Love it: Estée Lauder’s new Little Black Primer

Definitely one to file under “didn’t know I needed but now I can’t live without” is Estée Lauder’s fancy pants new mascara primer, the sweetly named Little Black Primer.

There are few timeless wardrobe pieces as revered as the little black dress, and its versatility and the ability to dress it up or down have made it a hit with women of all shapes and sizes. The very same must-have reportedly inspired the latest product innovation from Lauder, which is a multitasking spin on mascara that is as adaptable and show stopping as the sartorial staple that inspired its name.

The Little Black Primer – or LBP if you will - triple-times as a light-weight base for heavier pigments, a subtle tint on its own and a water-resistant topcoat for mascara. “It literally goes with everything,” Estée Lauder spokesmodel Kendall Jenner said of the slimline tube and universally flattering dark hue, which also happens to be one of the it girl’s favourite colours (and features prominently in her wardrobe). Kendall said: "I've always been really into my eyelashes, so this is a fun product for me. While I usually love a lot of mascara, sometimes I don't want to wear too much makeup, but I still want a little definition. It's cool that you can use it just for tinting and it doesn't look like you have too much makeup on."

Unlike traditional lash primers that are white, this primer is tinted black, so you can use it on its own and play with its versatility no end.

The brand’s three ways to wear it are:

Tint: Colors and lifts bare lashes so they stay silky black throughout the day and even overnight.

Amplify: As a primer, it’s the optimal mascara base for volume, lift and length.

Set: Brush over mascara for a long-wearing, water-resistant topcoat that helps reduce smudging and flaking.

Magic! It’s also safe for contact lens wearers like me and opthalmologist tested.

The Little Black Primer hits counters on March 2 and comes highly recommended.