Lash out: mascara hacks

Learn the essential hacks to applying mascara like a pro

Mascara is the cherry on top of any look, giving you that elegant and classy pay-off. It provides the dash of volume and length that define your look. There's a knack to applying this must-have makeup product, and we've got the tips for you to hack your way to lifted and enviable lashes.

Wipe the wand before application

Don't you hate it when your eyelashes clump together while you're applying mascara? Wiping your wand of excess product on a tissue or cloth is a sure-fire hack to avoid this.

Prime your lashes

Just like you prime your face before laying on the foundation, prep your lashes with a lash primer. It will ensure that the product stays on the lashes much longer. It also conditions lashes to prevent flaking or smudging while volumising and lengthening the lashes.

Curl with heat

To give them an extra lift, curl the lashes with an eyelash curler before applying the first coat. Heat the curler with your hairdryer and then use them on your lashes. Make sure it's hot enough to do its job but not so hot it burns the eye.

Reuse and recycle

If you have a favourite mascara wand, keep it! Wash it thoroughly and hang onto it to try with another mascara formula. You'll probably prefer the finish you get with your favourite than the one the brush that comes with the mascara gives.

Layer it thin

As with all makeup, heavy layers are not the way to go. Several thin layers stay longer and look better than one quickly hefted-on blob. Thin coats will give you lift, length and volume without any stickiness or clogging.

The translucent powder trick

This hack is an invention by Dubai>s own influential beauty blogger, Huda Beauty. According to her, this trick gives the lashes three times its volume. "Dust your lashes with a translucent powder in between mascara coats. It's a little messy but it works."

Apply it first and last

After you>ve primed your skin, apply the first coat that defines and maps the rest of your makeup look. Once the eye makeup is done apply a second coat. When all aspects of your makeup are complete check if another coat is needed for a finishing touch. You can apply a cocktail of mascara formulas to achieve your desired drama.

Dry no more

Prevent your mascara from drying out with a few drops of saline solution. This is easy to find over-the-counter at any local pharmacy Have a mascara that>s drying out? With a couple of drops and a swirl around, give your mascara a second life.