Mascara is one of our favourite make-up staples; in fact, when time is of the essence, it’s often a slap of some foundation, a lick of mascara, and out we go. But mascara can be really messy, and as great as it makes your eyes look, few things are more defeating than ruining an amazing eyeshadow job by getting mascara all over your lid!
1. Bend it. Depending on what works for you and what you find most comfortable, you may want to bend your wand. This can give you a bit more control when applying your mascara and allow for a more accurate application, as you’ll be able to get to those harder-to-reach places, like the inner of your eye.
2. Give them a coat. For thick, full-looking lashes, make sure to get the mascara all over. People often forget to apply the mascara to the back or underneath part of their lashes, but ensuring that each lash is properly coated will make your eyelashes look thicker and fuller in an instant. It may take a bit longer but it’s so worth it!
SEE ALSO: 3 methods to remove waterproof mascara
3. Va-va volume. If you’re looking to create some serious volume, use the baby powder technique. Apply a coat of mascara, followed by some baby powder (a cotton bud or make-up brush is the easiest way to apply it), then brush on one more coat of mascara. You won’t believe the difference it makes. If you don’t have baby powder, your setting powder should do the trick.
4. Smudge proof. We’ve all got that random business card at the bottom of our handbag, and it’s finally time to put it to good use. If you find it difficult to apply mascara without getting it all over your eyelid (no judging – just about all of us have that problem!), hold a business card over your eyelid and behind your eyelashes to keep it from ruining your eyeshadow. Simple, but oh-so clever! You can also use a stiff piece of paper if you have one lying around.
To prevent transferring mascara onto the underneath part of your eyes, you can hold some tissue under your bottom eyelashes while you apply mascara to them. It may seem a bit awkward, but it’s a lot better than having to deal with black marks under your eyes!
5. Get wiggling. Ever notice that when a professional applies mascara, they wiggle the wand from side-to-side and then towards the tip of the lashes? This helps the lashes curl up and outwards, creating more volume and opens up the eyes.
6. No more lumps. Got a few too many clumps? Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us. Run a clean, dry toothbrush through your lashes, and the clumps should be a thing of the past.
SEE ALSO: 2 ways to an effortless lash makeover
7. Chuck it! You can find many tips on how to make your mascara fluid again once it’s become clumpy, but the truth is that if your mascara has reached this state, it’s time to toss it into the bin. Mascara has a shorter lifespan that other make-up because it comes into contact with your eyes, and then gets closed away, meaning that the wand can become a breeding ground for bacteria after some time. We suggest changing your mascara every three to four months; no one wants an eye infection, right?
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