How to remove mascara without removing your eyelashes

Never go to sleep with mascara on, or any makeup traces left on your face for that matter. It is imperative to let the skin breathe to faciliate skin renewal. Leaving mascara on overnight might potentially cause bacterial infection and can result in red and swollen eyes in the morning because the residue may have seeped into the eyes. We all know all those women in movies who wake up in bed after a night of rendezvous are just making a conscious effort to glamorize one-night stands, don’t we? Nothing comes close to going to bed with a clean face and waking up to a fresh complexion.

It is not advisable to resort to just plain water to remove waterproof mascara. There is no shortcut to proper mascara removal. Never use facial cleanser as a quick method to remove mascara because it can be harsh to the eyes. Depending on the type of eye makeup remover, there are different ways to remove your mascara without removing previous eyelashes in the process.

For baby oil, soak cotton pad with it, leave it on the eyes to dissolver the mascara and swipe away. Many people recommend olive oil as a healthier alternative. There are also other types of makeup cleansing oil. The best I’ve tried so far is a Japanese brand – Fancl. It removes all traces of makeup and does not leave me with an oily after feel. Should you be in a hurry, facial cleansing wipes can also do the deed but nothing beats a proper makeup removing oil or cream. After that, use a facial cleanser to wash off the makeup removal product. Follow with toner and moisturiser to condition the skin.

Black mascara – what it can do for you

Black mascara is the earliest mascara color invented and remains till this day the most commonly bought mascara color. As with clothing, bags, shoes and accessories, black is the color that goes with almost any other color, be it the color of your eyes, skin, hair, eyeshadow, blusher, lipstick… everything goes! 

The best black mascara I have found so far must be the Anna Sui Super Black Volume Up Mascara. Its deep, dark, black color gives natural-looking full lashes. If you are looking for a mascara that does not create too dramatic lashes, this mascara is highly recommended. The fact that this is a waterproof and smudgeproof mascara is a great plus point!

Black mascara provides the best dramatic effect, it adds length and volume to eyelashes, and brighten up the overall look, and that is why black is the color that every women has for a mascara. Now, there are even different shades of black – brown black, grey black, black, super black, etc. Some feel that jet black mascaras can give a very harsh effect on the eyes and therefore prefer a black color mascara that is mixed with a color of a slightly lighter tone.

Clear mascara is favored by many women because it looks more natural on the eyes since well, there is nothing on the eyelashes by clear goo. Clear mascara however does keep the curls in place, so your eyelashes will not look droopy. It is a color that can be worn to school and will not get you into trouble!

You may use a combination of both – Apply the clear mascara as a first coat to act like a primer then apply a second coat of black mascara. Having 2 coats will add to the volume and length of your eyelashes and the clear mascara will protect your lashes.

These days mascara colors are aplenty, we have purple, blue, brown, yellow, white, red, almost any color you can think of! So don’t stick to black, put on your electric blue mascara and flutter those mesmerizing lashes at the next party!

How to avoid smudging from your mascara

This is one question that has troubled women from the medieval times to the current scientific world we now exist in. Bet even Cleopatra had her days of racoon-y eyes.

You’ve invested time in researching on the perfect mascara, thronged the malls to find it, pumped chunks of hard cash into that one heavenly mascara raved by everyone, rush home to apply it… and by mid-day you’re a racoon again.

*sigh*

Before you sigh in resignation and brush it off as another promotional gimmick to yet again trick women into thinking this is the best mascara yet, here’re some makeup tips on how to avoid mascara smudge.

Are you using smudgeproof mascara? The terms ‘Waterproof mascara’ and ‘Smudgeproof mascara’ are often used interchangeably because people often think that they both mean the same thing. Woops! Nope, waterproof and smudgeproof mascara are not the same. A waterproof mascara only prevents blotches from water, therefore wearing waterproof mascara can still result in undereye dark stains. A smudgeproof mascara on the other hand, is much stronger because it can withstand oil and water. So those with oily eyelids should go for smudgeproof mascara as waterproof is non-resistant to oil.

Are your eyelashes too long? Well, lucky you! And probably unlucky you as well. Long outer eyelashes that have been coated with mascara can stain the undereye because everytime you blink, the mascara-ed lashes gets in contacts with the area under the eye. And women blink twice as many times as men! To prevent long lashes from staining, curl your lashes before applying mascara.

Do your lashes droop even after curling them? Some mascaras tend to cause eyelashes to droop because of their heavy compositions (literally) and thus cause racoon eyes. Try heating the eyelash curler with a hair dryer for a few seconds. Be careful, do not place the curler at your eyes immediately because it can scorch the delicate eyelids. Let it cool for a few seconds before curling. Heat ensures that the curls last longer.

Are you using too much mascara? Remove excess mascara from the wand by gently swiping the brush head against a tissue paper. Remember, less is more, so the less gunk you have on your eyelashes, the easier to apply and the better the results.

Till next time!

