GreyLake
3. SkinCeuticals Physical Eye UV Defense Sunscreen 50 spf (does an amazing job of covering my dark circles)

Ankita@corallista Avatar

So happy to see someone mention the Visee Slim Gel Liner! I lived in Japan for some time and it was one of my favorite things from the drugstore!

Ryou Avatar

The KATE one used to be my favorite until they released the VISEE one! I was so impressed that the tip was even thinner than KATE’s!

I wish Japanese drugstore products are more accessible. I would kill to be able to buy Majolica Majorca products offline.

xamyx Avatar

L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon, Kat von D Shade + Light Eye Palette, and Kat von D Innerstellar Palette ( it is technically still available in a “bonus” set). As for primer/base, I would just use concealer.

Blue Avatar

Practical answer because these three are my basics that I actually wear with every look: Anastasia Brow Wiz, MUFE Full cover concealer or Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer, whatever black mascara

Bonus three non-basic standout products: NARS Funny Face Lipstick, Sugarpill Lumi loose e/s, Becca Pearl liquid highlighter

Thank you for this question btw! It was really tricky, I had a lot of fun deciding on an answer. 🙂

Gillian Avatar

Nice choices Christine! I love that eyeliner. ?

Mascara makes the biggest difference to my eyes. I have long lashes but they are very fair so it’s a must. And it has to be waterproof! At the moment I’m loving Cils D’Enfer Maxi Lash Waterproof by Guerlain.

Sadly one of my slots needs to be taken up by a primer. I have oily lids and even most long-wearing eyeshadows have trouble staying put. It just makes sure that everything stays looking nice. I swear by NARS Pro Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base. Nothing else that I’ve tried compares!

And finally, for an everyday appropriate look I pick MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Vintage Selection as my eyeshadow. I love shimmer on my lids!

I can go without eyeliner so not having one isn’t a problem! ?

Kloe Avatar

Tha Naked Basics 2 palette, a black waterproof mascara (Clarins’ probably), and a black waterproof eyeliner because my eyes eat liner otherwise, Urban Decay probably because it can be either very intense or smudged out and still hold well.

Codename Duchess Avatar

Well since I won’t leave the house without wearing mascara, I’d have to start with Benefit Rollerlash mascara. Next I’d get Urban Decay Tease eye shadow, because it’s a really versatile shade that not only works as an eye shadow, but is great for contouring if you’ve got fair, cool skin like I do *and* can be used to fill in my brows. My third choice would be ColourPop Dopey ultra satin lipstick because it’s a good every day lippie for me.

nzeen Avatar

I would first buy mascara, then a black kajal, then probably a premade quad from mac 🙂
if the quad doesnt count as one, then i would buy a neutral, shimmery cream eyeshadow, like bare study paint pot.

Marie-Estelle Avatar

I don’t have any reference in mind specifically because I’m still discovering what I like the most in term of texture, color and assocations.

Nevertheless I would say: one good pinky nude , a sexy red (Cruella from Nars?) and a soft mauve (a bit like the 13 liquid lipstick from sephora or Vivienne from Nars). I have the feeling that with this type of combo I would be pretty much able to do anything.

If I could cheat I would add a fushia for the spring and summer time!

Mariella Avatar

Oh golly – I can’t even get my head around a question like this! I’d probably start with an eyeshadow palette (hey, it is an eye product!) – maybe Naked 2 – then an eyeliner (either GOSH Metallic Brass or Sephora Diving in Malaysia) and a cream shadow that could double as a base (MAC Painterly or Groundwork or one of the Sephora Jumbo pencils). What a painful question! I think “5 eye products” would be more realistic and less painful.

Amy Avatar

1. Essence longlasting eye pencil in Hot Scorch- It’s really cheap and a really great eyeliner. I’ve paid 2-3 times as much for Revlon Color Stay that was dry. The essence is pretty smooth and silky for me.

2. Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes-I would really rather have a cheaper mascara, but I don’t buy a lot of mascara and have a couple of these from QVC sets

3. Makeup Revolution Iconic 3 Eyeshadow Palette.

I debated on putting the Too Faced Chocolate palette-the original one. I love the looks of that palette, but I always stick to the same look with that palette. I never have a clue about what other combo to work.

I was so close to putting a Makeup Geek eyeshadow, but wanted to put an eye palette for more options 🙂

Shana Avatar

Eyebrow pencil : MUFE (I prefer the MUFE one more than the one from Shuemura)

Eyelash curler : Shuemura

Mascara : UD Canonball

Michele @Binxcat4ever Avatar

1. UD eye primer (I’ve tried tons of others and always go back. A good primer also would brighten the eye without need for shadows), 2. Trish McEvoy Intense Gel Eyeliner – Black (Still the best; creamy, blendable, long-lasting – you can pretty much do anything with this liner), 3. Teeez Cosmetics Desert Metals Mascara – Midnight Sky (Hands down the best mascara I’ve ever tried. Glossy black, wear for ages, and volumizes my puny lashes like nobody’s business!) I think these three would create a basic, defined eye look which is a great starting point for anything else.

