How to Put Mascara On

When you learn how to put mascara on, you're doing a great favor for your eyes. Mascara is the finishing touch to any eyeshadow look and brings instant drama to your eyes. Not all mascara is created equal, so decide what your lashes need (volume, length, just some color, or all of the above) so that you won't be disappointed by the results when you learn how to apply it.

How do you apply mascara?

Coating the Wand

Once you've decided which color and type of mascara you would like to use from the collection of volumizers, lengtheners, natural tints, waterproof formulas, washable *formulas, and more out there, it's time to coat the wand.

• What not to do: Many women tend to pump the mascara wand in and out of the tube. Don’t do it! You'll shorten the life of your mascara by adding unnecessary bursts of air to the tube. The air will cause the mascara to dry out quickly, leaving you spending more money on new tubes and getting clumpy lashes in the meantime. Pumping also encourages bacteria to grow in your tube of mascara.

• What to do: Simply rotate the wand inside of the tube to evenly coat the bristles with the product. If you need more mascara after coating the lashes on one eye or you wish to go back for a second coat, insert the wand once, roll it around again, and reload the brush.

Application: How to Put Mascara On

Part of knowing how to put mascara on comes from the prep work mentioned above, which is coating the wand. You may also want to curl your lashes beforehand, too, though that isn't necessary. Start by holding the wand horizontally along the underside of the lashes, at the roots. Wiggle the wand back and forth to really coat the roots and give the look of fuller lashes. Drag the wand through to the tips of the lashes and go through again until the desired effect is achieved.

For extra drama, you can also coat the tops of the lashes. Start from the bottom and then do the same roots to tips method on the tops of the lashes. Go from the underside once more to keep the lashes from drooping.

To apply to the lower lashes, you can hold the wand horizontally, though that may cause you to smudge mascara onto your skin unless your lashes are very thick. Another method is to hold the wand vertically and lightly glide the wand down the lengths of the lashes in short, downward motions, working from one side to the other. If you're going for a natural everyday look, you may want to skip the lower lashes completely.

Dual-ended Mascaras

Some mascaras come with a primer on one end and the colored formula on the other. These are just as easy to use as regular mascara, though they take another minute or so to apply. First, apply the primer to the lashes on one eye. Then follow up with the mascara. Follow with the second eye.

In most cases, this is the most effective way to apply primer and mascara combinations, though some formulas work best if you allow the primer to dry first. If you try applying mascara directly over wet primer and end up with grayish lashes, try letting the primer dry before applying the black or brown mascara.

When One Coat Isn't Enough

If you like drama, one coat probably will not be enough for your lashes. You'll want a second and perhaps even a third. The key to applying multiple coats of mascara is to never let one coat dry before applying the next. Applying wet mascara to already dry lashes will result in flaking and the dreaded "spider legs" appearance.

If there's a volumizing mascara you love and a lengthening you love as well, try doing one coat of each for the perfect, flirty lashes you're hoping for. People might not even believe they're real.

• Fall Makeup Ideas
• Animal Face Painting
• Bad Makeup Pictures
• Sexy Eye Makeup Quiz
• Choosing the Correct Foundation For Your Coloring Quiz

• Eye Makeup Pictures
• How to Apply Eye Makeup
• Eye Makeup Ideas
• Free Makeup Samples
• Eye Makeup Tips

• When to Discard Makeup
• Eye Makeup Remover Gel
• Organic Mascara
• Do You Curl Lashes First or Apply Mascara First
• Mascara