Review of Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara

I mentioned that Max Factor is my favorite drugstore brand. Everytime I tubeout, I move on to other brands thinking that they might be the next ‘The One’. Somehow I find myself always crawling back to Max Factor.

It works as it promises – lengthens, curls, is smudgeproof and washes off easily. When I first put it on, about 5 years ago, I thought I had the prettiest lashes in my entire life. I was thoroughly impressed at the drama it created, and how wonderfully dark and long my lashes looked, and I achieved that with only 1 coat of the mascara! I could flutter my Max Factor mascara-ed eyelashes all day and none of it came off. I didn’t have racoon eyes at any point in the day. I have seriously oily eyelashes so having mascara stay on for 10 hours really says something about the longlasting magic of Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara.

Even though this mascara is smudgeproof and waterproof, removing it is a breeze. You don’t have to tug at your eyes during removal or feel dry at the eye area after removal.

It usually doesn’t flake nor clump, and application with the mascara brush is really smooth, but towards its expiration date, it tends to get a little hard to apply, as with all mascaras! The lifespan of the Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara is a little short though. With daily usage, I have to toss it out within 3 months. But for that price and quality, this is a good mascara for lenthening and volumizing.

How to choose a good lengthening mascara?

What would we not give to achieve thick, long, curled eyelashes? Long lashes give eyes a more dramatic effect and add seduction to every expression. Ahhh, which man wouldn’t fall for come-hither lashes?

If you are as unfortunate as me, being granted almost non-existant eyelashes which are sparse and short, then you are the person I am writing this for! Let me share with you the top 4 requirements my lengthening mascara must meet in order for me to pick it up at the makeup counter.

Waterproof mascaras

As in my previous entry, I cannot emphasize more the importance of investing in a good waterproof mascara. You don’t want to get long lashes overshadowed by racoon eyes, do you?

Afforable mascaras

Even the most expensive mascaras cannot guarantee results, and proven time after time, drugstore brands CAN be superior to expensive brands. Go check out your regular drugstore brands, like Maybelline, Revlon, Covergirl, for the latest lengthening mascaras. You never know, that tube of mascara may be the best lengthening mascara suitable for you. Max Factor is my favorite drugstore mascara brand.

Mascara brush

It is imperative to examine the mascara brush. Thick and bushy mascara brushes may be hard for application, and unstable hands may result in a messy outcome. For lengthening results, try to go for very thin mascara brushes. Apply from the root of the eyelash for optimal illusion of longer lashes. Make a trip down to the store to test the mascara brush, it will be worth the trip.

Volumizing mascara

You’ll get your money’s worth if the lengthening mascara also comes with a volumizing effect. Most new brands boasts both effects, for promotional purposes and also because the commercializtion of mascara has pushed manufacturers to chrun out better mascaras. In 2008, Christian Dior Diorshow mascara was voted as the best lengthening and volumizing mascara. It is a little pricey but worth every penny.

Remember that more often than not, how you apply mascara is more important than the mascara itself. Don’t chide mascaras when they don’t work out as promised, work it out! Only then can you achieve truly lush and gorgeous lashes.

When to throw away cosmetic mascara?

Especially with beginners who saved up a sum of money from their monthly allowance to invest in a good mascara, a common tendency is to use the mascara for as long as possible to get their money’s worth. Some even resort to pouring water into the mascara tube hoping that it will dilute the product, just like how their mums add water to shower gel so that it can last for another month!

Continuing to use the mascara after the passing of expiration will, as with every perishable product, do more harm than good. Big clumps of goo will form on the mascara brush, thus making application difficult, messy and uneven. The result is chunky (not in a good way!) eyelashes that stick together with stubborn clumps that can be hard to remove even with an eyelash comb. More importantly, introducing water into the mascara brings harmful bacteria into the product and resultant eye infections.

There is no actual way to prolong the lifespan of a mascara. Some mascaras naturally can last longer than others because of different ingredient compositions. On average mascaras start to dry out 3 months upon contact with air. Use your discretion whether to throw it away once the drying process starts or wait a little longer until clumps start to form. Just make sure not to keep any mascara for more than 6 absolute months. Even if you don’t use that particular tube of mascara often and the number of times used probably don’t add up to even a month, junk it.

Other than the time factor, another sign that a mascara ought to be tossed away is the smell. Some mascaras will exude a bad odour after being kept too long. That should be an obvious enough indication that it is time to get a new tube.

Just think of how much trouble you have to go through and the amount of money you have to spend on medication should an eye infection really occur due to expired makeup. So regardless of the mascara being a drugstore or prestige brand, once the time’s up, toss it out!

Why is it important to use waterproof mascara?

Waterproof mascara is the savior for many women, especially in tropical countries where the merciless sun rays scorch on nicely powdered skin and test the resistance of facial foundations. As with foundation, mascara can also melt under heat. And while melted foundation gives the face an oily or waxy look, which can be easily touched up when you find the nearest washroom, mascara can be unforgiving, leaving dark panda eye patches under the eyes. More importantly, smudged mascara is really hard to amend, meaning once the mascara is off your lashes, it stays off. The consequences are severe especially if your eye area is especially oily.

