MASCARA: All you need to create BEAUTIFUL LASHES

TIPS ON APPLYING MASCARA:

1. The first most important key to applying mascara without creating a mess, is to pull out the right quantity from the tube/mascara bottle. NEVER pull out the applicator wand from the bottle in one pull as it will bring out loads of formula. Slowly and gently ‘unscrew’ the wand out of the bottle in anti-clockwise twists.
2. Once the wand is out in your hand, wipe off the extra mascara at the tip of the wand against the bottle neck or on a tissue paper. If you don’t, this will dirty your nose and the area around the eyes, when applying mascara.
3. It’s a good idea to apply eye makeup shortly after having bath or washing your face, to lock moisture in your lash hair. But make sure there is no water or cream on your lashes, else it will make your mascara sticky not letting it dry properly.
4. Keep your mouth wide open when applying mascara. This stretches your upper and lower lids apart and helps apply mascara easily and neatly.
5. Hold the wand at an angle and start coating with the small lashes near the nose, on the inner side of your eyes. Then take up the longer lashes in the middle and move towards the end.
6. There is no rule as to applying 1-2-3 or 4 coats. I just keep coating till I get the desired result.
7. Don’t dip the wand again and again into the bottle. Just twist the wand to use all the mascara present on the bristles. That should be enough to give you several coatings on one eye. The moment you feel your lashes are about to stick, stop right there and let the mascara dry. Most times it will be alright once it dries.
8. Practice is the key. Don’t expect to get great lashes in the first time. Applying mascara beautifully comes with practice. You cannot get the same effect like they show in the ads, as those are false lashes. Learn to beautify what you have been gifted by nature.
9. Place the brush near the roots of the lashes and sweep upwards towards the tips. Repeat to build volume. At least 3-4 coats are required to highlight your eyes. Apply more if required.
10. If you want cat-like eyes with lashes looking longer on the outer sides of your eye, hold the brush in the middle of your lashes and sweep it towards the outer side in upward motion.
11. Go for a good waterproof or water-resistant mascara that does not run down on your face if you happen to get your face/eyes wet.
12. If your mascara gets wet, don’t try to wash it off to reapply. Just pat your lashes gently against a tissue paper and let the lashes dry. Then simply clean any black trails left on your face. Once dried, reapply mascara if required. Trying to clean/wipe wet mascara will only make it messy.
13. Always keep a separate set of paper roll and earbuds to clean your eye makeup. Let your mascara and eyeliner dry first, and then simply clean any blackness around your eye area using a wet Q-tip/soft earbud.
14. For tips on how to remove mascara properly, read here.

HOW TO CURL EYELASHES WITH MASCARA?

To create a curl, complete at least 3 continuous sweeps without letting the mascara dry. Then keep the brush near the roots of your lashes and start rolling the brush between your thumb and fingers moving upwards. Once you reach the tip of the lashes, press the tips backwards towards your eyes to create a curl, putting pressure with the applicator brush.  Hold the brush there for a few seconds while pressing down. This will give the curl time to dry and set in. Repeat.

You can get a good curl in just two curling strokes (3 simple+2curling strokes=beautiful lashes) Please know that this is bound to leave some extra mascara drops on your lash tips. Just delicately dab with a ball of tissue paper, holding it near the tips and pressing down the same way as described above. Don’t clean if you want to keep the volume.

Alternatively, after you have applied several coats, place the index (first) finger of each hand below your upper lash hair, glide the finger to the lash tips, and press your lashes backward towards your upper eyelid a few times. The mascara should dry and set into a curl in a few seconds. Clean your fingers.


To learn how to train your lashes to curl up naturally, read here.

WHY DOES YOUR MASCARA DRY?

Quite often people complain that a mascara is bad because it has dried up in the bottle. But it happens mostly due to poor handling than poor formula.

Always unscrew the wand out of the tube/bottle. Never pull out. This will help avoid wastage of your costly product and also ensure good neat application. Similarly, always screw the wand into the bottle, never pump/push it in. Pumping the wand into the bottle in one push will cause air to trap into the bottle and will make your formula become clumpy and dry.

REMOVING MASCARA AND HEALTHY LONG LASHES NATURALLY

HOW TO REMOVE MASCARA?

Before you start removing your eye make-up, first remove your contact lenses if you wear them. Now take a small pool (8-10 drops) of plain coconut oil or almond oil or any other makeup removal oil in the center of your palm.

Dip your pinky (smallest) finger in the oil. Place the finger near the center of your eyes and close your lids. Your finger tip should touch the roots of your lashes but not the inner layer of your eye. Sweep your finger gently left and right to remove the mascara from the base of the lids.

Close your eyes and apply more oil to the upper side of the lashes near the eye lid. Gently melt all the mascara with your pinky finger till you can feel soft mascara free lashes on your finger. Repeat on the other eye.

By now you will look like a panda :-) with big black circles around your eye. Gently press down some soft tissue paper to let it soak the blackened oil. Wipe clean the remaining oil.  Do not rub harshly. Once clean, wash your palms and pat them dry.

Finally, to remove any chemical that may have been left in your eyes, take a small pool of rose water in the middle of your palm. Bend your face towards your palm bringing your eye right above the rosewater pool. Then simply take your head back in one light jerk, making the rose water fall right into your eye. Else use a dropper to put in 2-3 drops in each eye.

This will sting a little, so be patient. This is a very important final step.  After a few seconds, you will see some black chemical accumulated near your tear duct. Simply clean it with tissue or a clean cloth.

You have now successfully removed the mascara from the outside and from within your eyes.

WAY TO NATURALLY LONG CURLY LASHES

Apply or gently massage in some pure petroleum jelly (Vaseline) into the roots of your eyelashes with your pinky (smallest) finger every night. See the magic of beautiful long lashes in a few months ;)

You can also train your lashes to curl up naturally by exerting pressure on the lash tips with your index finger. For more details, refer to my other post on curling lashes here. Just use petroleum jelly instead of mascara and follow the same curling technique to eventually train your lashes to curl up. Please note that this is a tried technique but definitely needs patience and continuous effort.

All the best!