Mascara can make your eyes look wider and more alert—or it can end up in nasty clumps, end up smearing underneath your eyes, or make sensitive eyes watery. Here are some foolproof tips on how to apply mascara and make sure it stays on!
Wiggle it
Place the mascara wand at the base of your lashes, and then slowly wiggle it upwards. Putting too much mascara at the tips actually weighs them down, so this trick makes sure you deposit most of the product at the roots. Plus, the wiggling helps to separate the lashes so they look thicker.
Combine formulas
No mascara can effectively lengthen and thicken. So what pro makeup artists do is to layer two different mascara formulas.
Use a primer
Mascara primers can help create lushness and volume, and (like foundation primers) give the mascara formula something to cling to so it doesn’t smear all over the place.
Dry between coats
Applying several layers of wet mascara on top of the other will only make them stick together. So let a minute or so pass before you swipe your mascara again. (I usually use this time to apply lipstick.)
Remove clumps
Use a lash comb, a spoolie, or an old, clean mascara wand to remove clumps and gently separate the lashes. Just wash this regularly to prevent the buildup of dried out mascara and bacteria, which can cause eye infections.
Wipe off the end of the wand
Brush the tip of the mascara wand against a tissue paper to remove any globs before applying on your lashes.
use a calling card
Hold a calling card against your eyelid to catch any smudges or smears that may happen as you wiggle the wand. You can also hold a tissue down on your face as you apply mascara to the bottom lashes.
Curl your lashes
Curl before you apply mascara, since wet lashes are more prone to breakage. You can try warming the curler with a blowdryer for five seconds.
Photo from beautyofwoman.com