Anne Avatar

Mascara (currently using Benefit ‘they’re Real’)
UD Riff shadow
Liner…tough one. If there’s ever a quality dupe for Marc Jacobs highliner in Jazzberry, it’ll be my third product. Love the color.

Alecto Avatar

Colourpop shadow in Boy Band
IT Cosmetics Brow Power Waterproof Perfector pencil (which I use as an eyeliner on my waterline)
MAC shadow in Outre (though it’s LE, and I’m running low on my last one, so I’m going to have to find a really good dupe SOON; when I find that dupe, that will be my answer #3)

Megz Avatar

Mac painterly paint pot
Urban Decay Perversion mascara
Cover girl Nude eyeshadow pallette. Seriously it’s rocks. Might be the best neutral palette I’ve tried, and I’ve tried a lot, including all the UD variations!

Claire L Avatar

1. TheBalm’s PutA Lid On It eyelid primer, a must for me with my oily lids.
2. Kiko Luxurious Lashes waterproof mascara, lasts ages and doesn’t smudge.
3. MUFE Artist Shadow 15 palette. Has both brights and neutrals, just gorgeous. It’s that or UD Urban Spectrum, I’d cry if I lost either palette lol.

Stephanie Avatar

1. UD Naked on the Run. Not only is it my go-to palette when I need to look put together in a hurry, it also contains a travel-size Perversion mascara and an eye pencil I like, so I can use the other two spaces for something more fun!

2. Too Faced Chocolate Bar. Versatile, one of my favorite palettes ever, and home of one of my favorite burgundy eye looks.

3. UD Naked 2. I love color as much as the next guy (ok, more…), but if I have to go through the sheer misery of starting over with only 3 products, I’m going for versatility and ease of use as much as anything else. Naked 2 fits the bill on both counts. Also, it has Blackout, which I can use as a liner, and one of my favorite shades ever, YDK.

Connie Avatar

Hi Stephanie can you share with me how do you achieve your burgundy eye look with the chocolate palette? I have that palette and a terrible lack of imagination

Tammy B Avatar

I would have to have Stilla’s Kitten eye shadow, Kat Von D Tattoo liner (the black color), and LANCOME Grandiose mascara.

okkraa Avatar

1. Lorac Unzipped Palette (comes with Behind the Scenes Eye Primer)
2. Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara in Black/Brown
3. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Rockstar

Deborah Avatar

I want to try L’OREAL FALSE LASH SCULPT MASCARA so I will go with this. Also I would choose an eyeliner pencil and a long wearing eyeshadow (right now I like Giorgio Armani Eye Tint)

Char Avatar

Only three. Whew. That’s a hard one. Loreal voluminous mascara, liquid eyeliner, and my Mac pallete for eye shadow and to fill my brows.

Eileen Avatar

I’d start with a good basic neutral look: Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner in Espresso, Lancôme shadow palette in Taupe Craze, and Guerlain Maxi-Lash mascara in Black.

Nicole Avatar

Urban Decay Gwen palette
Too Faced Bon Bon palette
Kat Von D Innerstellar palette
I almost never use eyeliner because I use a dark shadow instead. A primer might be needed because…Florida. :/ I guess I’d get the Smashbox 24 hour primer before Bon Bon (*cry) because Gwen and Kat would cover the bases for the short term.

Sandra Avatar

1. Eyeliner- Maybeline Black waterproof gel liner
2. Eyeshadow- UD Naked2 basics (never bought yet but plan too)
3. Mascara- Ulta twisted Volume

Deborah S. Avatar

1. Cover Girl Super Sizer Mascara Waterproof formula. I have been using this formula in some incarnation since I was in high school. They keep changing the name but I always sniff it out! Love it.
2. Too Faced Naked Eye Palette.
3. Surratt Eye Lash Curler.

Anne Avatar

Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize in Bette as it’s a good “looks like you’re wearing 5 different colors” one. Definitely a mascara though not entirely sure which one, though it’d have to be waterproof. A liner would be good though not sure if I’d go black like the Marc Jacobs one I use, or brown like MAC Teddy.

Sarah Avatar

1) Ulta Twisted Volume mascara
2) Zoeva Cool Spectrum palette (picking between this and Kat Von D’s Interstellar palette was a struggle, let me tell you)
3) NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk as a primer and brightening liner all in one.
I think once you have a good, reliable eyeshadow palette, the rest is fairly easy. Especially if you have an angled liner brush for darker shadows or, in a pinch, mascara as a gel liner.

Brenda Lee Avatar

Kat Von D Tatoo liner
Too Faced Better than Sex mascara
Urban Decay Gwen Stefani eyeshadow palette – so many different looks

I know it says only 3 but I have to add Urban Decay eyeshadow primer potion or else my shadows will crease on my oily lids

Vanessa V Avatar

Mac Prolong Wear Paint pot in layin’ low, Rimmel scandal eyes eye kohl in Nude, Urban Decay Naked palette (original)

ShirlJ Avatar

Great question! I’m getting some fantastic tips from the answers.

