This Mascara Hack Makes Eyes Look Years Younger, According To Beauty Experts

Update: This post was originally published on October 21, 2022.

When it comes to must-have makeup products, mascara is at the top of many people’s lists for a few simple reasons. For starters, it’s basically fool-proof and simple to apply even if you don’t possess the skills of a trained makeup artist. You can find a mascara that suits any budget — some of the most celebrated brands costs less than $10. And even if you don’t apply eyeshadow or eyeliner to your eyes that day, mascara alone is a tool that can instantly widen and brighten your eyes and make you look more awake. As with all makeup, knowing a few mascara tricks of the trade comes in handy to help make you look and feel your best. Some tips are particularly handy if you are concerned about the signs of aging and want to avoid making your eyes look too severe, especially during the day. This mascara hack makes eyes look years younger, according to beauty experts. 

Your natural impulse when buying mascara may be to gravitate toward the deepest, most lush black shades you can find. Years of reading beauty magazines probably taught you that the darker your lashes, the longer they’ll appear. But black shades can look harsh, especially on aging eyes. 

“Trade in your black mascara for a shade of brown,” suggests Haley Wood, the founder of The Look. “This creates a softer look and a more natural definition to the eye. Black mascara gives a heavier, more dramatic effect and the goal is to enhance your features as you age, not harshen them. Use a brown color to lift the eyelids and emphasize the lashes.”

With a beautiful shade of brown mascara in your kit now, here are some other tips for lifting the eyes with mascara. 

Always curl your lashes before applying mascara — this will help to open up the eyes and make them look wider, making you look more youthful and alert, recommends Jason Tyler, editorial director and professional hairstylist at Macho Hairstyles.

Applying mascara to the outer corners of eyes helps to give the illusion of wider eyes, Tyler said. If you just have a few minutes to get ready, focusing your mascara solely on the outer corner lashes and working the wand sideways and upwards toward the outside of your face can make you look more alert and awake. 

Beauty experts aren’t always in agreement about this one, but Tyler says applying mascara to the lower lashes helps to give your eyes more definition and make them look more youthful. The key is to opt for a light formula that will coat lashes evenly and won’t clump. And if you’re hesitant to work mascara onto lower lashes, start off slowly by applying it just to the lower lashes on the outer corner of your eye. A waterproof formula protects against smudging and smearing throughout the day — but take care to remove all of your mascara before bed because sleeping with mascara on can lead to premature aging around the eyes, according to Tyler.