Smeared mascara
4 tricks so that your mascara never stamps again
Your mascara always marks on your eyelid? Here’s how you can prevent it.
© Dmytro Adamov / Adobe Stock
As soon as you catch a glimpse in the mirror, you are confronted with the inevitable: the mascara is smudged! Sunscreen and heat, especially in the summer, can make this debacle even worse. So that this never happens to you again, we give you five ultimate tips against unwanted mascara rings.
A problem that many of us not only have in summer: the mascara stamps. And the worst part is that no one is pointing it out to us either. So we walk around half the day with black stripes on our eyelids. Thanks! So that this doesn’t happen again, we have the best tips against smudges here mascara.
Prevent smeared mascara: 1. No cream products
Cream eyeshadow is great – it’s easy to apply and conjures up great looks. Too bad that cream products on our eyelids ensure that the mascara stamps faster. To keep cosmetics creamy, they are enriched with oil, in which the mascara can dissolve. When the lashes are so long that they touch the lids, they come into contact with the lipids – and you already know the result. Heavy eye creams in the morning can also encourage smudging, as can sunscreens that have UV filters dissolved in oil. Therefore: During the day, it is better to use lighter textures and use ethanol-based sun care.
2. Powder, powder, powder!
Powder is our magic bullet for preventing mascara from settling. With oily eyelids, it often only takes a few hours for the mascara to smudge. The reason is again: Oil dissolves make-up products – even waterproof ones. That’s why we want to curb oiling with powder. The best staying power is achieved with the baking technique: here you dab loose powder generously and after a few minutes sweep away the excess with a brush.
But oils are not only naturally found on the skin, but also on your eyelashes. Because they always get something from the creams. So carefully powder this off thoroughly with a brush. Incidentally, dry eyelashes also hold their curl better. Speaking of swing: If you already have the powder at hand, your eyelash curler can use some of it too.
Tip: If you apply two coats of mascara, powder your lashes again right after the first coat (while it’s still wet). You can do this with an eyebrow brush or a small fan brush.
3. Prime it
Eyeshadow primers can help keep mascara from stamping. Even if this is an extra step, you should take the 20 seconds and matt your eyelids with it. Because a primer not only ensures that the eye shadow does not slip into the creases, it also protects you from black mascara edges.
4. Waterproof mascara
Speaking of waterproof: In the best-case scenario, a waterproof mascara doesn’t mark at all. Unless your eyelids are heavily oiled (you now know how to prevent that). Waterproof mascara is a real lifesaver, especially in the summer when it’s particularly hot outside. There are now even top coats that make any normal mascara waterproof. Just in case your favorite mascara doesn’t come in waterproof.