Mascara Mistakes That Make You Look Older

Many of us apply makeup to help us appear more youthful and vibrant — after all, when we reach a certain age, many feel that shaving off a few years from our looks can't hurt. However, there are some key makeup mistakes that can actually age you, especially when it comes to mascara. If you want to enhance your eyes, mascara is absolutely a must, but the one step you should never skip is curling your lashes before application. Skipping this is hands-down of the biggest mistakes I see people make. During the course of over 15 years as a professional makeup artist, I have never failed to use a lash curler on a client, as it instantly opens up their eyes. That said, you have to be careful with your application. Putting mascara on stick-straight or creating droopy lashes will only drag your features down and make you look older — that's mistake number two for those keeping track.

To keep your lashes lifted all day, gently press the curler at the base, and slowly work your way toward the ends. Now that they're sufficiently curled, it's time for mascara, but another mistake many make is applying way too much. While you want enough product to thicken and lengthen your eyelashes, overloading them with mascara causes unsightly clumps and will smudge throughout the day. To prevent that from happening, make sure that your tube isn't more than three months old. Two telltale signs that your mascara is expired are it having a funky smell and a lumpy texture. If you're unsure, toss it out, and reach for a fresh one. You don't want to risk irritation or, worse, an infection.

Once you're ready to apply mascara, make sure that the wand is free of clumps. If you see a few, swipe it over a piece of facial tissue to get rid of excess residue. I find that it also helps to let it dry for a few seconds so that you're not applying overly wet mascara to your lashes, which will transfer to the skin around your eyes. Smudged eyes can make you look older, so this is a mistake you definitely want to avoid. Gently wiggle the wand from the base of your lashes to the tip, making sure to evenly disperse the product. After the first coat is done, use a metal lash comb, such as the Zeyiyer Eyelash Comb, to get rid of any clumps. Next, apply a second coat, and repeat with the lash comb.

Don't forget to give your bottom lashes some love as well, but use a very light hand. Too much mascara on that area will age you and draw attention to any fine lines you may have around your eyes. What's more, it'll flake and smudge, which will make you appear disheveled. One coat is enough to enhance your lower lids.

Now, if you're on the hunt for a new tube, we've rounded up the best mascaras for your bottom lashes to aid your search.