What’s the one beauty product you couldn’t live without?
Many women consider mascara to be the number one, must-have makeup in their cosmetics case. Even if you don’t wear any other makeup, good mascara in basic black makes your eyes pop. And it’s not difficult to apply, taking only a few minutes of your overall beauty routine.
These time-saving mascara tips will explain the best way to apply mascara for maximum effect.
Choosing your Mascara Makeup
With so many types of mascara on the market, what type should you choose? Voluminous? Long-lasting? Waterproof? Colored? Clear? Let us help.
First, consider your lifestyle. Are you very active, with no time to stop and reapply cosmetics during the day? Do your thin lashes need a little help to look their best? Are you going on vacation, where you plan to swim, or to a wedding, where you may cry? Do you want to achieve a glamorous look, or does a more natural appearance appeal?
Long-lasting mascara: Don’t confuse long-lasting or water-resistant makeup with waterproof mascara. Long-lasting makeup should last the whole day – and you must remove it with makeup remover at night – but it may not stand up to more extreme conditions like a dip in the pool. This makeup works well for everyday wear.
Voluminous mascara: Voluminous mascara, as its name implies, adds volume to thin lashes. If you already have big, beautiful lashes, you probably don’t need voluminous mascara, but ladies with short or thin lashes benefit from this treatment. While most mascara thickens lashes to some degree, voluminous mascara, sometimes called “high-definition” mascara, excels at the task like no other.
Enriched mascara: Brands like Becca and Cargo add conditioners and minerals like Keratin to your eyelashes, strengthening and improving the underlying structure of your lashes.
Waterproof mascara: When you find good waterproof mascara that stays on through sweat and tears but comes off easily with makeup remover, stick with it. It will remain a staple in your cosmetics bag.
Clear mascara: Many women might wonder why they should bother with clear mascara. Clear mascara offers a more natural look than black or colored mascara, defining and lengthening lashes to make your eyes pop without a dramatic look. Quick and easy to apply, the gel formula of most clear mascaras also works as an eyebrow gel. Who doesn’t love the convenience of two cosmetics in one? You can also apply clear mascara as a base coat beneath your black mascara for added volume.
Why Colored Mascara?
Many makeup experts recommend basic black, regardless of your skin tone, eye color, or the color of eye shadow you wear. As makeup trends come and go, black mascara prevails.
But don’t be afraid to experiment with other colors, which you should select based on your eye color and possibly your hair color and other makeup choices.
Brown mascara: Blondes looking to achieve a more natural look may select brown, brown/black or taupe mascara. Black mascara achieves a more dramatic effect on people with lighter hair.
Blue mascara: Want to make blue eyes pop? Glide on that blue mascara.
Purple mascara: Brown, green, or hazel eyes look wider with purple mascara. Women with hazel eyes can also play up the different shades in their irises by selecting mascara (green or brown) that matches the color they want to emphasize.
How To Apply Mascara
What do you need to put on mascara properly?
- Eyelash curler
- Mascara with wand
- Mascara comb
- Makeup remover pen or makeup remover and Q-tip
- Tissue
If you use other makeup, apply mascara last, following your foundation, eye shadow, eyeliner, blush and powder.
To achieve longer-looking eyelashes, curl your lashes using a quality metal eyelash curler before you put on mascara. Some women heat their eyelash curler using a hair dryer; this is not recommended because it risks burning yourself. Hot metal against your eyelid? Not the best idea.
A wide, high-quality metal eyelash curler achieves your goal without risk of injury. Simply squeeze the curler on your eyelashes close to the base and hold it there for about five seconds.
What sort of wand should you use to apply your mascara? A larger, curved mascara brush does the job more quickly, but a smaller wand gives you more control over mascara placement. If you have small lashes, definitely use a smaller brush; women with larger lashes can get away with a larger brush. Make sure to use a small brush to apply mascara to your bottom lashes for maximum definition.
Apply mascara beginning from the base of your eyelashes, starting toward the inner corner of your eye and working your way outward. Go slowly, in tiny strokes, to achieve a good coat. For a very full look, apply mascara to the top of the lashes as well as underneath. Let the first coat dry and then, if necessary, apply a second coat for a fuller effect. You can apply mascara to the tips of the lashes, too.
For a perfect look, separate lashes and eliminate clumps using a mascara comb. Use a makeup remover pen, or dip the tip of a cotton swab (Q-tip) into makeup remover and dab carefully to remove mascara smudges.
How to Apply Mascara to Bottom Lashes
Applying mascara to bottom lashes is even easier. Apply it carefully using the tip of the mascara wand. Place a tissue beneath your eye, underneath the lash line, to catch excess mascara. You can also eliminate streaks and smudges with a makeup remover pen or a cotton swab dipped in makeup remover.
Mascara Tips
- Before applying mascara, rub the wand against the tube to remove mascara clumps.
- Do not pump the wand up and down in the tube before applying mascara; this introduces air into the tube, which will make your mascara dry out more quickly.
- Do not store your mascara in hot places, like your car.
- Replace old mascara after a year or when it begins to cake in the tube or clump more frequently.
Featured Products in this article:
Conditioners/Strengtheners
B Kamins, Chemist NEW! Eyelash Fortifier
CARGO NEW!! LashActivator
Mascaras
Vincent Longo Waterproof The Curl Mascara
Too Faced Lash Injection Pinpoint Mascara
Tools
Blinc Heated Lash Curler
Tweezerman Pocket Lash Curler with Pouch
Paula Dorf Eyelash Curler
I think mascara can transform the eyes and make an individual look more away. However, I think a good bronzer and some lip gloss brightens up the whole face and appearance.
Great article, but I have recently heard that waterproof mascara can make your lashes fall out! I only ever used waterproof when I am on holiday or swimming, but would you recommend using it on a regular basis?