Doesn't Hurt to be Beautiful: 13 Tips for Applying Mascara

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

13 Tips for Applying Mascara

Tip #1: Try a spoolie (a disposable mascara wand). Sweep a clean, fresh mascara wand through lashes when they're wet. You can buy a pack at any store that carries specialty beauty products. You can also recycle old mascara wands. When you finish a mascara, clean the wand in a capful of eye makeup remover, then wash with soap and dry. Keep it clean by washing it whenever you wash your makeup tools.

Tip #2: 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.

Tip #3: Don't shy away from 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. Blue mascara brightens blue eyes while purple mascara makes brown eyes pop.

Tip #4: 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. Shu Uemura makes the most popular eyelash curler on the market.

Tip #5: Give a few coats to the edges by blinking. Blink onto the brush to give ends an extra coat.

Tip #6: Powder under the eye before applying mascara. Sometimes mascara smudges because it's attracted to oily concealer or eye creams.

Tip #7: Zig-zag the wand. Zig-zagging the wand back and forth during application helps cut down clumps.

Tip #8: For a dramatic look, apply mascara only to the upper lashes. To make eyes seem wider, apply to the bottom, too.

Tip #9: Use a mascara primer. Primers coat lashes and separate them before you apply mascara. Makeup artists swear by mascara primer. I tried it and like it, but because it's an added step, I usually use primer only on special occasion when I spend more time on my makeup.

Tip #10: Want that 2nd coat? Just make sure to do it before the first coat dries, otherwise you'll get clumps.

Tip #11: Do NOT pump wand in and out of the tube. This only introduces air into the tube, which will cause your mascara to dry out sooner than it should.

Tip #12: Another smudge-proof tip -- bend the wand. A top makeup artist once gave his secret to his steady hand: he always bends his wand at a right angle.

Tip #13: Wait five seconds before blinking. You don't want to paint your lids, do you?

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