9 Mascara Mistakes That You Need to Stop Making
Mascara is that special touch that ties every makeup look together. Without its darkening, lengthening effect on the lashes, eyes can look bare and small, so it’s key in nearly every beauty look.
However, applying mascara poorly is worse than not applying it at all. Clumpy lashes and smudgy lids can ruin an entire look, and there are even some mascara mistakes that can lead to eye infections.
That’s why you shouldn’t play games when it comes to mascara. We’ve collected our best mascara tips to help you avoid the most common mascara mistakes, so you can always bat your lashes with confidence.
1. Leaving too much mascara on the wand
If you want to learn how to apply mascara without clumping, remember to always wipe down your mascara wand. This crucial step is often forgotten. It’s easy to miss in the excited rush to lengthen those lashes. However, a mascara wand that’s too saturated is guaranteed to cause clumping.
From now on, immediately after unscrewing your mascara cap, gently wipe the wand over the lip of the tube. Pay special attention to the tip because that’s where mascara really tends to collect, and if the wand seems especially clogged up, you can wipe it down with a tissue.
This way, when it’s time to apply, you won’t need to worry about big globs of mascara clumping your lashes together.
2. Pumping the wand
In films, whenever a character goes to put on mascara, she’ll first pump the mascara up and down a few times in the tube. Women all over the world started believing that this was the right way to go about putting on mascara, when in reality, it’s one of the worst mascara mistakes you can make.
In the short-term, it has no benefits. If anything, it just loads up your wand with a massive, clump-causing amount of mascara. In the long-term, it introduces air and bacteria into the precious tube, which significantly shortens the life of your mascara.
3. Using old mascara
Of all the most common makeup products, mascara has the shortest shelf-life. If you use your mascara after its use-by date, you can run into all kinds of issues. It will get dry, which leads to clumpy lashes, and it may also start harboring bacteria, which can cause styes and painful infections.
Most mascara should be replaced 3-6 months after opening. If you’re worried about forgetting, we’ve set up an auto-subscription system that will send you a new tube of our best-selling Cabaret Premiere mascara every few months.
4. Forgetting to wiggle
Always remember to give your mascara a wiggle! This classic mascara tip guarantees that your lashes will look both voluminous and separated every time.
When you apply your mascara, give it a small wiggle as it comes in contact with the base of your lashes. This will allow the bristles of the wand to really wedge themselves in between your lashes, coating them thoroughly without clumping them together. Then, as you pull the wand up to coat the length of the lashes, move it in a slight zig-zag motion to keep that momentum going.
5. Only coating one side
This mascara hack is especially for the blondes and redheads out there, because brunettes can sometimes get away with making this little mistake. When you apply your mascara, you only see the underside of your lashes, so you might forget the top. If you leave the top bare, the second you blink, the natural color of your lashes will be visible, and it’ll take away from the consistency of your makeup.
To cover the top part of the lashes, use the tip of your mascara wand and carefully color it in, especially close to the lashline. Don’t try to build up volume or length from above since it can weigh the lashes down; just focus on coloring things in.
6. Blinking too quickly
It can be tempting to blink immediately after putting your mascara on, but unfortunately, it often results in black smudges on the eyelid ruining your eyeshadow. Not blinking may sound like a tall order, but if you just close your eyes after applying mascara, the issue will be solved. Just wait a few seconds so that when you finally open your eyes, the mascara will be dry and won’t smudge.
7. Applying too many coats
It can be tempting to add coat after coat of mascara, but it rarely works well in reality. Yes, 5-6 coats of mascara will make your lashes look longer and thicker. However, it’s also going to make them look uniformly thick from root to tip, leading to a “spidery” look.
To avoid having your mascara look spidery, you need to exercise restraint. Don’t apply more than three coats to your lashes, and if that doesn’t give you the effect you want, you may just need to switch to a more volumizing mascara.
