Mascara can have your back through the darkest of days. It can bless you with the bright-eyed ‘I-sleep-eight-hours-a-night’ look, and it can gift you with fluttery lashes that will distract from even the most offensive of pimples.
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BUT if you’re not careful, it can also clump your beautiful, wispy lashes into one big flaking mess.
So if you can’t quite figure out why sometimes your mascara behaves and sometimes it doesn’t, make sure you aren’t breaking any of these application rules…
1. Skipping the eyelash curler
If you find the concept of bringing a metal clamp close to your delicate eyes intimidating, we are here to tell you that you need to move past it. For anyone whose mascara starts off looking gravity-defyingly amazing, but quickly fades, this might be why.
Without curling, the uplifting effect from your mascara will all but fade away once it has dried, leaving you with straight, dull lashes.
bh recommends: Manicare Eyelash Curler,
2. Going OTT with product
Too much formula on your mascara wand is going to result in lashes that are clumpy and heavy. The easiest way to control the amount of product is by brushing off any excess onto the side of the tube, leaving the wand with a light coating and then applying one layer at a time.
3. Only doing one eye at a time (and no, we don’t mean you need a wand in each hand)
Another surefire way to avoid any clumping of lashes is to nail your timing between layers. Each layer needs to slightly, but not totally dry before the next is applied.
The easiest way to navigate this is by applying each layer and bouncing back and forth from your left to right eye.
4. Curling after mascara
While we are major advocates for a curled lash (hello, step #1), any curling going on after your mascara has been applied, is a one way ticket to losing lashes. So, to avoid any breakage, curl first, always.
5. Pumping to get out excess product
The motion of pumping the wand into the bottle can attract unwanted air and bacteria while also drying out the product and messing with the formula. To avoid this from happening, try a twisting motion instead.
bh recommends: Bobbi Brown No Smudge Mascara, ulta3 Great Lengths Mascara, Nutrimetics nc Extreme Volume Mascara
Main image credit: Getty
Does your mascara clump? Do you have any other tips?
Need length on my lashes. Keen to try Ulta3 Great Lengths.
Tip number 5 is a good one
Such good advice… always a struggle for me to get good, lengthy lashes with my mascara!
Definitely try different mascara formulas and wands.
Another tip is to buy different products until you find the right one for you.
My advice…buy a good quality lash curler. Don’t bother with a cheap one. The good quality ones really do make a difference.
For me important: apply only one light coat…by feathering
If my mascara clumps, I either blame the formula or the brush. A bad brush can be remedied by using a Manicare disposable mascara wand in a different shape or by combing the excess off with a fine-toothed plastic eyelash brush (instead of a spoolie). If a mascara clumps, I’ll use it up, but I won’t repurchase it.
I have so many mascaras and rarely wear them. Most have been gifted to me so have recently started wearing them and these tips are definitely helpful.
If I find a new mascara clumps I still use it by wearing it on my ‘stay at home’ days and, of course, I don’t buy that mascara again. I’ve never used a lash curler.
Time between layers works the best for me. Great tips.
I have so many mascaras from different times that if I don’t like one I just try a different one. I am good at not opening one though until I’m ready to use it.
Need to buy an eyelash curler and see if it does make a difference. Thanks BH for the great tips!
I’ve only ever done one eye at a time but maybe I’ll try tip #3
Great tips. I go easy on the product and not use too much so that way I avoid clumps.
Sorry, but eyelash curlers have always freaked me out. I just can’t deal with them!
Yes, I am no novice in the clumping mascara struggle and definitely guilty of not following at least 2 of these recommendations.
On my shopping list eyelash curler and hope I get a good result.
Me too seashells!
I never used to wear mascara because I thought it just looked so weird on me (but a big fan of eyeliner!!) then for around two decades I liked mascara and avoided the eyeliner and now I’m re-entering the I-don’t-like-mascara-look-on-me again!!! O can’t believe it! Anyhow atleast my eyes wont be smudgy from mascara over the next summer season! lol isn’t it weird how we change our tastes?
I can relate to the over pumping. For me its been a lot of trial and error to find the right mascara and once I did, I stuck with it.
I usually place my finger next to my eye and allow the lashes to brush against my finger. The excess mascara comes off easily.
Good tips. I find only the volumising mascaras seem to clump.
Helpful article, I don’t wear mascara often.
Great tips. Thanks for sharing.
I haven’t used any of these products for 7 months!!
Over the last 3 years of so I have applied mascara and then use a used mascara wand (which I store in its tube to keep clean) to separate my lashes and remove any clumps. It seems to work for me.
I have been using an eyelash curler since I was a teenager. I have found the last few years I isn’t working as effectively. Not sure why. I have changed the rubber but no change. Maybe it’s age. lol.
Great tips…
The bane of wearing mascara
an eyelash primers works wonders
I always use an eyelash primer under mascara. It adds length and volume 🙂
I recently bought a tubular mascara and I am never going back!
I like the Clinique one because I can get it in brown and it doesn’t clump and I can put it on lightly and it looks quite natural.
Good tips , thank you for sharing.
I think time between coats definitely helps so using the tip to go back and forth between the two eyes is useful.
Great tips
I always use a bobby pin/grip after applying mascara and separate the clumps! Works wonders
It seems so many mascaras out there that should be good give clumpy results. It can be tricky to know what to buy
Great read.
I do this sometimes but presume that one should not get clumps when applying mascara?
I probably apply too much mascara; especially with mascaras that don’t provide enough volume.
I have an eyelash curler but always forget to use it or don’t have time to use it .
I used a extra brush to avoid clump
you have to be careful of the brushes too, some are just not suitable for some people
i like a lash primer, the dior is a good one