Mascara Application

Kristen von Riesen - Pure Anada Makeup Artist

Applying mascara. Seems simple, right? Well, it is, in fact, not as simple as it would seem.

I have heard from numerous people that as they are applying their makeup, all is going well, so they pull out their mascara to finish off the look and BAM! a seemingly innocent sweep of mascara ends in disaster! Globs everywhere! How to fix it? Let's just try to wipe it away with a finger... oh no! Now there is a streak of it across your cheekbone! Ugh, now you have to wash it off and reapply whatever makeup came off with it.

Patience is key. Take your time with mascara. Since it is often the last piece of your makeup puzzle, it can potentially ruin your look and waste your time if it smudges.

The bigger the brush, the bigger the mess! A large brush may come with its advantages, such as fuller-looking lashes. However, it is much harder to control a big mascara brush. Pure Anada's brush is smaller, for finer, more detailed work. This makes it so much easier to control! You will see that it has a slight curve to it. This also helps you to control the application, but if you do not like the curve, simply straighten your wand!

Do not try to make your lashes look fuller by globbing on your mascara in one thick layer. This can cause a big mess. Instead, layer it on.

Never ever ever add anything to your mascara! No water, no eye drops, nothing! Mascara is only meant to last 3-6 months after opening. If it seems to dry up early, run the whole tube (make sure it is closed!) under hot water to melt the mascara.

Tips on applying mascara:

Tip 1: Wiggle the mascara wand from roots to tips of your eyelashes. By focusing the mascara into the roots, you will achieve that fullness. And by wiggling the wand back and forth followed by an upward sweep, you will cover the full lash in mascara and you will have more control than if you were to only sweep upward. Do not sweep the wand to the side, this will drag your lashes outward instead of upward (and upward makes your eyes look larger and lashes look longer!). (As you can see in the picture below, I apply my mascara on my upper lashes by using the curved side of the wand against my lashes)

Tip 2: If you just cannot manage to keep the mascara from smudging on your eyelids, use something like a spoon or business card to cover your eyelid!

Tip 3: Use a small cotton swab (dry, with nothing on it), and dab away the smudged mascara. If you act quickly, often the cotton swab lifts away the excess product without messing up the rest of your makeup. Dab away the mascara instead of wiping.

Tip 4: Use the tip of the mascara wand for detailed work. I use the tip to apply mascara to my bottom lashes. I also use it to thicken the roots of my upper lashline.

Tip 5: Clumpy mascara? There are brushes and combs made specifically to brush out eyelashes. Or try combing them out with a clean toothbrush!

Tip 6: Say NO to pumping the mascara! Too often I see people pump their wand into the mascara tube to get more product. This pushes air into the tube causing your mascara to dry out faster. Twirl the wand in the tube to get more product on the brush.

YOU GOT THIS!