8. Forgetting to remove it at night
Sleeping with mascara on is never a good idea. In the best-case scenario, forgetting to remove it at night will just dry out your lashes, cause a few to fall out, and leave a few marks on your pillow. But it can also lead to eye irritation and even eye infections. This is another serious mascara mistake, so make sure to remove your eye makeup thoroughly every night with a high-quality makeup remover.
9. Using the same mascara for all occasions
Wearing the same mascara all the time isn’t the biggest mascara mistake you could make, but it can get boring. Tailor your mascara choice to each event!
- A lengthening and separating mascara is best for day-to-day.
- Waterproof mascara is a must-have for beach-side vacations or rainy days.
- For date nights and parties, emphasize your eyes with a volumizing mascara.
- For upscale evening events, when you want maximum drama, double up! Start with a coat of waterproof mascara for a separated, waterproof base, and then add a coat of volumizing mascara for a false-lash effect.
Now that you know all of our favorite mascara tips, no more faux pas!
Our favorite look for low-effort glam calls for just a touch of mascara and a swipe of boldly colored lipstick. Focusing on the lips is a known French beauty hack, but for it to work well, our lips have to be in great shape! Lipstick can’t glide smoothly over chapped lips, which is why a good lip care routine is so important. Here are our tips for taking good care of your lips on the regular, along with some advice for special care when they get especially dry. Use a richer lip balm at night The lips can get incredibly dry at night, especially if the humidity in your room is low or if you tend to breathe from your mouth as you sleep. That’s why it’s best to apply a thicker lip balm before bed. If your lips are particularly chapped, using a rich balm will help to speed up their healing. Look for occlusive ingredients What on earth does occlusive mean, you ask? Occlusives are oily ingredients that are able to seal moisture in place and prevent evaporation. They’re essential for a truly healing lip balm. Our favorite occlusive ingredients for the lips are lanolin, squalane, shea butter, and petrolatum. A balm with these ingredients can create a protective seal over the lips that prevents moisture loss. Use lip balm as a barrier Another important time to apply lip balm is before brushing your teeth or using potentially-drying skincare products like retinoids or acne treatments. The balm will act as a barrier against those products and prevent their drying effects from impacting your lips. Layer your lip moisturizers When the situation is particularly dire, especially in winter, it can be beneficial to build up moisture in the lips with layers. First, start with a light layer of fragrance-free lotion or hydrating serum – once it sinks in, layer a heavy lip balm on top. That first layer will add hydration, while the second layer will lock the moisture in deeply. Opt for an SPF balm in the day Our lips are just as susceptible to sun damage as the rest of our skin, so during the daytime, opt for an SPF lip balm. Apply it to your lips at least 20 minutes before going out in the sun, and make sure they’re thoroughly coated. If you’d like to wear lipstick or gloss, just add it over the lip balm, and you’ll actually end up with a smoother finish than if you were to apply it to bare lips. Avoid minty fragrances We love a lip balm with a bit of flavor, but minty lip balms can actually cause some issues. Menthol is the key fragrance compound in mint essential oil, and it’s added to lip balms to give a cooling and stimulating effect. Unfortunately, those stimulating effects can also be drying and irritating, especially to already chapped lips. However, when your lips are well taken care of, you can actually benefit from the temporary stimulating effect of menthol because it can make the lips look plump and full. That’s why we do use a bit of menthol in our lip-plumping Polynesie Francaise glosses. Use a sulfate-free toothpaste All toothpaste can be a little drying, but toothpaste made with sulfates is the worst by far. Sulfates (usually sodium lauryl sulfate) are the ingredients responsible for your toothpaste foaming up. Unfortunately, they can also be quite drying