Mascara Made Easy Part I

Here we share our best mascara tricks and tips, plus how to properly apply mascara. Yes, there is a right and wrong way to do it!

How to Properly Apply Mascara

Ace your mascara application with a 3-step process:

1. Wiggle the wand left to right at the base of lashes. It's the mascara placed near the roots, not the tips, that gives the illusion of length.
2. Pull the wand up and through lashes, wiggling as you go. The wiggling part is key because it separates lashes.
3. In this final step, close the eye and place the mascara wand on top of lashes at the base and pull through to remove any clumps.

 

How to Keep Lashes From Clumping

For some, lash combs are simply too fussy. But for some makeup artists, they're a great invention and keep lashes glob-free and perfectly separated. To use a lash comb, first apply mascara at the lash base, then wiggle the lash comb through to the tips of your lashes.

Not into the lash comb? Get rid of clumps without them by removing excess mascara from the wand. Wipe wand on tissue, this eliminates blobs BEFORE you start.

Another great way to get rid of clumps is to sweep a clean, fresh mascara wand through lashes when they're wet. Also called spoolie wands, you can find these in the make-up brush area of the beauty department. Or recycle a wand from your finished mascara tube.

Don't Be Afraid to Mix Mascaras

A trick makeup artists use to make lashes pop is apply one coat of lengthening mascara, followed by one coat of thickening mascara. Remove excess product with a clean spoolie wand.

Try a Colored Mascara

Basic mascara rules are simple: Black works for everyone but can be harsh on light-skinned blondes. Blondes should opt for brown/black by day and reserve black for night. Burgundy or plum colors make blue eyes pop, as do blue mascaras. Purple mascara looks great on brown eyes.

Use an Eyelash Curler

Curling lashes gives eyes the appearance of being wider and brighter. Shoot warm air from your blow dryer on the mascara curler for 3-5 seconds to warm it up before curling lashes. Touch it first to make sure it's not too hot. It's a myth that you have to curl lashes before you apply mascara. You can curl lashes after mascara application, just make sure the mascara is dry first.