Mascara help

[konapoppy]

Hello

I am so impressed by the skills you all have! I am hoping you all can help me.

I have always had an issue with mascara- it clumps or it leaves marks under my eyes. I tend to just wear shadow and liquid liner to avoid the smudges, but there has to be a better way. I have tried Dior and a few others, but none seem to work. The only thing that worked was tinting them, but I don't want to do that regularly.

Do I need to curl? Is there a better mascara I should use?

[AJL]

Hi!

Some tricks I've learned for putting on mascara:

1. Lightly blot the wand on a tissue before you put it on the mascara. A lot of mascara brands tend to have a over-load issue. Better to put on a couple of light coats than one giant gloppy coat. This will help eliminate clumps.

2. When you put on the mascara, work it in a gently sideways motion at the root of the lashes before you sweep it on the length of your lashes.

3. I like to curl my lashes because they open up the eye and make them appear wider and more alert. It's a personal preferences but it can make it a little easier to put on mascara on the upper lashes.

4. To avoid smudges on your eyelid, you can try this - using a card behind the lashes or gently pulling the lid taut while you put on the mascara.

[Laura Palmer]

Have you tried a waterproof formula?

By the end of the day my mascara rubs off when my eyelids and undereyes get greasy, and primer helps somewhat.

[pixy0stix]

What AJL said. In general if you have issues across the board, then it's the application technique. Never ever pump the wand. Wipe off the excess. Put on very light layers (I generally do 2).

[konapoppy]

You guys rock. Thanks for the suggestions. I will work on the application and get a waterproof brand.

[nursewife]

I've had good luck using the new Benefit roller lash mascara. I already have long lashes, so I find this just darkens them and gives them a nice curl. I also really like Dior. I've found if I use a mattifying eye primer around my eyes, concealer, and then set it with powder, I have less of a chance of it smudging under my eyes. As long as I have oil under control, I have pretty good luck with minimal smudges. It's taken me years to figure out a technique that helps. I have chronic darkness under my eyes (thanks mom!), so I try my hardest to keep smudges from happening, and making my under eyes look worse.