It struck me this morning that after all these years I might be putting my mascara on incorrectly

[BigButtons]

I don't think it's the mascara- although i am trying out a new one- I normally stick with tubing ones.
It's just, mascara always clumps on me, always.
I just assumed it was the mascara( It could be) but it could also me.

How do you manage to layer mascara without it looking crappy?

I keep old mascara wands and put on the mascara with the new wand and then use the old wand (which doesn’t have mascara on) to run through and separate the lashes.

I read somewhere you should also wiggle the wand as you brush through.

I blot the mascara wand on a tissue which takes off excess and that helps

I don't know but I've watched some women in Instagram and their eyes are all over the place . I think I must have it nailed because mine never clumps and I use a cheap
One . I did start wearing it about 16 and have done daily since !

@gunnersgold

I don't know but I've watched some women in Instagram and their eyes are all over the place . I think I must have it nailed because mine never clumps and I use a cheap One . I did start wearing it about 16 and have done daily since !

What do you do?

I have started to use an old wand and that has helped. I will also try taking the excess off with a tissue. Seems like such a waste though🥴

I always drag the excess mascara off the edge of the tube. Less is more

Never ‘pump’ the wand in and out of the tube to refill it. Can’t remember exactly why but that supposedly affects the consistency of the product.

Also… I don’t layer my mascara. Perhaps others do. I just apply one layer. If I go over the same lashes again with a second layer it would clump up.

Some young people like the clumped look. A friend of mine taught me how to put mascara on at university 30 years ago. She sort of pushed back firmly at the base of the lashes as it went on, just one layer. Almost as good as eyelash curlers.

When I worked for Clinique and then Chanel we were always told to zig zag the wand through the lashes and then apply a second coat almost straight away whilst still damp so it doesn’t clump. I think some of the volume mascaras are dreadful for clumping, I actually think it’s better to just use a basic high street brand and apply a few coats. My favourite is Max Factor 2000 calorie.

@ViaRia

Never ‘pump’ the wand in and out of the tube to refill it. Can’t remember exactly why but that supposedly affects the consistency of the product.

Also… I don’t layer my mascara. Perhaps others do. I just apply one layer. If I go over the same lashes again with a second layer it would clump up.

Pumping the wand in and out the tube causes air to get in which dries it out. Some mascaras just don’t layer well but have you tried waiting a few minutes for the first layer to dry before doing the second?

Don't know if this makes sense but I used to put the mascara on horizontally all lashes at once and it blotted everywhere. Then I watched an old Joan Collins video (no judgments please, Dame Joan knows her make-up) and she put the mascara on vertically one or two lashes at a time. This has made a huge difference.

I don't layer though. I use quite spenny mascara and IMO cost doesn't make a difference to clumping.

My eyelashes don't move , I see other people putting it on and they kind of keep the wand still and move their eyelashes whereas I do the opposite .

@ThePlantsitter

Some young people like the clumped look. A friend of mine taught me how to put mascara on at university 30 years ago. She sort of pushed back firmly at the base of the lashes as it went on, just one layer. Almost as good as eyelash curlers.

I do that too.

Thanks for the tips everyone.
I do put it on vertically- I didn’t realise there was any other way?
I’ll try the bottoms of the lashes method.
I think I remember a Wayne Goss clip that involves very many very thin layers and a spare wand. I am too lazy and impatient to do that though.

@Danikm151

I always drag the excess mascara off the edge of the tube. Less is more

Same. I never get clumps.

I turn the wand as I put it on.

Also on the Glow up TV show I think that's what it's called the make up artist said to actually brush the lashes from side to side rather from root to end

One coat only, a delicate ballet of lifting the wand whilst resisting with the eyelid. I sometimes zigzag if I'm feeling devil may care. Outer eyelashes are done at a 45 degree angle to encourage the lashes outwards.

Cheap mascara or £££, makes no difference to me.

Never ever do the bottom lashes.

Ah- resisting with the eyelid- makes sense

I purchased a metal lash comb the other week. It really helps with the layering.
I comb first layer through, let dry, then comb the lash comb through. Then use my eyelash curler (which I heat in a mug of hot water), then repeat the comb/mascara once more.

I’ve never understood the concept of layering. I apply until I am happy with how much I have on. That means going over the lashes several times before it dries.

Is that layering? Or is layering doing another coat once the first is dry?

I also do the zigzag at the bottom method. So nestle the wand at the base of the lashes, do a little wiggle like you're embedding it in, then brush out.
Then if you want extra volume, after your first coat dip your wand back into the tube then pull it back out - wait 30 secs to 1 min - you want your original layer of mascara to still be wet, but starting to get a bit sticky. Then do another coat with the wand you've let 'dry' a bit. Wirks for me!

I managed to cut off on lashes with an eyelash curler earlier in the year. I hadn’t noticed until I went for a lift and tint and the girl point out I had stubby lashes on the outer corner of my eye.
Now I am scared of using a curler.

Isn’t mascara just the weirdest thing when you think about it? Millions of pounds a year in sales to make eyes look bigger! It’s so strange really!!

i start at the bottom close to the lid, light upward pressure on the brush and blink down through to cover lashes, I go vertical for the outer corners, up and out for those

Also get good results holding a mirror low down so that your top lid is pretty far down, and then you don't blob it on your eye lid

Bottom lashes I hold brush horizontally and sort of bump it on....going through the lower lashes really gives a spider leg vibe!

The brand of mascara you use makes a huge difference re. clumping. I've found Volume Million Lashes is the best one so far, and the Volume Million Lashes So Couture. They have about a gazillion bristles which is really good for separating lashes.

And using an old mascara wand, as PP have suggested - works like an eyelash comb but actually better.

I find mascara consistency changes after a few weeks and often is slightly easier to use than when it's brand new and really wet.

2 or 3 coats, pulling the brush up vertically from the base of the lash to the tip - I cannot get on at all with the zig zag method, it always clumps horribly when I do that.

Also, use eyelash growth serum at night - honestly, my lashes are at least a third longer now from using it. Some lashes are actually too long now and interfere with my glasses so I have to stop using the serum for a bit.