Mascara tips and tricks

Applying mascara makes eyes look deeper and more detailed and can polish off the look you are striving for. On days when you feel like going for the au naturelle look, it is still the most important tool to bring out the eyes and draw attention to them. I have a simple easy way to keep myself looking nice everyday and this includes, sunscreen/moisturizer, pressed powder, lip gloss, blusher, eyeliner on the upper lids and lastly, mascara.

Here are a few simple tricks I have tried:

Heated lash curlers make curling lashes easy and fast

After applying the desired amount of eyeshadow and eyeliner, use an eyelash curler. The manual type will do but lately I’ve seen battery operated eyelash curlers that have small heated plates that curl lashes faster. Watson’s has their own brand. Another brand is ConAir (Php995).Wonderful gadgets, but manual eyelash curlers like Shu Uemura or Revlon are just as effective and fits inside a purse.

Stroke the mascara wand along your lashes in an outward swoop with your eyes open.Move from the inside of your lashes out, making sure not to miss any on the way. Apply mascara with a back-and-forth sawing motion to the bristles will separat the lashes.To avoid clumping, give the mascara wand a slight wiggle while moving towards the end of the lashes to give you the most fullness and length. If you’re wearing eyeshadow, look down while you apply the mascara, so it will lessen the risk of getting a mascara dot on your lid.

I don’t apply apply mascara to the bottom row of lashes, but it you do, simply work from the outside in or the opposite of the way you did at the top row.To avoid the overdone look cover only the lashes towards the outer corner of your eye.

Keep a tissue or a credit card handy when you apply mascara. I use moist facial wipes to dot the tip of the wand to remove clumps. Facial wipes also come in handy when you accidentally smear mascara. Use the credit card an put it on your eyelid behind your lashes and apply the mascara. This will protect your eyelid (and your eyeshadow) and help make sure you get every lash.

Don’t wait for the mascara to dry up before applying the secod coat as it will begin to flake off and get in your eyes. Try to keep a steady hand and with deft strokes, make the application quick and clean as much as you can. Use a lash comb if you prefer but I don’t usually do this.

Mascara should be replaced after two to three months depending on use, as the mascara wand can harbor bacteria when used for too long. The easy way to tell is if the mascara has gotten too thick.

You may wash the wand every now and then with warm soapy water so the brushes are clean and application is quick and clean. To get more product on the wand, place the mascara wand into the tube and twirl it. Don’t pump it in and out as pump air in the tube makes the mascara dry up faster.
How professional makeup artists do it:
Using one finger, gently lift the skin of your upper eyelid up, then with your other hand gently stroke the mascara wand through your lashes a few times, from the inner corner to the outer corner, going over the tips of your lashes more than the base. You get a thin, even coat that looks natural than overdone