Mascara Mistakes That Make You Look Older

Many of us wear makeup to look younger and more vibrant – after all, when we reach a certain age, many of us feel that taking a few years off our face can’t hurt. However, there are some key makeup mistakes that can age us, especially when it comes to mascara. If you want to enhance your eyes, mascara is an absolute must, but the step you should never skip is curling your lashes before applying it. Skipping this step is, without a doubt, one of the biggest mistakes I see people make. Over the 15+ years I’ve been working as a professional makeup artist, I’ve never failed to use an eyelash curler on a client, as it instantly opens up their eyes. That being said, you do need to be careful with application. Putting mascara on stick-straight or creating droopy lashes will only make your features look older – that’s mistake number two for those keeping score.

To keep your lashes lifted all day, gently press the curler at the base and slowly work your way up to the tips. Now that your lashes are curled enough, it’s time for mascara, but another mistake many make is applying too much. While you want enough product to thicken and lengthen your lashes, overloading them with mascara causes unsightly clumps and will smudge throughout the day. To prevent that from happening, make sure your tube is no more than three months old. Two telltale signs that your mascara is expired are a strange smell and a clumpy texture. If you’re not sure, throw it out and find a new one. You don’t want to risk irritation or, worse, infection.

How to apply mascara evenly

Once you’re ready to apply your mascara, make sure your brush isn’t clumpy. If you see any, wipe it with a tissue to remove any excess residue. I find it also helps to let it dry for a few seconds so you don’t apply too-wet mascara to your lashes, which will transfer to the skin around your eyes. Smudged eyes can make you look older, so this is a mistake you’ll definitely want to avoid. Gently move the brush from the base of your lashes to the tip, making sure to distribute the product evenly. After applying the first coat, use a metal lash comb, like the Zeyiyer to remove any clumps. Next, apply a second coat and repeat with the lash comb.

Don’t forget to give your bottom lashes some TLC, too, but do it very gently. Too much mascara in that area will make you look older and draw attention to any fine lines you may have around your eyes. Plus, it flakes and runs, which will make you look disheveled. One coat is enough to enhance your lower lids.