Strange advice yes?
Here’s the deal.
Sometimes, I open up a brand new tube of mascara, swipe it on my short stick straight lashes and think it crap because its either too wet, too heavy or too clumpy.
Fast forward a month later and I find myself actually liking the mascara I wanted to trash earlier. The secret I’ve found is in letting it dry out a little. I’m not asking you to open it up and air it, oh no!
There are a couple of ways I do it:-
- Use the mascara regularly. Using it regularly means you open up the tube at least once a day allowing air in which naturally dries out the formula a little. This also means you encounter a couple of weeks of wet formula before it turns for the better.
- Wave the mascara wand around in the air before applying to lashes. If you encounter a wet formula mascara and don’t want to wait till the tube dries out, just wave the mascara wand around in the air for a bit before applying to your curled lashes.
From personal experience, I find that the formula of Maybelline mascara tends to be wet and heavy when first opened. If I were to give my thoughts on a wet formula mascara on first use, I’d usually trash it. But these days, I’m older and wiser.
So, I always give my mascara a chance. If it does not work when new, I try the trick of waving it around to “air dry” before applying. Sometimes, a drier formula looks better on my lashes. Its an irony but it works for me.
Do you sometimes find older or drier mascara working better for your lashes? Have you tried waving your mascara wand around? Feel like Harry Potter yes? 😉
Paris B
p/s Hands up if you recognised the spell above 😉
Nikki says
August 17, 2010 at 9:19 amI know what you mean! I don’t like my mascara super wet as I tend to get it on my lids most of the time with my short puny lashes 🙂 I’d rather have it mid-wet and mid-dry! I do the same thing you’ve written! *HEY YOOO!!!*
ParisB says
August 17, 2010 at 9:49 amHaha! Glad I’m not alone! 😉 *waves mascara wand*
Jol says
August 17, 2010 at 9:23 amHee yes I do the same thing to new mascaras and eyeliners too. Sometimes half way through my current eyeliner, i buy a new tube, just to make sure i ‘air’ it enough before i start to use it 😀
ParisB says
August 17, 2010 at 9:51 amEyeliner too? That’s a new one for me! But then I probably don’t use liquid eyeliners enough 🙂
Azura says
August 17, 2010 at 9:31 amOh dear, i thought i am d only one who always thought about that. Glad to hear that i have a company now. Yeah, brand new mascara tend to be very wet and clumpy. So i like ur idea very2 much! tq so much paris!
ParisB says
August 17, 2010 at 9:51 amNo I don’t think we are ever alone in our beauty eccentricities 🙂 Glad to know I’m not alone too!
Sugar says
August 17, 2010 at 9:32 amlol, it’s the same for me! i have long and thick eyelashes so boy do i HATE wet mascaras cause they stick my lashes together and it looks horrible. so i let both my Lancome Hypnose Precious cells and my Dior Extreme mascara dry out a bit before using, and it’s great! so that way i make a mascara last 6 months instead of 3! wheee.
on a diff note. i have a horrible PAINFUL pimple on my upper lip. it looks horrible and i am depressed. urgh.
ParisB says
August 17, 2010 at 9:52 amOuch! Pimples suck 😛 Hey you like both the mascara I like too! And psst! I let mine stretch way past the “sell by” date too 😛
AnnaYJia says
August 17, 2010 at 11:02 amoh my ~ wonderful idea ! I always hate Maybelline’s mascara bcoz it’s too wet >_< I should try this trick next time !
ParisB says
August 18, 2010 at 11:43 amYa I have that problem with Maybelline mascara but they always work so much better when they’re “older” 😉
Jasmine says
August 17, 2010 at 12:15 pmPssst Paris, if your mascara dries, try spraying a good spritz of alcohol-containing toner into the tube and giving it a good pump. 🙂
ParisB says
August 18, 2010 at 11:45 amThanks for the tip! I usually just toss it out – I don’t quite like using old mascara too long after the use by date but this can come in handy
aisyah De Cullen says
August 17, 2010 at 12:37 pmDefinitely agree with you! Especially about Maybelline mascaras..!
I hated the Long Extreme Double Stretch the first time I applied it cz it feels heavy and clumpy..
But its all better now..LOL..probably bcz I’m stubborn and tried applying it everyday..ekeke..I don’t give up easily!=D
ParisB says
August 18, 2010 at 11:46 amYay for being persistent! 🙂 Glad it works for you – I like it too for a “natural” look
Sandra says
August 17, 2010 at 1:46 pmI always wave my mascara first! 😀
One makeup artist did it before she put the mascara on me (was wondering why she was doing it but too shy to ask, idiotic me!) & I tried to ‘copy & paste’ at home & feel good with the result – less clumpy & lighter.
ParisB says
August 18, 2010 at 11:48 amCool that you picked it up from the makeup artist! I love it when I learn a new trick off them 🙂
Indulgent Diva says
August 18, 2010 at 11:08 amI hear you! I hate the wet mascaras too coz it makes lashes oh-so-clumpy! great tip, Paris!
ParisB says
August 18, 2010 at 12:02 pmYou’re welcome 🙂 And I like some wetter formula because it makes it easier to apply but the clumpiness does get to me too.
meghan says
November 30, 2011 at 4:19 amI agreeeeee! I got a bareminerals mascara and was really sad because it looked really horrible on my lashes but then I dried it out (hairdryer) and it looked amazing! if you want to get it dry really really quick in the morning try aiming a hot hairdryer into the tube, it works quite well xx
Caitlyn says
February 27, 2015 at 12:00 pmOh my God me too! My eyelashes aren\’t naturally curled so after I curl them and apply wet mascara… They straighten out again. So annoying!! I\’ll definitely try waving the wand around! *fingers crossed*