The Do’s and Do Not’s of Mascara
The hunt for the perfect mascara will never end. Since the dawn of makeup woman have searched for long, lush, thick, dense, doe-eyed lashes not letting any dollar sign stand in their way. But do you really need to drop $30 on a good tube? And is there really an expiration date? What color is best for me? Is there hope?!
In this blog post and the next we will answer some of your questions and next week review some of our staff’s favorite brands. Together we will find the perfect mascara.
DO trash it.
Toss your mascara out every 6 weeks. Your lashes wont fall out, but if it is not taken care of properly, bacteria can build up and give you an eye infection.
DO NOT share mascara.
Easier said than done in an emergency. But that is how bacteria can spread from her tube into yours. Protect your mascara! But if do end up sharing and your mascara changes texture, or smells funny, toss it. It’s not worth the risk.
DO wiggle.
Wiggle the brush into the base of your lashes, and kind of rotate the wand, as you close your eye. It really pushes some of the formula into the base of the lashes, filling in the spaces between, giving you a fuller, more defined look.
DO get creative.
If working with a straight brush, grab a paper towel and bend the brush yourself giving it a nice curve. This helps in the application. If the brush is shaped to the eye it’s less messy and will help to push the lashes up. When you are applying your last coat, push the lashes up and hold it there for a bit. It helps to “set” the lashes, retaining their shape.
DO NOT pump your mascara wand.
Pumping your mascara wand into the tube introduces air into the formula, and is a sure fire way to dry your tube out in 3 weeks. You just have to dip the wand in once, wipe off the excess on the edge of the tube, and apply.
DO know your colors.
Super black mascara is a must for dark haired, beauties. Soft black, if you are a more mature lady with dark hair. Brown black for a more natural look, or if you are blonde, or a redhead. Brown if you are young and just starting to experiment with makeup. Indigo (super dark blue) helps to brighten the whites of your eyes. Plum or dark violet really makes your eyes stand out if you are a brunette.
Confession: Mascara
Those of you who know me are well aware of my ongoing quest to find the ultimate mascara. Yes, it may sound trivial to those who do not understand the importance of such an endeavor. But the right mascara can completely transform your look. Use the wrong one, and you could end up looking like Tammy Faye…not Twiggy.
Despite the madness at the local malls, I braved my way to the Sherman Oaks Fashion Square in pursuit of my quest. I was surrounded by those partially hysterical after-the-holidays shoppers, running from store to store to redeem their newly acquired gift cards. Yes, you can imagine it, I’m sure.
After swooping up many mascaras from the various make-up meccas, I trotted home to try out my treasures. To my utter joy, I was able to experiment with a new one every day for over a week. There were some bad days, and some good days, but after these highs and lows I picked the best of the pack. These are just my opinions, mind you, and there’s nothing scientific about my testing methods. It’s just what I like and what works best for me. That said…
For days when I’m in a terrible hurry, Lancome’s Flextencils is ideal. It curls, thickens and lengthens all at once. No need for an eyelash curler–just a few swoops and I’m done. Brilliant.
When I want lashes that stop traffic, I go for DiorShow by Dior. They give me super-thick, lush lashes that are still soft and plush. If you add one of those mascara base coats the results are even bigger and badder. Caution: use only if you want to knock ‘em dead.
Some of us gals need a bargain. In that case go for Covergirls Lash Blast. You can’t miss it, it’s in a big fat orange tube. For a mere 7 dollars, you can have Dior quality lush lashes at a fraction of the cost. Shhhh, I’ll never tell that you didn’t spend over $20!
And when I’m going to be seeing a sad movie, I go for Precise Volume Waterproof Mascara by Shu Uemura. I can watch Ilsa and Rick at the end of Casablanca and not worry about ending up looking like a drowned raccoon. Yeah, that scene always gets me.
That’s all for now, girls.
Stay beautiful!
Love,
The Glamour Junkie
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