Mascara is one of those staple makeup items that pretty much every woman owns. It is easy to use and provides great results in just a few seconds. On all those days when you wake up late and have to rush to get to work on time, mascara comes to the rescue. Forget spending ten to fifteen minutes perfecting your cat-eye look, just swipe on some mascara to make your eyes pop and look vibrant and you’re good to go. With it being such a useful product, we thought it’s high time that we listed all the fabulous mascara tips. This article is an ode to the humble yet fabulous mascara—many a woman’s trusty little friend.

If you love wearing mascara and your makeup regime is not complete without a couple of coatings of it, then you need to read on to know about all the clever tips and tricks that you can use when it comes to mascara. These tips are guaranteed to revolutionize your makeup routine! Get ready to bat those thick lashes!

1. Wipe Off the Mascara Wand Before Use

One of the major woes faced by woman when applying mascara is the dreaded clumpy look. When there is a lot of product in the wand, it tends to clump up and the end result is clumpy lashes. You can avoid this scenario by wiping off the wand with a tissue or makeup wipe to get rid of excess product. This tip is especially important when using a new mascara, where the wand tends to pick up way too much product than is actually required.

In the event that you do end up with clumpy lashes, don’t panic. Simply use a clean toothbrush and swipe it over your lashes to get rid of the clumps and make sure your lashes aren’t stuck together. You can also keep a clean mascara wand (with no product on it) handy, to help you out on such instances.

2. Have More Than One Mascara in Your Makeup Kit

Look into any woman’s makeup stash and chances are that she’ll have many different shades of lipstick, a couple of different eyeshadow palettes, and one lone mascara. For some reason, most women seem to be of the opinion that all you need is one mascara to create enviable lashes. But here’s a secret: if you want lush, long lashes that will make men swoon, you definitely need more than one mascara! Depending on your lashes and what you hope to achieve, you might want to start with a mascara formulated for curling the lashes and top it off with one meant for volume and length. The combination will help you achieve lashes that are curled—making your eyes look big—while also being long and full. So get your mascara collection started with a couple of different formulas, from those meant for curling to those that lengthen and thicken the lashes.

3. Always, Always Curl Your Lashes Before Putting On Mascara

Sure, you can skip using an eyelash curler, that is, if you want to end up with subpar lackluster lashes (shudder). Curling your lash is not just option but a requisite precursor to mascara. So if you don’t already own one, it is time to invest in a good-quality lash curler. To speed up the curling time, blast your lash curler with hot air from your hair dryer and then use it to curl your lashes. Curling your lashes is the best way to open up your eyes and make your peepers look fabulous. So do not skip this step. Ever.

4. Coat Both the Outside and The Inside of Your Lashes

Not satisfied with how much the mascara has thickened your lashes? Trying coating from both sides then. Most women only coat from the outside, swiping the mascara along the outward curve of the lashes. But when you also swipe it along the inward curve, you achieve much thicker lashes. Just be careful to not get any mascara on your eyelid when applying it from the inside. Of course this tip only works for the lop lashes. So don’t try doing this for the lower lashes or you’ll end up with racoon eyes!

5. Use Powder to Volumize Your Lashes

Another great way to volumize your lashes is to use some baby powder or compact powder to between coats. Apply a coat of mascara and dust your lashes with powder. Leave it on for a minute and dust off excess powder and then proceed with another coating of mascara. Doing this will give you impossibly thick lashes.

6. Shield Your Eyelids from Accidental Smudges

Here’s a nightmare-worthy scenario: you’re done with your makeup. All that’s left to do is swipe on the mascara and you’ll be good to go. You bring the mascara wand to your lashes and start swiping it on and… boom! You accidentally smudge the wand against your eyelid and now you’ve got a black mess on your lid. Not only does this mean that you’ll have to clean it up, but, you’ll also have to worry about reapplying the eyeshadow and eyeliner. And we all know that at times like this is when the universe will turn against us and we won’t be able to match the eye liner. If you’ve ever experienced this frustrating-as-hell scenario, then this tip is your go-to makeup hack. The next time you apply mascara, use a business card to act as a shield between the wand and your lid. Tada! How clever and easy is this tip? You won’t have to start your day off with a series of swear words, and be in a foul mood, if your mascara doesn’t smudge. Yay!

