How Does Mascara Work?

Choosing Your Mascara

In order for mascara to work on you, you need to select the formula that matches your needs, as well as the color that most flatters you. If your lashes are short, look for a lengthening formula, which has fibers that attach themselves to the tips of your lashes to make them noticeably longer. Sparse lashes, on the other hand, could benefit from a volumizing mascara, which has fibers that coat each lash for an overall lusher appearance.
In terms of color, black is a popular choice for drama and definition. For a more natural look, choose brown if you are relatively light-haired. Playful shades such as blue, green and purple are available as well if you want to create a whimsical vibe with your makeup.

Product Packaging

Mascaras are packaged in a variety of ways, all of which are designed to produce different results. While shopping for the brand best suited to your needs, notice the brush shapes and sizes. These are indicators of what each mascara can deliver. For instance, mini bristles on a mascara wand are especially made for short lashes, as in the general case of Asians, or for the finer and smaller hairs on the lower lash lines. There are also battery-operated mascara wands, which claim to give makeup wearers more defined, separated and curlier lashes with the brush's rapid vibration.

Preliminaries

Wash your face thoroughly before makeup application. You want the mascara to adhere to your lashes, which it won't do if you haven't removed the previous day's makeup along with oily build-up from other cosmetics. Allow lashes to dry and do not apply any creams on the eyelids, as these can lead to smudging and the breakdown of eye makeup later in the day.

Application

When lashes have dried, you can either coat them with a primer especially manufactured to add both length and fullness, as well as provide lasting wear throughout the day, or simply apply the mascara directly onto lashes. Wiggle the wand from the base of your lashes to the tips in order to evenly distribute the product and prevent clumping. As applying mascara on the lower lashes can lead to smearing on the area underneath the eyes, you can skip doing so entirely, or use a waterproof formula to prevent unsightly smudges.

Options

If you find that mascara does not work for you, regardless of the various textures and brands you've tried, experiment with an eyelash curler prior to mascara application. Since this is a tool frequently used in conjunction with mascara, you might discover that all you needed was to give your lashes a lift for the mascara to do its job. However, if you are still unsatisfied, you may want to use false eyelashes instead. Choose from strip or individual cluster lashes, depending on the enhancement you are looking for. Furthermore, if lack of time is the issue when you are getting ready for school or work, the alternative of getting semi-permanent eyelash extensions is also available to you.