When used correctly, mascara is a pretty powerful beauty tool that can open up your eyes and make you look both more mysterious and wide awake in an instant. We love mascara because it's affordable--you can find a great tube at any price point and because it's so easy to use even a child could master it.
Hold that thought. Mascara may seem intuitive, but the truth is far too many of us are making these mascara mistakes and they're costing us in a major way: by adding on years to our appearance.
[Photo: Instagram/Soap & Glory]
Piling on coat after coat of mascara.
If you've noticed your lashes are thinning, it may be tempting to overcompensate by applying coat after coat of thick, black mascara. Resist the urge. Doing this may result in clumps and spidery eyelashes that look unnatural and are aging. Stick to two coats and brush your lashes with a spoolie in between applications.
[Photo: tarte]
Applying a heavy coat to bottom lashes.
Here's the thing with applying mascara to your bottom lashes: a little goes a long way. Anything more than that and you risk pulling your face downward and emphasizing sagging skin around the eyes. Try holding the mascara wand vertically and applying no more than one coat to individual lashes.
[Photo: Instagram/Stila]
Not applying mascara to the lash root.
Always start your mascara application at the lash root and wiggle the wand as you make your way from root to lash tip. If you are ignoring this crucial step, you will wind up with uneven and brittle-looking lashes--which is lightyears away from our goal of achieving healthy, voluminous lashes.
[Photo: Instagram/Benefit]
Curling your lashes after mascara application.
An eyelash curler is a gift to girls with short, thin lashes — but if used improperly, it can quickly become a nightmare. Never take an eyelash curler to lashes after you have applied mascara because doing so puts you at risk of pulling out your lashes. Only use a curler on clean, dry eyelashes and hold it firmly, but not too tight.
[Photo: Walmart]
Wearing waterproof mascara too often.
Waterproof mascara is amazing precisely because it keeps mascara firmly planted to your lashes no matter how many hours you spend swimming laps. But it really isn't meant to be worn every day because it can take a lot of effort (and product) to remove waterproof mascara from lashes. The constant pulling and strain on lashes can result in lash loss and thinning, which is aging. Play it safe by reserving waterproof mascara for special occasions like weddings (when tears will be a reality) and trips to the beach.
[Photo: Walmart]