and irritating, especially to the lips and gums. If you suffer from chronically dry lips, it’s very possible that your toothpaste is at fault, so switching to a non-foaming, sulfate-free toothpaste can make a big difference. Exfoliate your lips The final aspect of keeping the lips luscious and smooth is exfoliating them regularly. Exfoliation removes the flaky buildup of dead skin over the lips and allows lip moisturizers to do their job more effectively. Exfoliation can be done as a dry lip treatment when they’re a little chapped or flakey, but if they’re so chapped that the skin is a little broken, it’s important to wait until they heal. You also don’t want to over-exfoliate your lips. Once or twice a week is ideal, more often than that, and you risk irritating the skin and making things worse. Make a DIY lip scrub While you can certainly purchase a lip scrub at the store, making your own natural blend is safe and easy! All you need is half a teaspoon of brown sugar and a few drops of coconut or olive oil. You can mix them up in a little jar or even in the palm of your hand. You can use honey instead of oil if your skin is acne-prone. With your finger, rub the blend over your lips for a few seconds until they feel smooth. Finally, wipe it off or rinse it away with some water. The oil will help moisturize your lips, while the sugar will slough away all of the flakiness! Just make sure to mix up a small amount every time you want to exfoliate. Unlike commercial products made with preservatives, whatever you make at home is liable to spoil after a few days. Always prep before lipstick No matter which of our lip care tips you choose to adopt, always remember to take a few steps to pamper your lips before applying lipstick. You’ll need to make sure there are no flakey patches or dryness before starting your makeup, or else you’ll end up with patchy-looking lipstick. A coat of lip balm will be enough if the rest of your lip care routine is on-point, but sometimes you might need to do a full exfoliation routine to guarantee your lips are in tip-top shape. Motus et bouche cousue (our lips are sealed) Achieving plump, healthy lips isn’t difficult. It’s just a matter of adding lip care to your regular routine, especially before bed. Whether you go all out with exfoliation or just switch out your minty lip balm for a healthier alternative, we know you’ll discover smoother, happier, and more kissable lips.
If you haven’t yet caught a glimpse of Netflix’s hit show, Emily In Paris, where have you been?! We are obsessed with the French-girl beauty that storms our screens as Emily (British-American actress Lily Collins) settles into Parisian living. Actress Lily Collins steals the show with her low-key, simple yet chic beauty and fashion looks. There isn’t a scene where we’re not taking notes. Think fresh, clear skin, bold brows, voluminous lashes, and understated lips. Less is definitely more In France, and we’re loving it! But there’s one thing we want to know more about, and that’s Lily’s real-life beauty routine. How does she keep her skin looking so immaculate? What are her makeup must-haves? And how does she keep her beautiful brows in check? Don’t worry, we’re bringing you Lily Collins’ beauty routine in full detail here, no filter. This is what Lily Collins’ everyday beauty routine looks like. Morning skincare What does Lily’s AM skincare routine look like? Well, you’ll be surprised how low-key it is. She begins with a splash of cold water on her face to wake herself up. To kick-start her skincare routine, she uses a facial wash, toner gel, and moisturizing cream. Next up? Lily always applies a layer of sunscreen (her go-to is Kiehl’s), whether it’s summer or winter. We recommend at least an SPF 20 if possible. Look for a light-weight, non-greasy sunscreen that feels like a second skin. Lily has spoken out about embracing her natural, ivory skin, so you won’t find any tanning products in her house! She also loves rubbing some mint or spearmint oil on her temples and the back of her neck to wake herself up and feel invigorated inside and out. One of her favorites is Peppermint Halo by Saje, which comes in a handy roller ball. And, did you know Lily is obsessed with hand cream? Yes! You’ll find her re-applying it throughout the day to keep her skin feeling soft and