Picture yourself. You leave the house with luscious-looking lashes, coated with the perfect amount of black volumizing mascara. It’s a good lash day. By lunchtime, you look in the mirror and your reflection looks more like something out of a Korean horror movie than your good self!
We’ve all been there.
As common as those black smudges are, they can leave you looking tired and hungover, and generally, altogether unappealing.
The good news is, this annoyance is totally avoidable. Before you begin applying layer after layer of concealer and powder on and under your eyes, read on for my simple tips on how to keep your mascara from smudging and maintain a natural, sophisticated look all day long. No more mascara smudges for you!
.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying links. This means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.
.
Looking for the best no-smudge mascara available? Here are my top three picks with a bonus thrown in for good measure 😉
Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara
Ilia Beauty’s Limitless Lash Mascara is an award-winning, 99% naturally derived mascara formula that lifts, lengthens, volumizes, and curls. Buildable, flake-free, and smudge-free, it’s made with shea butter and beeswax for extra staying power.
While it lasts for hours, it only takes minutes to remove. Simply use a little water and makeup remover at the end of the day – no scrubbing or rubbing required! This might be my favorite mascara at the moment. Oh, how I do love Ilia Beauty these days!!!
Find Ilia Beauty Limitless Lash Mascara here.
Clinique Lash Power Mascara Long-Wearing Formula
A lengthening mascara that leaves lashes looking luscious for up to 24 hours without smudging or smearing. It lasts through rain, sweat, tears, and humidity. Thanks to its unique brush design, it coats and lengthens even the tiniest of lashes.
Find Clinique Lash Power Mascara Long-Wearing Formula here.
No7 Beauty Stay Perfect Mascara
If you have issues with mascara moving or smudging during the day, try No7 Beauty Stay Perfect Mascara. Silicon-based and with a waterproof formulation, this mascara doesn’t flake or smudge. It’s a 24-hour wear formula that lasts through tears, rain, and life. No raccoon eyes here!
In spite of its staying power, this mascara is very easy to remove, requiring only a quick rinse of your eye area to remove it.
Find No7 Beauty Stay Perfect Mascara here.
.
Essence Bye Bye Panda Eyes
This vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, perfume and alcohol-free fan favorite is certainly an eye-catcher with its apt title. I couldn’t resist mentioning it for its cleanliness. Bye Bye Panda eyes will coat and define your lashes without flaking or smudging, and remove with warm water.
Find Essence Bye Bye Panda Eyes Mascara here.
.
Tips for Preventing Smudging
Aside from choosing the right mascara to help you avoid the dreaded panda eyes, here’s what else you can do to stop your mascara from smudging.
Clean Your Lashes
Always begin with clean lids and lashes. You should never apply mascara to dirty lashes, as this increases your risk of the product falling as well as putting you at risk of an eye infection. Ouch!
Use a gentle makeup remover to remove all traces of makeup and dirt from your eyelashes and lids, all the way up to your eyebrows. You want the area to be squeaky clean before getting started.
.
Control Oiliness
Have you got oily eyelids? It’s more common than you might think. Since oil melts and dissolves the bonds in makeup, you’ll need to soak up any excess oil at the start of your makeup routine to guarantee long-lasting, smudge-free mascara.
After using a gentle cleanser, take a powder-laced blotting sheet and press it over your oily lids and under eyes to fully mattify them prior to makeup application. Setting powder also works wonders in preventing product slip. Even using a powder eyeshadow will contribute to controlling oily skin near your top lashes.
You can also use an eyeshadow primer to help contain those oily upper lids.
In the meantime, avoid using heavy creams and moisturizers around your eyes before applying mascara.
.
Prime Your Lashes
Mascara primer is much like the primer you use on your lids and face. It helps hold and enhance the makeup you apply over it. With eyelash primer, you get an even base for mascara while also boosting length and volume. Some people also use lash primers as eyelash conditioners to take care of their lashes between makeup sessions.
If you want your mascara to last for hours sans smudging, always start with a high-quality eyelash primer so your mascara can stick and stay – all day!
.
Consider Waterproof Mascara
While not everyone’s into using waterproof mascara, it’s practically smearproof. In other words, when you apply waterproof mascara, you are guaranteed hours of perfect, smudge-free mascara.
Keep your lashes nourished while using a waterproof formula by applying your regular mascara and primer combo. This will create a barrier so that the waterproof formula causes less damage.
.
Don’t Rub
This one should go without saying, but it’s worth the reminder. When you rub, you unintentionally move the mascara from your lashes down to your under-eyes. Rubbing can also cause damage to your eyelashes. And also your eyes – hello, contact lens wearers – I’m talking to you!
If you need to rub because you have an itch, use a tissue to do it to prevent product fall and keep your mascara looking impeccable. Or give yourself a little eyedrop.
.
Don’t Pump the Mascara
While some beauty lovers swear by pumping their wand to add more mascara to it, this practice can actually cause more harm than good. According to experts, it can even make your mascara work less effectively.
Basically, pumping pushes air into the tube which causes the mascara to dry out, leading to clumping, flaking, and product fall. It can also force in bacteria and cause them to become trapped, putting your eyes at risk of infection. In order to practice safe and effective mascara habits, gently twist the wand back and forth or in circular motions to retrieve the desired amount of product.
.
Replace, Replace, Replace
Make sure you replace your mascara every 30 days – 3 months.
.
Dust Under the Eyes
A common mistake many people make when prepping their eyes for mascara is over-applying concealer and powder on the lids and beneath the eyes. In addition to emphasizing a raccoon eye look, it also looks extremely cakey and undesirable. So, if you’re looking for a natural makeup look, this isn’t the best way to start.
Embrace the baking method instead. It involves applying a light dusting of translucent powder under the eyes to dissolve excess oil and prevent product fall.
.
Try False Eyelashes
If you’re looking for a loophole to the smudging scenario of mascara, consider putting on a pair of falsies. They may be tough to apply at first, but it’s the ideal choice for enhanced eyes without the hassle of melting makeup.
There are plenty of options online for a good pair – from your regular glue-on falsies to the newer magnetic versions. It’s a quick fix for bigger, bolder, more beautiful eyes!
Don’t Use Eye Cream Right Before Your Mascara Application
If you have a hard time keeping products where you put them on your face, try using your eye cream at night before be only. Avoid using eye cream on your eyes prior to popping on your mascara, as it can lend itself to creating a moist surface, and playing ground for mascara spreading where it’s not supposed to!
Now that you know all these tips and tricks for preventing mascara smudging, you can go forth and live your best lash life ever! Make sure you follow these steps every time to secure long-lasting flawless makeup!
.
.
Featured Image by Carlos Martinez
Sources
L’Oreal Paris
RMS Beauty
