If you’d like to amp up your eye makeup skills, these best mascara tips and tricks will help. Mascara can be tricky, often ending up clumping or smudging under the eyes or on your eyelids. As often as you may put on mascara, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut and keep using techniques that don’t work well. You may even be making some common mascara mistakes. With these tips and tricks, as well as common mistakes to avoid, you’ll be able to achieve your desired lash look and put your best face forward.
Choosing the Best Mascara for You
Before we get started, first you’ll need a good version. The best mascara for you suits your lifestyle and goes on smoothly, giving you the look you want. When choosing it, consider your daily wear. Will you be working out or are you often in humid or rainy conditions? Do you need mascara that will last for long days or nights? You’ll want to go for waterproof mascara if so. Also, consider mascara colors. Many people reach for black but if you want a more natural look, and if you have medium or light hair, you may want to try a brown hue.
Also, make sure to pick a safe mascara that won’t risk your eye health. Check out Dr. Wyrick’s List of Safe Mascaras for suggestions on safe mascaras.
Best Mascara Tips
- Start with clean lashes. You’d be surprised how many people apply new coats of mascara to yesterday’s makeup. Cleanse your lashes with a face cleanser or makeup remover.
- Make sure it is fresh. Discard it every three months. Old mascara will be more clumpy and uneven in texture, giving you more smudges and clumps when you apply it.
- Curl your lashes with a clean eyelash curler. An eyelash curler will give your lashes a more defined, fuller look. For extra oomph, you can use a heated eyelash curler or blast warm air from your hair dryer on your regular eyelash curler for 10 seconds before using it. The heat will give your lashes extra curl.
- Use lash primer if you want a dramatic look or if you have sparse lashes. Apply the lash primer to areas where your lashes are thin or short, and it will give it a boost when you apply it. You can also apply black eyeliner to your top lashline to give your lashes a more full look.
- Wiggle your brush. When you apply it, wiggle your brush along your lash line before applying mascara. This will help get it onto the base of your lashes and give you a thicker, fuller lash look.
- Apply horizontally and vertically. Using your mascara wand, apply it using a windshield wiping motion, fanning the wand out vertically to coat your lashes. Also, use vertical strokes to coat your lash tips.
- Coat the front and back of your lashes. Begin by applying it to the front side of your lashes. Then, apply it to the back side of your lashes. Use horizontal and vertical strokes to thoroughly coat your lashes.
- Layer it. Apply it in layers until you get your desired look. Allow 30 to 60 seconds between coats so each coat can dry. If you apply your coats too quickly, you risk clumping.
- Bend your wand. Bending your mascara wand allows you to reach your lashes from all angles. You can use disposable mascara wands and bend them up to 90 degrees as needed to reach hard-to-get areas.
- Mix and match mascaras. People think you have to use the same mascara for every look but the truth is, you can mix and match and get the best results for a customized look. You may use different hues, brushes, and types. One may add volume, for instance, and another is the best mascara for lengthening, and together they give you a gorgeous look.
- Powder your mascara. Use baby powder or translucent face powder and apply after one coat of it. Your lashes will look chalky but when you apply your next coat, you’ll see a big boom in volume, giving your lashes a more dramatic look.
- Use the right size wand. Most mascaras come with a large wand, but not everyone has large eyes. If you have smaller eyes or need a different wand shape, you can buy your own reusable wand or get disposable wands that suit your needs.
Common Mascara Mistakes to Avoid
When you apply it, there are some common mistakes people make. Here are some mascara mistakes to avoid:
- Using old mascara. Time flies and it’s easy to forget to switch it out. Replace your mascara after three months.
- Keep clumps off the tip of the wand. The end of mascara wands often accumulate clumps and excess mascara. Wipe your wand to de-clump it and avoid clumpy lashes.
- Pumping your wand to get more product. Apply even, thin layers of it and you will get better results. Pumping your mascara dries it out and will make your product more clumpy and flaky.
- Curling your lashes more than once. You only need to use the eyelash curler once on each side and hold for 10 seconds. Curling too much will harm your lashes.
- Applying all coats at once. Wait for 30 to 60 seconds between each coat so the coat can dry. This will help avoid smudging and clumping.
Try these tips to achieve a flawless lash look. Before you start, be sure to find the best mascara for your lifestyle and needs. And remember, you can mix and match mascaras to create more personalized looks. Apply more coats of mascara and use a lash primer and a heated lash curler for a dramatic look. For more natural lashes, try a waterproof mascara that won’t smudge or clump and apply one coat to both sides of your lashes.