Tired of the panda eyes? Keep reading as I share my top tips, techniques and recommendations to help you maintain flawless lashes all day long. Join me now to explore the world of mascara and learn how to avoid your mascara smudging once and for all.
tips and techniques for smudge-free mascara
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In This Episode We Cover:
- The steps to take before you go anywhere near a mascara wand to ensure smudge-free lashes
- Additional products that you may be overlooking that will help your mascara stay where you put it
- What you can do to look after your eyes and hygiene practices that are vital for your mascara
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click here to read the transcript!
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Episode 51: Show notes
We’ve all experienced the frustration of our perfectly coated lashes turning into a smudgy mess by lunchtime.
But fear not!
I’ll share my top tips and product recommendations to help you maintain that natural, sophisticated look.
So, let’s get started!
Choosing the Right Mascara
Let’s start with the very heart of this post – the mascara itself.
Here’s a list of my top three mascara recommendations for exploring.
Each of these mascaras has its unique qualities, ranging from long-lasting formulas to cruelty-free options. Selecting a high-quality mascara means you’re already one step closer to preventing smudging. Remember, finding the right mascara is crucial for achieving your desired look.
Ilia Beauty Limitless Lash Mascara
Clinique Lash Power Mascara
No. 7 Beauty Stay Perfect Mascara
Bye Bye Panda Eyes Mascara
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Prep Tips for Prevention
While a good mascara is essential, your preparation and routine play a vital role in avoiding smudges.
Here are some expert prep tips to remember:
1. Cleanliness is Key: Start with clean eyelashes and lids. Use a gentle makeup remover to eliminate any traces of makeup and dirt. This step not only helps prevent smudging but also reduces the risk of eye infections.
2. Tackle Oily Eyelids: If you have oily eyelids, don’t worry – you’re not alone. Combat excess oil by using eye wipes specifically designed for this purpose. Additionally, blotting paper and a mattifying powder can work wonders in controlling oil.
3. Invest in an Eyeshadow Primer: Apply an eyeshadow primer before your mascara to create a smooth base. This not only helps with smudging but also tackles oily upper eyelids.
The Game Changer: Mascara Primer
While mascara primers may not suit everyone’s taste, a well-combed primer application can significantly enhance your mascara’s performance. Consider it the foundation for your lashes, providing an even base and boosting both length and volume. Mascara primers can be particularly beneficial if you’re concerned about smudging.
Waterproof Mascaras and Best Practices
If you’ve never tried waterproof mascara before, now’s the time to consider it. While it’s not invincible, waterproof mascara is practically smear-proof and can last all day. Remember to follow the golden rule of mascara-wearing – avoid rubbing your eyes at all costs. Rubbing can lead to mascara smudging, lash damage and introduce bacteria and germs into your eyes. Instead, reach for a tissue or use a soothing eye drop if you have an itch.
Additional Mascara Tips and Tricks
Here are a few bonus tips to keep in mind:
1. Eye Circles Technique: Close your eyes and gently press your pointer finger onto your closed eyelid. Roll your eye around in a circular motion while maintaining the pressure. This technique, learned from contact lens technicians, can alleviate eye discomfort and prevent rubbing.
2. Say No to Pumping: Avoid pumping the mascara wand in and out of the tube. This action introduces air and bacteria, reducing the effectiveness of your mascara. Instead, give the wand a gentle twist to coat it with the perfect amount of product.
3. Mascara Freshness: Remember to replace your mascara every 30 days to three months. It may seem like a short lifespan, but it ensures the product remains fresh and safe for your eyes.
Consider False Eyelashes for Effortless Glam
If you’re tired of dealing with smudging altogether, why not give false eyelashes a try? While they may require some practice, false eyelashes offer a glamorous look without the worry of mascara melting away. It’s an excellent option for special occasions or when you want extra drama.
With these expert tips and tricks up your sleeve, you’re now equipped to keep your mascara from smudging and enjoy flawless lashes all day long.
Remember the importance of clean eyelids, the potential benefits of mascara primers, and the power of waterproof mascara.
Practice good habits like avoiding eye-rubbing and replacing your mascara regularly.
By following these recommendations, you’ll achieve stunning, smudge-free lashes effortlessly.
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Click here to listen to this episode!
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Episode Transcript
[00:00:00]: Hello! Welcome back to Five Minute Face Talk. Today’s episode is all about keeping those lashes looking on point and avoiding the dreaded mascara smudge. We’ve all been there, right?
Picture this. You leave the house with your lashes looking absolutely fabulous. If you’re allowed to say that it might be trademarked, I don’t know. I’m saying it. I’m doing it.
[00:00:29]: We’ll see how that goes.
But your lashes look great. They’re coated with the perfect amount of volumizing mascara. It’s a good lash day, but come lunchtime, you check the mirror in the bathroom and discover that you look more like you’ve stepped out of a Korean horror movie.
The good news is that you can avoid this mascara mishap altogether, and I’m here to help you learn how.
[00:01:29]: Before you reach for that concealer and powder, or dare I say, the dreaded makeup remover wipes, you know I loathe them if you don’t. You do now, and you’re going to hear me talk about them with not such a kind heart.
From this day forward, stay with me as I share some simple tips to keep your mascara from smudging and maintaining that natural, sophisticated look all day long.
First things first, I wanted to give a special mention to some mascara recommendations that I’ve been sampling. So here are my current top three picks, I guess. Ilia Beauty’s Limitless Lash Mascara. I was actually gifted one of these courtesy of Sephora for my birthday last year. Not last this year, my last birthday.
