Even the best beauty mavens have to deal with smudged mascara from time to time. These simple tricks can help you prevent the dreaded “raccoon eye” look when you’re trying to look your best.
1. Start with Mascara First
When you begin your beauty routine, apply your mascara first, before any other eye makeup products. If smudges do occur, it will be a lot easier to clean up the eye area without worrying about ruining your other eye makeup. To help catch smudges, dust a bit of loose powder around the eye area before it becomes smeared and harder to remove.
Also, make sure any eye cream you’ve applied is allowed ample time to soak into the skin before you apply mascara. Skin that is too hydrated can actually cause those raccoon eyes — never a pretty sight!
2. Look Down
If you normally apply mascara looking straight into a bathroom mirror, consider investing in a small hand held mirror and look down into the surface of the mirror when applying mascara. This helps open up the eye area more and decreases the chance smudging.
3. Clean the Wand
Using a regular tissue, wipe off the end of the mascara wand to prevent excess goop from sticking to your lashes. The tip of the wand always has the highest concentration of pigment, and if you don’t wipe off the excess you can end up with clumpy lashes that are very easy to smudge.
4. Apply Thin Coats
If you normally wear more than one coat of mascara, it’s easy to glob it on without stopping to really think about letting it dry. However, this is one of the most common reasons the “raccoon eye effect” occurs.
To help eliminate this problem, apply thin coats of mascara and let each application dry before applying the next one. Not only will this help prevent smudging, but you’ll also avoid the dreaded spider lashes that happen when a too-thick coat of mascara clumps up.
5. Less is More
Applying less mascara to the tips of your lashes can help prevent smudges and flaking. If you don’t have excess mascara on the tips of your lashes, it’s less likely that any product will flake off and smudge underneath or around your eyes.
6. Apply a Clear Top Coat
Just like applying a top coat your manicure or a shiny gloss to your lips, using a clear mascara after everything else has already dried can help lock in the color to your lashes and help prevent mascara from rubbing off during the day.
Wait for each normal mascara application to dry thoroughly and apply a thin coat of clear mascara over it to help lock color in place all day.
7. Use an Eyelash Comb
Once all is said and done, use an eyelash comb to comb through your lashes, removing any clumps that can end up on your skin later and defining your lashes for pretty peepers.
If you follow these steps, you can have clump-free, flake-free, and smudge-free mascara. However, some mascaras have a tendency to smudge more than others, so play around with different brands to find one that works for you.
When you find the perfect match, use these tips during your beauty routine for gorgeous lashes that don’t smudge up!
