Magic wand moves: Your mascara manual

Long lashes can make your eyes look wider, bigger and brighter. Here are 10 lash-building insider tricks you need to know.

Long lashes can make your eyes look wider, bigger and brighter.

Here’s our insider’s guide to a mascara routine that will build fuller eyelashes.

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1. It’s all in the way you move (the mascara wand)

Wiggle the wand left to right at the base of your lashes. It’s the mascara placed near the roots – not the tips – that gives the illusion of length.

Pull the wand up and through lashes, wiggling as you go. The wiggling part is key because it separates lashes.

Finally, close your eye and place the mascara wand on top of lashes at the base and pull through to remove any clumps.

2. Dump the clump

Keep lashes from clumping by removing excess mascara from the wand. Wipe the wand on a tissue to eliminate blobs BEFORE you start.

3. Mix mascaras

A trick used by makeup artists to make lashes pop is to apply one coat of lengthening mascara, followed by one coat of thickening mascara.

4. Layer up on the edges

Give a few coats to the lash edges by blinking. Blink on to the brush to give ends an extra coat.

5. Powder under the eye before applying mascara

Sometimes mascara smudges because it’s attracted to oily concealer or eye creams.

6. Zig-zag the wand

Zig-zagging the wand back and forth during application helps cut down clumps.

7. Choose your look

For a dramatic look, apply mascara only to the upper lashes. To make eyes seem wider, apply to the bottom, too. But make sure you give lashes a light touch.

Not great at getting those bottom lashes? Try putting a tissue under them before application.

8. Take your time

Want that 2nd coat? Just make sure to do it before the first coat dries, otherwise you’ll get clumps.

9. Don’t pump wand in and out of the tube.

This only introduces air into the tube, which will cause your mascara to dry out sooner than it should.

10. Eyes wide open

Wait five seconds before blinking so don’t get mascara on your lids or below your eyes.

Now that your eyelash routine is sorted, check out our tips for getting the perfect pout.

Written by Nikki Yazxhi