We all know that mascara is the one step of a make-up routine that you simply cannot forget! It is the finishing touch to bring your make-up look together and to make you appear more awake and ready for the day.
You leave your house in the morning with a fresh coat of black mascara, your eyelashes long and beautiful but then, by lunch time, you go for your usual make-up touch up and what you have been dreading has happened.
Your once perfect mascara has smudged beneath your eyes, you look tired and a mess. It is a common and frustrating problem that sadly many of us have to endure. Luckily though, there are ways that you can help prevent it from happening.
We have come up with a list of top tips and tricks to prevent smudging completely.
So, if this is a struggle that you often have to deal with, you had better keep reading.
Why Does Smudging Occur?
It is often easiest to blame the mascara itself for the smudging, but alas that isn’t always the cause. It is more likely that your product contributes nothing to the occurrence at all.
What causes the inconvenience is your eyelids. The more hydrated and oily the skin around your eyes is, the more that will interact with the make-up causing it to smudge.
Although it is rather annoying, oily lids are nothing to be ashamed of. Your eyelid is made from extremely thin skin that is very delicate and has fewer oil glands than the rest of your skin.
As people get older, the eyes are one of the first places that show age. This is due to the dehydration of the skin that occurs, making the eyes look wrinkly.
This means that having oily eyelids is a good thing as they will keep you looking young!
Oily eyelids aren’t the only reason why your mascara may be smudging. Sometimes, certain formulas of mascara won’t be suitable for your lash type.
If your mascara and lashes do not bond well, then it is a likely cause of the mascara smudging.
Luckily though, there are many different formulas and products in the market, and there will be one that is perfect for you and that won’t cause you to end up with raccoon eyes!
Does Waterproof Mascara Smudge?
A common misconception is that waterproof mascara won’t smudge, but that is not necessarily the truth. The formula of waterproof mascara is created with chemicals that are resistant to water and sweat – not oils.
The oils from your skin can still cause the mascara to smudge. Alongside this, waterproof mascara is a lot more damaging than regular mascara.
The formula of waterproof products uses harsh chemicals that are incredibly drying. They are also hard to build up when applying more than one coat to your lashes, which can cause them to break and snap off.
If you are using waterproof mascara over a long period, it may cause your eyelashes to weaken and fall out, especially because the product is so hard to remove.
Top Tips To Help Prevent Mascara From Smudging
Although it may seem that all hope has been lost, there are many ways that you can prevent your mascara smudging.
The main trick to it is to create a healthier routine for your lashes and upgrade from any damaging mascaras you may be already using.
So, let’s get into it, shall we? Here are our top 6 best tips to prevent your mascara from smudging.
Cleansing Routine
We really cannot stress enough the importance of having a cleansing routine that you stick to. This routine should include cleaning both your face and your lashes.
Applying mascara to dirty lashes will only increase the chance of smudging, as well as damaging them. You should use a gentle make-up remover to get rid of all the makeup from your face and eye area.
The main takeaway from this point is the importance of cleansing, however another tip you can incorporate to your cleansing routine is to add a coconut cream to restore your lashes.
This cream nourishes and hydrates your lashes so that they look healthier, and will grow faster.
Priming
The next tip that we have for you is to use a primer before applying your makeup. Eyeshadow primers help with oily lids, reducing the oils that will mix with your mascara.
Although this will help to prevent mascara smudging, it will also dry out the skin around your eyes much faster, so you should use caution. If you wanted to avoid dehydrating the skin, then you could also opt to use a beauty oil.
This will keep your lids hydrated and smooth, but also help to reduce smudging from the mascara – just make sure that the oil has been entirely absorbed first.
Tri-Locking Mascara
Waterproof mascara isn’t the only product that will grip onto your lashes. As we have mentioned before, waterproof mascara can be extremely damaging, so instead try using a tri-locking mascara.
The formula of a mascara such as this locks onto your eyelashes without damaging or breaking them. This means that you’ll be able to wear your mascara all day without it smudging or transferring under your eyes.
Baking Powder
No we aren’t talking about baking a cake or any other sweet treat, we mean to bake your face! After you have applied your foundation and concealer under your eyes, use a loose powder and gently press over the make-up.
This will help to seal the product and prevent your other makeup from mixing with your mascara. The powder creates a barrier that will stop the mascara from sticking to your skin.
This is a super easy step you can incorporate into your everyday makeup routine that is going to help your mascara stay in place!
Take Care Of Your Undereyes
Mascara should not stick to your lashes like superglue – this is a super damaging mindset that will only cause your lashes to break and fall off, and no one wants that.
To help prevent the mascara from smudging, you can use a wipe to gently wipe or blot beneath your eye. This will help to collect any excess oils and also remove any mascara that has transferred beneath your lashes.
Mascara Application
Sometimes, the reason why your mascara is smudging can be because of you. You should only coat the mascara you use to the front of your lashes.
Never coat the back, because this is where they are likely to be touching your skin, hence the reason why so much smudging occurs.
Final Thoughts
Mascara that smudges is one of the most annoying things to have to deal with – especially when you have a busy day ahead of you.
Hopefully, with the tips and tricks we have provided you with you will be able to go your whole day without any more trips to the bathroom to try and fix your smudging makeup!