So why is it important to use waterproof mascara? To prevent all of the above?

Some women prefer to use water-soluble mascara because they find water-resistance mascara more difficult to remove. But would you want to suffer a day of raccon-y eyes only to be able to wash it off easily back home?

The chemicals used in mascaras have evolved for the better over time. Most waterproof mascaras can withstand sweat and water and can still be removed easily with eye makeup removers or stronger splash of water. Some mascaras are so strong you can even wear them to swim! Applying waterproof mascara also prevents those who are likely to rub their eyes during the day and cause another racoon-eyed accident.

If you are troubled by reviews that claim applying waterproof mascara on a daily basis will erode the natural softness and strength of your eyelashes, you can opt to use an eyelash primer. It helps to protect the eyelash by acting as a shield before mascara application.

How to apply make up mascara

Mascara makes eyes look more deep-set, detailed and mesmerizing. Upon settling for the perfect mascara, the question of proper application surfaces. Proper application is essential in making you look and feel the best! Here are 6 easy steps to get the look:

1. Using a good eyelash curler is as important as getting a suitable mascara. Place the curler as close to your lash line as possible and crimp. Be careful not to apply pressure or risk tearing your eyelash off! Crimping too hard may also result in eyelashes curled at an awkward 90 degrees. Move from the root outwards.

2. Pull out the wand from the mascara tube. If there is too much mascara on the bristles, lightly wipe the excess on the opening of the tube. Do not pump the wand in and out of the tube as it will contaminate and dry up the remaining product.

3. Place the wand near the root of your eye lashes and wiggle the brush from root to tip to get that thick and lengthy effect.

4. For more dramatic eyes, wait for a while for the first coat to settle down before applying the second coat of mascara but do not wait until the first coat is entirely dried up else it will become clumpy.

5. For dolly eyes, apply mascara to the bottom eyelashes. Be careful with this step, steady hands are required to achieve this look as wobbly hands may result in mascara on the skin instead of on the lashes. Put a tissue under the lash to avoid accidents.

6. If you have been using the same tube of mascara for a while and clumps form more easily during application, use a eyelash comb to remove the clumps for a more natural and clump-free look.

There are more mascara tips and tricks. So stay tuned!

Choosing the right make up mascara

The boon and bane of eyelash mascara run as long as the River Nile of Egypt. Since the beginning of time, women have been infatuated with thickening, lengthening, defining, curling and emphsizing their eyelashes. Ancient Egyptians used a mixture of soot, lead, copper, honey and other ingredients and applied the concoction on their lashes. Through the passage of time mascara received continual modifications in the blend of ingredients with elderberry juice, petroleum jelly, extracts of walnut hulls, soap.

Mascara was further propelled to fame by Caucasian celebrities who darkened and lengthened their pale lashes with heavy use of black mascara. However due to lack of proper regulations, women suffered eye infections like Trachoma and many were left blind from mascaras made from dubious manufacturers.

The mascaras of today are tested and formulated to use on all eyes and come in all forms – cake mascara, liquid mascara, cream mascara, water-proof mascara, smudge-proof mascara, volumizing mascara, lengthening mascara, thick and thin bristles, fragrant and non-fragrant, and in all kinds of shapes, sizes and colors.

Here’s how to choose the best mascara for yourself:

Water-solube, Water-proof or Smudge-proof?

If you want the removal of mascara a part of your daily facial routine, then choose a water-soluble mascara that will easily be rubbed off with water. Otherwise, if you live in a humid environment and have the tendency to rub your eyes, choose a waterproof mascara. The difference between a water proof and smudge proof mascara is that a smudge proof mascara does everything a water proof mascara does, but has a stronger hold onto lashes. A mascara for oily eyelashes is one that is smudge proof.. If you see a ‘shadow’ right under your lower eyelashes by mid-day, smudge proof mascara is best for you.

Curved, lash comb, or rubber brush?

The curved brush is good for people who want smudge-proof results and is the easiest to apply with of the 3 because it is made to fit the arc of the eyeball. The lash comb brush is harder to apply with but results in fuller and thicker eyelashes as application has to start from the root up. Rubber bristles allows easy application to hard-to-reach corners, especially the ones at the corners of the eye because of its different bristle heights. It is best to make a trip to your regular drug store to check out the mascara samples to see for yourself the actual sizes of brushes.

Colored mascara

Just like your shoes don’t have to match your bag, the color of your mascara doesn’t have to match the color of your eyes. There are many colors out in the market now – black mascara, brown mascara, grey mascara, blue mascara, red mascara, green mascara, purple mascara, yellow mascara, orange mascara – so don’t restrict yourself to boring black and brown. Go trendy!

Drug store or prestige?

People usually perceive that pricey mascaras can work miracles. Drug store mascaras can too. The best drugstore mascara can be found in Maybelline. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you have to buy branded mascaras to get great results.