Mascara is one of the best things that you can do for your eyes. It makes them more open, brighter, and appearing larger. It really is the miracle worker of the eye area. When I’m in a rush, at the very least, I try to slap some mascara on my eyes. Then, you look a little bit more put together, no matter what. So here’s my handy guide to mascaras. I assume that you know the general use of it, so let’s stick to some slightly more complicated things today.

Regular or Waterproof?

I think a lot of this depends on how much time you want to spend removing it that night, as well as what you’ll be doing. Personally, I have very wet eyes. They tend to get teary for no reason, and I wear contacts which don’t help at all, so I do a waterproof formula on a regular basis. If you’re sweating a lot (especially during the summer) or planning on doing some crying or general damp activities, go for the waterproof, but be sure to then invest in a good makeup remover. Most of the time, if I’m having a grocery run sort of day, regular is fine.

Cost

You can spend just about as much as your heart desires on good mascara. I have a couple of favorites that range in price from $1.99 to $35. Honestly, I think that drugstore mascaras do a well enough job. You’ll have to do some trial and error to decide which ones you like. I’m a big fan of Essence, as well as Maybelline’s Great Lash. The things I like to look for are long wear and no clumping, but it’s a matter of preference.

Curl?

I can tell the difference when I’ve curled my lashes. I can’t, however, tell the difference between a $2 curler and $30 curler. The one I’ve been using these days cost me $3 at Wal-Mart, and it’s from Revlon. A good investment? I think so.

How many coats?

I like to do two coats to my whole eye, and then an extra coat on the outside lashes of my eye so that I get hat elongated cat-eye look. I don’t usually put any mascara on the bottom. It’s a really special occasion thing for me. If you do want to put some on your bottom lashes, be sure to use less, so that you don’t get those clumpy black lines under your eyes.

General things to remember!

Don’t pump your mascara wand in and out. This causes air to get into it and it will dry out faster. If it gets a funny texture or smell, be sure to toss it. You don’t want to get any kind of eye infection because of your mascara wand!

Happy Makeup-ing!