By Taylor Tobin, INSIDER
Mascara seems like a pretty basic makeup product; just swipe a couple of coats on your lashes and watch your eyes pop, right? As with most things that seem easy, mascara can be much trickier than you'd expect. INSIDER consulted a group of makeup artists and stylists to find out the biggest mascara mistakes they see on a regular basis and how to fix them.
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Mascara seems like a pretty basic makeup product; just swipe a couple of coats on your lashes and watch your eyes pop, right? As with most things that seem easy, mascara can be much trickier than you'd expect. INSIDER consulted a group of makeup artists and stylists to find out the biggest mascara mistakes they see on a regular basis and how to fix them.
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Making a mess of your lower lashes.
Making a mess of your lower lashes. It makes it easier to not get mascara on your skin. Andreas Rentz
Most eyelash wands use designs intended for the longer and more abundant upper lashes, making it hard to accurately apply product to the lower lashes without resulting in a smudgy mess. According to Washington DC makeup artist Jamaya Moore, there's an easy fix for this common mascara problem: "[When I'm putting mascara on my lower lashes,] I like to hold my mascara wand vertically (like a magic wand) to apply. It's no mess!"
Most eyelash wands use designs intended for the longer and more abundant upper lashes, making it hard to accurately apply product to the lower lashes without resulting in a smudgy mess. According to Washington DC makeup artist Jamaya Moore, there's an easy fix for this common mascara problem: "[When I'm putting mascara on my lower lashes,] I like to hold my mascara wand vertically (like a magic wand) to apply. It's no mess!"
Keeping your mascara way past its best-by date.
Keeping your mascara way past its best-by date. The number of months your mascara is most likely good for is on the bottom, but you might want to toss it even sooner. Chloe Pantazi/INSIDER
Most mascara-wearers (myself included) are guilty of this one. You finally find a mascara you love- possibly an expensive one - so you want to use this reliable product as long as possible. Unfortunately, DC makeup artist and founder of The Pocket Palette Lynda Peralta warns against trying to get too much mileage out of your favorite tube.
"The industry standard is to throw it away after 90 days, but honestly, you probably need to do it sooner, especially if you travel with your makeup (germs on germs). One way I keep track of the date is to write the open date directly onto the tube with a Sharpie or label maker. I also try to leave my good mascara at home, and keep a travel one in my bag," Peralta told INSIDER.
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Most mascara-wearers (myself included) are guilty of this one. You finally find a mascara you love- possibly an expensive one - so you want to use this reliable product as long as possible. Unfortunately, DC makeup artist and founder of The Pocket Palette Lynda Peralta warns against trying to get too much mileage out of your favorite tube.
"The industry standard is to throw it away after 90 days, but honestly, you probably need to do it sooner, especially if you travel with your makeup (germs on germs). One way I keep track of the date is to write the open date directly onto the tube with a Sharpie or label maker. I also try to leave my good mascara at home, and keep a travel one in my bag," Peralta told INSIDER.
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Pumping your mascara brush to get smooth, lump-free lashes.
Pumping your mascara brush to get smooth, lump-free lashes. The pumps aren't doing much besides drying out the product. Karoly Arvai/Reuters
Pushing your mascara brush into the tube and quickly pulling it out happens a lot when people want a more thorough layer of product on the brush while avoiding clumps on the lashes. But in reality, this technique does more harm than good. Raleigh, NC aesthetician Ashli Carnicelli explained why: "Rapidly pumping the brush in and out can trap air and dry out the mascara."
If a smooth application is your goal, Carnicelli recommends a simple way to clear clumpy mascara out of the brush. "Wiping the applicator on the edge of the bottle should take away any clumps," she told INSIDER.
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Pushing your mascara brush into the tube and quickly pulling it out happens a lot when people want a more thorough layer of product on the brush while avoiding clumps on the lashes. But in reality, this technique does more harm than good. Raleigh, NC aesthetician Ashli Carnicelli explained why: "Rapidly pumping the brush in and out can trap air and dry out the mascara."
If a smooth application is your goal, Carnicelli recommends a simple way to clear clumpy mascara out of the brush. "Wiping the applicator on the edge of the bottle should take away any clumps," she told INSIDER.
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Expecting one mascara to do it all.
Expecting one mascara to do it all. Layering mascara is an art. Lucy Nicholson/Reuters
In this age of all-purpose cosmetics, consumers definitely expect a single product to check off all of the boxes on their wishlists. Therefore picking up a mascara that claims to "do it all" is an understandable move. However, DC makeup artist Mindy Green cautions against this mindset.
"There is a mascara formula and brush that is different for volume, curling, definition or length. Expecting one product to do everything is a lot. You'd be better off deciding what's most important and sticking to two formulas and layering them - curling and length or thickening and definition," Green suggested.
Don't want to risk overloading your lashes with product? Keep each product layer light, and you'll be all set.
In this age of all-purpose cosmetics, consumers definitely expect a single product to check off all of the boxes on their wishlists. Therefore picking up a mascara that claims to "do it all" is an understandable move. However, DC makeup artist Mindy Green cautions against this mindset.
"There is a mascara formula and brush that is different for volume, curling, definition or length. Expecting one product to do everything is a lot. You'd be better off deciding what's most important and sticking to two formulas and layering them - curling and length or thickening and definition," Green suggested.
Don't want to risk overloading your lashes with product? Keep each product layer light, and you'll be all set.
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