Lash Lust: Our Top 13 Mascara Tips + Tricks

Luscious lashes in a wink! Take a peek at some of our fave mascara application techniques and tips (plus a tolerable amount of eye puns…).

1. Save lashes for last. Do the rest of your face first and finish with mascara. You can always touch up afterward, but going in this order keeps other makeup (like eyeshadow fallout) out of your lashes.
2. Curl like a pro. No need for falsies, just use a lash curler to give lashes a quick crimp. This will open up your eyes and make it easier to prime each and every lash.  
3. Prime it. Prep lashes with primer first. This will help mascara glide right on, while building volume, amplifying length and intensifying color.
   
4. Double up. For more drama, apply two coats of color. Allow for some drying time (say, 30 seconds) between application so lashes don’t clump.
5. Wink, wink. Hold the brush against your lashes and blink so the formula hugs each lash. (This is one of Jessica Alba’s favorite tricks, too!)
6. Coat both sides. Add a fuller effect to lashes by coating both sides, as opposed to just one.
7. Flip your brush. Apply mascara vertically for easier access to bottom lashes. This technique will make your eyes pop!
   
8. Don’t pump. Pumping your mascara pushes air into the tube, which will can cause it to dry out more quickly.
9. Keep it clean. If your brush starts to look a little clumpy, clean it off. Cover mascara tube while you the soak wand in warm water for five minutes. Dry completely before returning to tube.
10. Liquid liner. Your favorite lash formula can double as an eyeliner. Use a flat brush to pick up pigment from wand, then apply along upper lashline. For more intense color, spray brush with Elevated Hydration Replenishing Mist — or good ol’ H2O — before dipping into shadow.
11. Quick fix. Erase any mascara marks with a cotton swab, or simply cover up and smudge out with a nude liner.
12. Up the volume. After priming, lightly dust lashes with a translucent powder. Follow up with mascara for mega-volume made easy.
13. Toss it. Replace mascara every two to three months to keep it fresh and make sure bacteria stays out of the eye area.