THIS IS HOW YOU APPLY YOUR MASCARA FLAWLESSLY

And just like that, there’s another thick blob of pitch-black mascara on my nicely made-up eyelids. The perfectly drawn wing line above my eye, which I’ve actually spent at least fifteen minutes on, is completely ruined. As I stare at my eyelid in panic, I feel a wave of frustration bubbling up. How is this possible? Do I have to mess around with cotton pads and makeup remover with wet mascara now? That can only go wrong. I let it sink in for a few seconds. Let’s just skip today. No perfect luscious lashes today then.

Applying mascara is not my thing. Foundation and highlighter? Fine. A red lipstick to go with it? Absolutely. Even styling my hair I can almost always do to perfection. But there’s just something about that black goo that just doesn’t quite work out. Yet I can’t live without it. And because I’m sure I’m not the only one with these struggles (only Kiki has perfected this art at the office), I’m going to help you out a bit. Just read the following tips carefully. My alarm is set ten minutes earlier tomorrow to try them all out. Are you in?

1. Is your mascara dried out or clumpy? No problem! Just let it sit in a glass of warm water for a few minutes and voilà: your mascara is clump-free again.

2. This tip is really my must-try. Do you recognize my struggle with cotton pads and wet mascara? Apparently, a cotton swab (yes, those things you clean your ears with) works much better. My.mind.is.blown.

3. Don’t pump, but twirl. Dipping too much into your mascara causes more air to get in, which means your mascara dries out faster. Good thing we now know the ‘mascara in warm water tip’.

4. Just like you might stay loyal to your favorite perfume for ten years (right, Adeline?), it doesn’t have to be the same with mascara. To achieve those seductive, long, and voluminous lashes of your dreams, you can simply mix and match two or three mascaras. For example, take the new Monsieur Big mascara from Lancôme for extra volume, and mix it with the Maybelline XXL Curl Power mascara for the perfect result.

5. Apparently, it’s all about that wiggle. Wiggle, you’re thinking? Yes, you know, like Jason Derulo taught us, but with your mascara. Are you still following me? Start at your lash line and keep moving until you reach the end of your lashes. Hold the curl longer. Now you know that too.

6. I find this tip a bit scary, but here it comes for the real daredevils among us: bend your mascara wand to make application easier. Do you dare?

7. Do you have a box of baby powder lying around? Then that’s really perfect right now. Apply a layer of mascara and then use those new cotton swabs you just bought to dust your lashes with a layer of baby powder. Another layer of mascara on top and your lashes are more voluminous than ever!

8. Never forget to use your eyelash curler. Never.

9. Side note: Use your eyelash curler BEFORE applying mascara and never after. This increases the chance of pulling out your beautiful long lashes. The horror. Just don’t do it, deal?

10. Use your hairdryer to warm up your eyelash curler before use. It works better and your lashes stay curled longer.

Here you have them; the ten tips to apply your mascara flawlessly and the emergency tips for when it goes wrong. Try them all and take a selfie of the result, okay?

Written by: Danique van Leeuwenstijn