silky, just the way her Grandma used to do. Her favorite scent? Rose wins out every time—Crabtree & Evelyn have a rosewater one she is crushing on. The perfect base Lily Collins is famous for channeling that French-girl beauty by keeping her makeup minimal and natural all the time, apart from on special occasions. When she’s at home, she wears very little; her motto being “the less there is on you, the less there is to go wrong!” But what about when she is wearing makeup? Lily loves to go for a foundation that is light enough to allow her natural freckles to shine through but just enough to give a nice base. She steers clear of heavy, coated products to avoid her pores getting clogged. For days when she wants something a little different, she mixes a small drop of light foundation with her favorite serum, then dabs it into her forehead, chin, and cheeks. To blend, she uses a sponge, then tops with a powder to set it, and a bit of blush for contouring. It’s all about the brows The next step on Lily Collins’ beauty routine is tending to her bold and beautiful brows. The question on all of our minds while watching Emily In Paris has been, what’s the secret to her brow game? Tell us all Lily! When asked what her favorite part of her beauty regimen is, she aptly said “It’s all about the brows.” She swipes a highlighter over her eyelid and under the brow to make her brows pop even more. She brushes her eyebrows up and over to slightly tame them. And that is IT. Seriously. On the odd occasion when they need a little more taming, she uses some mascara to lend a helping hand. To draw extra attention to her eyes, she applies a few flicks of liquid liner at the outer edges. She then adds a coat of volumizing mascara to bring fullness and life to her lush lashes. Nothing says French beauty quite like fluttery lashes does. If there’s one thing every French woman includes in her beauty routine, it’s a swoosh of black mascara. Lush lips When it comes to her lips, Lily begins by gently exfoliating them with a delicious, tropical coconut scrub. Once her lips are prepped, she coats them with lip balm–and you’ll find her reapplying it throughout the day to keep those lips looking lush. For an everyday look, Lily tops her lip salve with a swipe of nude lipstick and her favorite gloss. But what about those red-carpet occasions? Lily has perfected the shades that compliment her pale skin and dark hair and opts for softened red lipstick shades and deep plums. If you’re looking for some lipstick inspo, check out our long-lasting matte lipstick, which is available in four fabulous color combos. There’s guaranteed to be a shade that was made for you. Fabulous fragrance When it comes to fragrance, there are a few favorites that Lily loves. Rose makes the cut once again, then bergamot and oud. She’s usually drawn to deeper scents rather than feminine ones. But if she had to pick a scent of choice? La Vie Est Belle. That means “life is beautiful” in French. The scent swoops her back to her Paris-days and has her longing to be reunited with the most romantic city in the world. We can’t wait for that either, Lily! Messy hair, don’t care French women are loved (and envied) worldwide for perfecting that I-just-woke-up-like-this hair. It’s chic, but it’s not perfect. Think wind-swept runway romance. How do they do it?! Well, Lily seems to have perfected that Paris-hair, and guess what her secret is? She lets her hair do whatever it wants. Really. Her hair goes through a lot as an actress, constantly being colored and curled while on set. So when she’s off-duty, she keeps things super simple. She loves Kérastase for repairing her hair, and often goes for a volumizing hair gel when she desires some extra volume. She’s also a big fan of dry shampoo (could this woman be any cooler?). Oribe hair sprays are her favorite when she hasn’t washed her hair in a few days and needs a quick pick-me-up. Evening rituals Lily’s evening beauty routine echoes her morning ritual. She’ll shower, get cozy on the sofa, and remove all her makeup using face wipes. Later, she rinses her face with the same gel she used in the morning and applies some face cream. When her skin feels extra dry, she opts for a quick face mask and rubs natural coconut oil into her body. Then it’s off to bed for some much-needed beauty sleep.
