How to Apply Mascara Like a Pro

There’s a reason mascaras come with a wand. With just a simple swipe, this magical makeup bag staple can brighten your face and highlight your eyes. For voluminous clump-free lashes, read on for tips on how to apply mascara that lasts like a professional (open mouth optional). 

Use an eyelash curler 

Always curl your lashes before applying your mascara to minimise the risk of pulling out your lashes. Tilt your head back and hold the lash curler at the base of your eyelashes before gradually working the curler upwards. Keep the pressure light to avoid breakages too. Warming your curler with a hairdryer before you use it can also help to hold your curl in place and encourage long-lasting mascara. 

Applying your mascara 

Wipe away excess 

To avoid clumping and applying too much product, make sure to gently wipe any excess product off your mascara wand with a tissue before applying to your lashes. Avoid scraping the excess off at the opening of the mascara tube, so product doesn’t accumulate here every time you use it. 

From root to tip 

To ensure you cover the entire length of every lash and add volume, work your wand upwards from the root to the tip. Gently comb our buildable Hypnôse volumising mascara, which is enriched with ProVitamin B5, to leave lashes feeling soft and supple and encouraging up to eight times the volume. 

The zig zag method 

For complete coverage, it’s all about the technique – more specifically, the zig-zag technique. Move your wand from side to side to coat all angles including the tips and sides of your lashes. 

Apply to both sides 

When it comes to fuller lashes, a simple swipe of your wand isn’t always enough. Apply lengthening mascara to the topside and underside of each lash for a darker, more intense look. Lancôme’s first serum-infused mascara, Le 8 Hypnôse lengthening mascara, is another shortcut to voluminous lashes. Enriched with eight amino acids and conditioning black balm with shea butter, it helps to rebuild, strengthen and soften lashes, too. 

Don’t forget the bottom lashes 

Your lower lashes need love too. You may find it easier when applying mascara to your bottom lashes to use a smaller wand or the tip of your brush for a more precise application though. 

The Lancôme Lash Idôle Mascara comes with an innovative wand that has 125 different bristle sizes and 360 micro-bristles. Coupled with its gel emulsion mascara formula, it provides a feather-light feel, zero clumps and long-lasting wear for up to 24 hours. 

Capture all corners 

Don’t leave any corner unturned. The inner corner of your eye can sometimes also get overlooked when applying your latest coat of mascara. Turning your brush vertically, using the tip of the brush and a prodding technique can all help you to get to the lashes in the inner corners. 

Don’t pump the brush 

If you need more product, gently twist the wand back into the tube to pick up more. Repeatedly pumping the wand can trap air into the bottle, which can cause your mascara to dry out faster and clump. 

Give it time to dry 

If things don’t go quite to plan, wait for your mascara to dry before you wipe away your makeup mishaps. Attempting to remove mascara while it’s still wet will only smear it across your face. To remove waterproof mascara, gently scrape it off once it’s dry or, if it’s a little tougher to remove, dip a cotton bud into micellar water before applying. 

Discover Lancôme’s full range of mascaras.