Finding the Best Mascara For You

Magazines flood us with information on “the best” mascaras, but what works for some may not work for others – I can’t stress enough the importance of finding what works for you. To make it easier to get the most out of any mascara I have 10 great tips for fabulous lashes in 2013:

1: If your lashes are: Long but need volume. Reach for a brush that’s fat and bulky; remember that a fat brush equals fat lashes. Try: L’Oreal Voluminous, CoverGirl Lash Blast (orange tube), Diorshow or Clinique High Impact Extreme Volume.


2: If your lashes are: Thick but need length. Reach for a longer, thinner brush; remember that a longer brush equals longer, more defined lashes. Try: Clinique High Lengths, Maybelline Great Lash (green-and-pink tube) or Smashbox Hyperlash.

3: If your lashes are: Smudgy and smear, and you have trouble finding mascara that doesn’t end up under your eyes, you need waterproof mascara. Try: Urban Decay Cannonball Ultra Waterproof.

4: If you have a traditional brush wand, improve lash separation while applying mascara by moving the wand in a swift, zigzag motion from lash root to tip, as opposed to one sweeping motion.

5: One of the most common lash mistakes is that many forget to coat the inner lashes. If you only apply mascara to the middle and outer corners of your lashes, you can give an illusion that changes your eye shape, making them look closer together or more narrow. Think of your lashes as a fan with three sections. You want to amplify every section of the fan – middle, outer side and inner side – to really open up your eyes and flatter your eye shape.

6: Dab the tip of your mascara wand on a tissue to get rid of the glob that tends to form on the wand’s tip. This will keep you from getting uneven, goopy product distribution – especially on your shorter lashes.

7: It is OK to physically bend your wand to help you reach smaller lashes. (You can always bend it back, carefully.) It is a great, cost-effective option if you don’t want to buy separate mascara with a bent-wand applicator, like Napoleon Perdis Long Black (one of my favorite for fluttery lashes).

8: If you use a lash primer, particularly a white one (like Clinique Lash Building Primer), wait 10 to 30 seconds for the primer to dry, then apply your mascara. This keeps the color of your mascara from looking “diluted” (i.e. gray instead of black).

9: When applying multiple coats of mascara, avoid putting several coats on one eye at a time or you’ll end up with one really thick coat rather than a more defined finish. Apply one coat on your left eye, then switch to your right, then go back to your left, and so on. This allows each coat a little necessary time to set (but not completely dry) before you put on the next coat.

10: Clear mascara not only gives you that “no-makeup makeup” look, but also makes a great brow gel. Fill in your brows with color if you like, then sweep a coat of clear mascara over them to keep them in place. Try: Sephora Professional Clear Defining.

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