[00:02:18]: And I really enjoy the application. And I must admit, I did actually have a little bit of smudging from it. But I love how it looks and I love how it goes on. So I’m pushing through because I love Ilia beauty, so I’m still going with that.
I wanted to also give a special mention to Clinique Lash Power Mascara, the long-wearing formula, and No. 7 Beauty Stay Perfect mascara.
I’m even going to throw in a bonus option, which is the essence. Bye-Bye, Panda Eyes. And that’s a special mention, particularly if you’re looking for a cruelty-free option.
[00:02:56]: These mascaras will keep you smudge-free all day. But it’s not just about the actual mascara, is it? It’s about your prep and your routine.
So let’s get into my pro tips and prep tips for preventing your mascara from smudging. Okay, here we go.
Tip number one, always start with clean eyelashes. Clean your eyelids and eyelashes to prevent smudging and eye infections, which is kind of important, isn’t it? Use a gentle makeup remover to get rid of all traces of makeup and dirt. And you know, actually while we’re talking about it, another product that I never even knew existed on this planet but I learned about by way of two wonderful contact lens technicians out of Atlanta, Georgia. So I just wanted to give a little mention to Nikki and Justin.
[00:03:46]: Hello lovely ladies. Thank you for the aftercare that you always provide your performers. So anyway, I’m getting all distracted but if you have oily eyelids, no worries. It’s way more common than you might think. So please don’t think you’re on your own with that. I’m going to call it a phenomena.
It’s like scientific phenomena because it’s the last place on your body that you expect your skin to produce oil. But it is actually quite common.
[00:04:13]: So those eye wipes will take care of it and I will I’ll mention those in the show notes. So keep an eye out on the makeup refinery on this page, show notes where I’ll mention them.
Number two, have a go with a gentle press of your blotting paper and some mattifying powder. This can do wonders to control that excess oil. Oh, and don’t forget to use an eyeshadow primer which can also help with oily upper eyelids. Now here’s a game changer mascara primer. I tend to shy away from these because for me personally, I’m not really into that thick coated lash look. I also don’t like how it feels on my eyes.
[00:04:59]: I’ve got kind of sensitive eyes and it’s just too chunky and too much for me. So for me personally, I’m not so much of a mascara primer fan, but to be honest, a clean, well-combed primer application can actually really help. And I’m sure that you can do it more masterfully than I can in the 2 seconds that my mascara takes to put on. Think of it as the foundation for your lashes. It gives you an even base for your mascara to go on top of, plus it boosts the length and volume of your lashes. If you’re really worried about smudging, waterproof mascara will become your best friend. If you haven’t used it before, please be open to it. It’s not concrete, it’s going to come off at some point, I promise you.
[00:05:49]: But it is practically smearproof and it will last you all day. Always follow the golden rule of mascara-wearing, which is simply don’t rub your eyes. I know it’s tempting, but it can move the mascara. You can damage your lashes, you can get bacteria in your eyes, germs in your eyes. Try and avoid it on all costs. We all should have been since 2020 anyway, if not long before, particularly if you’re a professional makeup artist or you’re in a field that you’re working with other people in healthcare, what have you, rubbing your eyes is a really bad practice. So just stop right there. Use a tissue or an eyedrop if you have an itch an eyedrop is a really nice cooling solution.
[00:06:32]: I love the refresh single use saline eyedrops, too. And now another way you can allude the dreaded eye itch is to close your eyes. You can try it now. As I say, it actually because I’m going to so you close your eyes and you gently push very gently your pointer finger onto your closed eyelid. So right in the center of your eyeball, and roll your eye around in a circle while your finger stays applying the pressure on your eyes.
[00:07:02]: And then you can go the other way with your circles. Again, another special mention to the wonderful contact lens technicians the world over. I have observed this trick and stolen it from you. And now I’m not claiming it as my own because here we are. It is such a good technique. I’ve taken it on myself as I’ve developed permanent floaters in one eye. And it helps to alleviate my foggy vision in that eye, at least for a minute. And I think whether it’s placebo effect or not, it does.
[00:07:34]: It provides me great relief. I do it at least a few times a day. So, yeah, it helps my foggy vision from my permanent floaters, but that’s a whole other episode’s worth of ocular goodness there that I’m not going to go into. And now I’m off on a tangent. Okay, back to it.
Number eight, please. For the love of mascara, don’t pump the wand. This actually makes your mascara work less effectively.
[00:08:21]: They’re very important. Now, if you’re tired of dealing with smudging altogether, why not consider trying false eyelashes? If you’re not used to them, they can take a little practice, but it’s a great way to get those bold, beautiful eyes without even having to worry about makeup melting away, melding down your face. And now, last but not least, please remember, don’t use eye cream right before applying mascara. It can create quite a moist surface and add extra surface tension under your eye. And that’s a playground for mascara disaster. So I think that’s it.
[00:09:01]: There you have it.
[00:09:02]: My top 10 or 11 tips for preventing mascara from smudging. Now, with these tricks up your sleeve, you can flutter your baby blues, baby browns, baby hazels to your heart’s content without ever having a worry of smudging in the world. I hope you’ve enjoyed this episode. Please don’t forget to subscribe to the old podcasty on Apple podcasts spotify. Wherever you listen to your pods, give me a rating. I love The Five Stars because it sounds real classy, doesn’t it? And if you fancy it, please don’t forget a review as well. A favorable review is even better. I’ll take that.
Kerrin [00:09:46]:
And we will see you next time. Or I will. There’s only one of me. Okay. Take care. Bye.
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