7. Don’t Pump the Wand

We’re all guilty of this one. Even makeup artists pump the wand up and down the tube to get product onto the wand. But what it does is dry up the product faster by allowing air to pass in. To avoid this, use a gentle, circular motion instead to cox more product onto the wand and then gently pull it out. And always close your mascara tube tightly to ensure that it doesn’t get dried up. Dry mascara is a nightmare to deal with. So keep your mascara safely and tightly closed at all times.

8. Use Baby Oil or Coconut Oil to Remove Mascara

If makeup removers are too harsh on your skin, try using baby oil or coconut oil to remove your makeup. When waterproof mascara was introduced, the world rejoiced. We didn’t have to worry about smudging or ugly mascara tear-stains (ewww!). But the flip side was that removing the mascara at the end of the night was an ordeal in itself. Waterproof mascara can be stubborn and should be dealt with properly to completely get rid of it, without any leftover residue left behind. Not removing mascara overnight can lead to your lashes turning brittle and weak. So if you have trouble with removing mascara, all you need is a cotton ball or wipe and some baby oil. Pour a generous amount of oil onto the cotton ball and place it over your lashes. Leave it for a minute to soak. The oil will loosen the mascara and make it easier for you to wipe it all off with a makeup wipe. By doing this, you will also not damage the delicate skin around your eyes or irritate your eyes with harsh makeup removers.

9. Melt Hardened Mascara

If you’re mascara has hardened and become clumpy, try soaking your mascara tube in a cup of hot water. Leave it for fifteen to twenty minutes before using it. The hot water will help to melt the hardened product and make your mascara usable again. Of course if you’ve had the mascara for a long time, you might want to just throw it away instead of trying to salvage it. Mascara should be periodically (once in three months or so) discarded to protect yourself from eye infections and allergies.

10. Bend an Old Mascara Wand

If you have a spare mascara wand, clean it and then bend it such that the applicator tip is perpendicular to the handle. Once you swipe mascara onto your lashes with a regular wand, you can then use the bent wand to easily maneuver and reach all the hard to reach places, without fear of smudging.

Other Handy Tips

We’re not done yet. Here are some other handy tips, and alternative uses, for mascara.

• If you’ve run out of eye liner, do not panic. Swipe off some product from your mascara wand, onto your eye liner brush and use it to create your desired look.
• You can also use your mascara wand to define and fill your brows. Just make sure to wipe the wand to get rid of any excess product before using the wand on your brows.
• If you’ve run out of mascara or your mascara has dried up, a quick solution is to use liquid eye liner as mascara. Just swipe on the eye liner with the brush and then use the mascara wand to evenly distribute the product.
• Use a spoon to protect your lower lashes while applying mascara.
• Use a few drops of saline solution to try and save a dried up tube of mascara.
• Use a q-tip dipped in makeup remover to gently and carefully correct any smudges on your lids without ruining your eye makeup.
• Use a clear mascara if you’re going for a nude or natural look.
• If you’re in a rush and need a quick fix, you can touch up your greys with mascara. Of course this trick only works if you have really dark hair!
• For a softer, subtler effect, use a brown mascara instead of black.
• If you have wide-set eyes, concentrate more on your inner lashes to create an illusion of closer-set eyes. And if you have close-set eyes, you might want to leave your inner lashes relatively uncoated and concentrate more on your outer lashes. Don’t be afraid to experiment and customize your mascara routine to suit your face structure.
• Always do your lower lashes first before you do the upper lashes. This way, you can avoid those annoying dots that result when you look down as you put on the mascara.
• If you are looking to naturally make your lashes longer and thicker try applying castor oil to them every night before going to bed. It is said that castor oil helps make the lashes grow thick and strengthens them as well, making them less likely to break or fall.
• When doing the cat-eye look, concentrate on the outer corners of your lashes to give them more definition and volume. This will contribute toward a much more appealing cat-eye look, complete with long, curved lashes that are to die for! Which girl wouldn’t love that?
• If using false lashes, try giving them a curved shape by wrapping them around the handle of your makeup brush. This will make it easier for you to set them later. Another neat tip is to apply the glue onto the lash line and then set the false lashes. If you find attaching false lashes to be a difficult chore, doing it that way will make it so much easier!

Mascara is easily one of the most underrated makeup items there is. While people rave about lipsticks and write numerous articles on foundations and contour kits, not many seem to be talking about mascara. And that’s a shame indeed because this handy little makeup item can do magic and is just as effective as a bold lip color at making you look bright and beautiful. So go ahead, whip out that mascara wand and create some magic! Keep these tips in mind to help you create a lush set of lashes that will enhance your beauty manifold.