One of the most important parts of French beauty is looking well put-together. On the one hand, you want to look effortless, but on the other hand, you also want to look intentional. Groomed nails are essential for striking this balance, especially if you opt for a natural-looking French manicure. We’ve compiled a step-by-step guide to achieving perfect nails at home, so you can skip the nail salon. You can also adapt these tips to give yourself a relaxing pedicure! First, we’ll cover all the tools you need to have on-hand, and then dive straight into the how-to. At-home manicure tools You don’t need fancy tools to create a DIY French manicure at home, but you do need some basic nail grooming essentials. Here’s our comprehensive list of all the things you’ll need! Nail polish remover Emery or crystal nail file Cotton pads and cotton swabs Cuticle pusher (optional) Warm water and soap Hand cream or cuticle oil Hand scrub (optional) Clear base coat Clear topcoat Nude, pink, or colorful nail polish White nail polish Thin synthetic brush (optional) 1. Remove old polish First, if you still have some remnants of old nail polish on your nails, make sure to scrub it away thoroughly with cotton pads and nail polish remover. Some colors tend to really get lodged along the edges of the nail, in which case, use a cotton swab dipped in remover to really get in there and clean things up. 2. Shape your nails Next, file the tips of your nails to an even shape. There are all kinds of nail shapes you can choose from, but we prefer keeping it natural with an almond, oval, or rounded nail shape. When you file your nails, only go in one direction at a time, rather than filing back and forth. Go slowly, so you can control the shape you create and don’t accidentally over-do it. 3. At-home manicure soak If you plan to trim or push back your cuticles, it’s crucial that you soften them first with an at-home manicure soak. Fill up a shallow bowl of warm soapy water, and then dip your finger in, just up to the cuticle. Leave your fingers in the water for just 2-3 minutes, and take the moment to relax. This will be long enough to soften the cuticles but not so long that it’ll saturate your nails with water, which can compromise the integrity of your nail polish later on. If you’re happy with the condition of your cuticles, you can skip this step altogether! 4. Push back the cuticles (gently!) Pull your nails out of the water, and dry them with a soft towel. Then, use the cuticle pusher tool to gently press against your cuticles and push them back a little. If pushing on your cuticles is painful at all, it’s a sign you’re overdoing it, so make sure to ease up on the pressure. In general, we don’t recommend trimming the cuticles at home unless you already have a bit of professional experience. It’s easy to damage cuticles when trimming them, which may lead to infections or cause the skin to grow back thicker. 5. Exfoliate and moisturize Next, it’s time to give your hands and cuticles a nice treatment! For maximum pampering, exfoliate your hands by rubbing them with a scrub. You can even make your own! If your scrub is moisturizing enough, you can then just rinse your hands and move on to the next step. If you skipped scrubbing, then take a moment to rub your hands and nails with hand cream, or apply a designated cuticle oil to the nails. Wait a few minutes to allow your nails to absorb as much of the oil as possible. For simple groomed nails, you can stop here! Moisturized, well-shaped nails are already enough for simple French beauty. However, to take your nails to the next level, you’ll want to add some polish. 6. Remove excess moisture Next, dip a cotton swab in nail polish remover, and carefully wipe it only over your nail, being careful to avoid the cuticles. This will remove any excess moisture or oil from the nails to guarantee that the polish adheres well. Let the remover evaporate entirely before moving to the next step. 7. Lay down your base coat A base coat of polish is essential for protecting your nails from yellowing and creating an even base for the polish. Apply the base coat carefully to each nail, making sure to only use a minimal amount so that it dries quickly. 8. Apply your color Once your base coat has thoroughly dried, you can apply your colorful nail polish! Pink, peach, and nude are the classic choices for a French manicure, but other colors are perfectly acceptable as well. Apply the polish in thin layers, starting about a millimeter away from the cuticle, and painting it on in strips. Once your first coat fully dries, apply the second coat, and wait for it to dry, as well. 9. DIY nail tips Turn your classic mani into an ultra-chic French manicure. Dip an old eyeliner brush or a dedicated nail brush into some white nail polish. Then, carefully paint the tips (i.e., top 2-3 millimeters) of your nails. If your hand is a little shaky, you can lay down some sticky tape over the bottom of the nail first to guarantee a clean line. 10. Finish with a top-coat Once your polish is totally dry, finish things off with an ultra-thin layer of topcoat. This will help seal in all of your hard work, add some sheen, and prevent your nail polish from chipping. 11. Clean up the edges Once your topcoat is fully dry, it’s time to fix mistakes! Even the pros sometimes smudge a bit of polish over the cuticle, but thankfully, it’s easy to clean up. Just soak a cotton swab in some nail polish remover and use it to erase any smudges. Nailed it! It takes a bit of time and maybe even practice, but achieving the perfect manicure at home is totally doable. Don’t be afraid to skip the nail salon next time you want to treat yourself to a French manicure!
