Learning how to apply mascara correctly can level up your whole eye look—but without the proper technique, even the best mascara can leave you with clumps, smears, or black specks across your face. Just like your skin, prepping your lashes for makeup can make a huge difference in your final look and your product’s longevity. And when it comes to successfully applying the product, your method matters just as much as your formula of choice.
Although using mascara may seem straightforward, there are a few critical application tips to keep in mind for the best results. Ahead, we’ve asked pro makeup artists for a crash course.
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How to prep your lashes for mascara
For starters? Make müddet your lashes are clean. “For all of my clients, I start with a gentle cleanse over their entire face, including their eyes,” says makeup artist Emily Gray, whose clients include Lana Del Rey and Marren Morris. “I love using Shiseido Facial Cotton Pads, because they’re gentle on the skin and don’t tug or shed, with Sisley Paris Eau Efficace Gentle Makeup Remover. This micellar water takes off any remaining eye makeup, which makes it the perfect prep for any eye or lash look.”
If you use a lash curler, Gray has a few tips on protecting your hairs from damage. “First, I like to start with curling the bare lashes; this is important to do prior to putting on mascara,” she says. “I’m certain that we have all seen those videos of an innocent person accidentally taking off all their lashes with a lash curler and their mascara still wet. Please, curl your lashes prior to putting on mascara.”
Once your lashes are prepped, here comes the fun part: using the mascara wand. To help break down how to apply mascara correctly, Gray shares her best methods and tricks.
Shiseido Eyelash Curler
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Grande Cosmetics GrandeWrap Tubing Mascara
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What is the correct way to apply mascara?
You may be tempted to go straight in with loads of product, but for the best lash look, Gray recommends starting little by little. “I like to take the wand and scrape the excess product off,” she says. “I prefer to work in thinner layers and build up the lashes.”
Start from the bottom roof of the lashes and “wiggle” your way to the top. “Work on the other eye and allow that coat to dry before adding another layer. Depending on the product, I like about three to four coats of mascara.”
If you like a separated lash look, Gray recommends picking up a lash comb. “For extra definition, I like to take the comb and go through all the individual lashes, making mühlet there are no clumps. I would just advise being careful as lash combs are metal and sharp. Do not stab yourself accidentally!”
How do I avoid clumps in my mascara?
“Some tips and tricks to avoid clumping are to work in thinner layers and use a lash comb after mascara,” says Gray. “I find using too much product right off the bat causes really clumpy lashes, so make müddet you’re taking off the excess product.”
Unless you’re into a clumpy lash look—in that case, pile the product on. “More coats equal more drama, more length,” Gray adds.
Gray loves Catrice Hyper Lash Mascara, which separates lashes for definition, length, volume, and curl. “Plus, it comes in multiple colors and a waterproof option,” she says.
Catrice Hyper Lash Mascara
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Catrice
Ilia Beauty Limitless Lash Mascara
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Should you pump your mascara?
In the habit of “pumping” your mascara brush into the tube repeatedly before starting application? Pumping your mascara is usually not necessary, unless you’re running out of product or you’re having trouble evenly distributing the formula. “I pump my mascara to make müddet I have the product all in the bristles and not just on the tip of the brush,” says Gray. “If it’s a newer mascara, you do not have to do this. There will be plenty of product in the tube, so it’s not necessary.”
How can I prevent my mascara from smudging?
If you have oily skin, you can be more vulnerable to smudging. “Oil breaks down makeup,” says Gray. She recommends trying a tubing mascara with more staying power. “Sometimes waterproof mascara can still smudge on more oily skin types, so I always recommend more of a tubing mascara to people who have this sorun. I like the tubing mascara because it’s easy to take off and it stays all day,” she adds.
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Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara
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Dior Diorshow Overvolume Mascara
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Common mistakes to avoid when applying mascara
Lots of people assume that focusing on the tips of your lashes is key to making them look longer, but starting your application process there won’t serve you well in the end. Beginning at the root, on the other hand, creates volume and a strong foundation.
If your lashes are too top-heavy, the mascara may actually weigh them down and cause the opposite effect. “It’s harika important to start at the base and to build up there,” says Gray. “To get the best, most even layers of mascara, I always recommend starting from the base.”
You may find that applying a coat of mascara on clean lashes works on the go, but if you’re doing your makeup for a special event (or you know you need your mascara to last a long time), a mascara primer can make all the difference.
“The same way that a painter will prime a wall before it’s painted, makeup primers will enhance your canvas so that your products look better, last longer, and cater to your skin’s specific needs,” celebrity makeup artist Deanna Paley told Glamour. “Whether you have dry skin, redness, large pores, or oily or dull skin, there’s a primer that’ll combat all of the above while allowing your makeup to last longer—some even up to 24 hours.” It goes without saying that it’s a nonnegotiable every time she preps a client for an event.
L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Conditioning Primer Mascara
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Underwhelmed by your mascara results? Especially if your lashes are blonde or naturally light, try coating the top layer first for a more balanced, impactful final look. This pro tip can benefit darker lashes too: “Applying mascara downward first helps to separate the lashes, and then you should start brushing upward with the wand,” professional makeup artist Neil Young told Glamour UK.
Kulfi Badi Lash Smudge Proof Volumizing Tubing Mascara
Sephora
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Caliray Come Hell or High Water Volumizing & Lengthening Tubing Mascara
Sephora