For me, it’s:

Guerlain Terracotta Khol Loose Powder eyeliner
Viseart Paris Nude palette
Mascara (right now it would be Smashboz XRated, but I’ve never settled on a single mascara since Fresh Supernova was d/c’d.

Kayle Avatar

Anastasia Ebony Dipbrow, Clinique Wear Everywhere Nudes palette, and Colourpop Boy Band. I can get by pretty well without mascara, and both the Dipbrow and the darker shades in the palette can multitask as eyeliner!

Connie Avatar

1. Urban Decay Naked Basics 1
2. Stila Stay all Day liquid eyeliner in dark brown
3. Cover Girl Clump Crusher mascara in black/brown

Heather Avatar

This question almost hurts to think about!

1. Maybelline The Falsies waterproof mascara (my eyelashes are blonde)
2. UD Naked 1 palette
3. Laura Mercier Artist’s Palette (the original release)–a good mix of cool/warm, purples/browns, matte/shimmer

I figure I could easily use the darker shadows in each palette as eyeliner/brow filler. (Since I already do fairly often!)

Karla Avatar

Estee Lauder Double Wear in Sandlewood,
Maybelline Volum’ Express The Falsies Push Up Drama in waterproof, and Mac Oh Baby lip glass.

Lys Avatar

First thing I buy would be mascara (Benefit They’re Real is my current favourite)
MAC Tan loose pigment
Finally, either a primer like MAC Painterly paint pot or a matte brown pencil/eyeshadow, which I use on the upper lash line.

Lea Avatar

Georgio Amani Brow Maestro #5 makes an amazing shadow color. Can’t get enough of it. By Terry Ombré Blackstar Misty Rock and my beloved and discontinued Cle de Peau #9 single. Still devastated.

Lea Avatar

Sorry – misread the Q as shadows only. I’m not sure I can pick one shadow, but I’d add in CdP mascara and Chantecaille fineliner in black.

Natalia Avatar

1. Ok. Major rave incoming. I’ll 150% will get MAC Prep + Prime 24-Hour Extend Eye Base. I’ll literally cry if I jinx it, it is soooo good. Eyeshadow colors look so vibrant, my dry sensitive eyelids feel comfy an entire day, the eye makeup stays put all day long! Don’t care if it is quite pricey, it is sooo worth it IMHO. UD antiage to me is like nothing anymore (Not bushing it! To each their own, it’s just the MAC one WORKS nearly perfect for ME).

If you have not tried it, be sure to get a tiny sample next time you get smth from MAC, changes are you will love it as much as I do.

2. I will have to have MAC Naked Lunch. Love.

3. MAC fluidline of some sort (not Blacktrack though, too intense for me).

Laura Avatar

Personally I would rather start over making my own palette using Makeup Geek eyeshadows, but since one palette counts as one eye product, I’d go for Kat Von D Shade and Light, Morphe 35P and some sort of red-based eyeshadow palette but I can’t think of any off of the top of my head. That has neutrals, purples and reds covered which are what I mainly use.

Brittney Avatar

1. Mascara- either Too Faced Better than Sex or Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes
2. One of my Urban Decay Naked palettes probably either 2 or 3 but it would be hard to pick just one.
3. I could maybe be ok without eyeliner but I’d definitely have to have a primer so I’d have to go with Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin. I dont like the the original UDPP but for whatever reason this one has always worked really really well for me.

Bonnie Avatar

1. If I could find it – Wet n Wild Color Icon in this bright yellow shade (Chiquita Sunrise) I got last year on limited edition. I’ve been wearing it lately and everyone loves it on me. (If I can’t find this, then Urban Decay Naked Palette – especially the darkest brown)
2. NYX slide on pencil in Black Sparkle
3. Benefit Roller Last

This is just the look I’ve been doing lately that people seem to like.

Idra Avatar

So… hmm. I really need four!!

1. Fyrinnae’s Pixie Epoxy (an adhesive for loose or mineral shadows, a must since all of my most used shades are loose and after replacing the first three, I’d definitely replace my loose shadow collection!). It makes any loose shadow that isn’t matte look AMAZING.

2. Fyrinnae’s Rapunzel Had Extensions. I have backups upon backups of this shadow. The most perfect peachy gold tone in the whole world. It does wonders for my blue eyes!

3. A good, true copper eyeshadow. I use Medusa Cosmetics’ Pennywise, but I don’t necessarily endorse Medusa as a brand; any good copper would work (if I ever run out of Pennywise, MAC’s Amber Lights is on my list).

4. Mascara. Technically I could leave the house without mascara but it just adds so much to the look. It only comes in at number 4 though because I’m not prepared to do a one-shadow look with Rapunzel Had Extensions. Need that copper!! And fifth would be a good liquid liner. 🙂

Marta Avatar

Hard one…
1. The mascara I’m currently using, it’s a local brand and costs less than anything I’ve used since high school but makes my lashes touch my brows and beautifully separates each lash.
2. Maybelline Color Tattoo in matte nude – as base, nude eyeshadow, brightening shade.
3. Eye palette with a great black/ brown/ navy liner color and a nice brow shade. Either the Sleek Storm or UD Gwen Stefani.

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