For some of us, mascara has been a staple in our makeup routine since we were 16 years old…or longer. When we were young, all we cared about is the color and how FAT it made our lashes. As we get more “seasoned” and aware of the ins and out’ of makeup, we also take in other aspects such as the brush, the formula, the ingredients, animal testing statements, and so on. With so many other things that play a part in our mascara purchase, we sometimes tend to forget the little things. Or maybe we didn’t know them at all!!
Here is a small but helpful refresher list just to keep in the front of your mind when buying or using mascara. Nothing spectacular, nothing out of the ordinary (really), but definitely things to remember when it comes time to bat those lashes:
1. If it is over three months, it’s time to consider a new one. Try to never let your mascara get beyond 3 months old, 6 months MAX! Yes, there is the bacteria issue to consider, but for appearance? It’s even more important. Your mascara begins to dry out the day you open it, so by the third month or beyond, the mascara will not go on smoothly, may cause excess clumping, and flake/smudge sooner than usual. Oh yeah, and there are those germs….
2. Don’t pump the mascara tube. Pumping the brush in and out won’t get more mascara on your wand. Remember, the mascara is mainly at the bottom of the tube, so push the wand down inside the tube, against the side, and rotate around once (like you’re scraping the batter off a cake bowl.) Then take out and apply. Again, pumping the wand will put air INTO the tube, causing it to dry out too soon and bring in all sorts of bacteria.
3. If you removed old mascara just before you put on new, remember to make sure your lashes are dry and free from oil. Wipe a damp tissue over each eye to make sure all the remover is off, then let them dry in the air for a minute or two. A brush with residue foundation or veil powder on it can be dusted over them lightly to absorb any moisture or oils as well.
4. Don’t be afraid to mix your mascaras. I am definitely a big proponent for this. I have one mascara that I love, but it just thickens my lashes, no real length. Another mascara I have makes my lashes uber-long but keeps them skinny. I use them together all the time for a full, stunning look. When applying two mascaras, make sure if one is waterproof, you use that one last!
5. Curl them babies!! Even if you have never mastered mascara, learn to master curling your lashes. Some very lucky people have gorgeous lashes, but they are just straight. Find a good eyelash curler, get it as close to the lashline as possible (without screaming!) and curl and hold for 5 seconds. If you can be really careful, run the eyelash curler under hot water for a couple of seconds, then curl your lashes. It will work like a curling iron! (Make sure the lashes are dry when you are done.) Don’t forget to change the curling pad on your eyelash curler every three months for hygiene and curling performance purposes. They do wear down and may cause damage to your lashes.
6. Don’t brush your lashes…get jiggy with them! Merely brushing your lashes from base to tip can cause clumps no matter what type of brush or mascara you are using. If you put the brush at the base of your lashes then zig-zag up to the tips, it will not only reduce clumping, but it will also help to coat and separate each lash.
7. If you can, bend your brush when you take it out of the tube. This is a great professional makeup artists’ trick. Applying your mascara with a brush at a right angle will, naturally cover more of your lashes at one time, making them look their fullest. It will also save your hands and wrists for any unnatural positions that make it difficult to apply. If you do bend your brush, you should be able to bend it back without much hassle when you put it into the tube.
8. DON’T BLINK! Let your coat(s) of mascara dry before you blink. Heaven help you if you sneeze…can’t help you on that one. Once you are completely dry, give them one good blink to make sure everything stays where it should. If you get any residue, remove with a dampened Q-tip and give it another minute.
Dramatic eyes don’t have to be just for special occasions. You can have killer lashes any day of the week. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist (although some still say it does) to apply mascara. When you are practicing, don’t rush, take your time, and try different techniques. Before you know it, you’ll be in the Beauty Olympics…. the Mascara-thon!
