3 ways to apply mascara without smudging all day

Smudged mascara is one of the most common woes in the beauty world. There's nothing worse than spending ages crafting the perfect smoky eye, complete with a delicate cat-eye flick, only to find black smudges on your eyelid after applying mascara. Or perhaps you check the mirror at lunchtime and notice your mascara migrating towards your cheeks. Luckily, there are several tricks that can help you reduce mascara smudging or smearing and achieve a flawless makeup look all day long!

Sequence 1: Prevent excess oil around the eye area

Step 1: Cleanse your face thoroughly with a gentle cleanser before applying makeup

Mascara smudging throughout the day is often caused by the eyelashes coming into contact with skin oils. To help minimize this, you need to start your makeup routine with clean skin. In the morning, use gentle cleansers that are safe for the delicate eye area, as eyelids can get oily.

If you have trouble finding a cleanser that doesn't sting your eyes, try using baby shampoo. Mix a little baby shampoo with some warm water, then dip a soft cloth into the soapy water and gently clean around your eye area.

Step 2: Skip eye moisturizer

If your mascara frequently smudges, it could be because your eyelids are oily, and using daily moisturizer can make the problem worse. Only apply eye cream and other moisturizers to the eye area at night.

If you feel it's necessary to use eye cream in the morning, make sure to apply it 20-30 minutes before your makeup so it has time to fully absorb into the skin. If you have issues with mascara smudging, you should also skip cream eyeshadows.

Step 3: Blot around your eyes with blotting paper

Powdered blotting papers are specifically designed to absorb excess oil from your face, giving you fresh, matte, and smooth skin. Try blotting gently around your eyes to remove oil before applying eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara. You can find blotting papers at most beauty stores, or you can order them online.

Step 4: Dab a little primer onto your eyelids

If you already use face primer, you can apply it to your eyelids and under-eye area. If you don't use face primer, dab a little eye primer around your eyes. This will create a matte barrier that helps lock in oil, which can help prevent mascara from smudging. Using too much primer on your eyelids can cause creasing, so only use a thin layer.

Step 5: Apply mascara carefully

Depending on the look you want to create, you might apply eyeshadow, eyeliner, and several coats of mascara, or you might prefer a more natural look and just apply a thin coat of mascara before heading out. However, mascara is most likely to smudge immediately after application, so try to keep your eyes open for at least one minute after applying to let the mascara dry.

If you want to curl your eyelashes, do so before applying mascara so you don't smudge the mascara you've already applied. Apply mascara in several thin layers. Wipe the brush tip on the edge of the tube to remove excess mascara before applying it to your lashes. If your mascara tends to smudge a lot, try applying it only to your upper lashes and not your lower lashes.

Step 6: "Bake" the under-eye area with translucent powder after makeup application

Use a small, soft brush to lightly apply a layer of translucent powder under your eyes, then let it sit for 5-10 minutes before brushing off the excess. This process, called "baking," helps reduce oil and shine and keeps your makeup in place all day.

If you are using concealer or foundation around your eyes, setting it with powder can help create a matte, smooth base and prevent mascara from smudging. Translucent powder is sometimes also called setting powder or baking powder. You can also apply a little powder to your eyelashes before applying mascara. This helps add thickness and volume to your lashes.

Sequence 2: Use waterproof mascara

Step 1: Apply a lash primer

Waterproof mascara can dry out eyelashes and is very difficult to remove. Both of these can damage your eyelashes over time, but if you can't prevent mascara from smudging, using waterproof mascara can help. To use waterproof mascara, you first need to protect your eyelashes by coating them with a lash primer.

Lash primer will protect your eyelashes from the drying effects of waterproof mascara, and it will also help waterproof mascara come off more easily at the end of the day. Even with a lash primer, waterproof mascara will still cause damage over time. This type of mascara is not suitable for daily use, so you should only use it on special occasions where you really need your mascara to stay put all day (like a beach photoshoot or a wedding).

For a gentler, easier-to-remove alternative that can be used more often, try mascara labeled "water resistant" instead of "waterproof." Experts agree: using a lash primer at night or before applying mascara can help keep mascara in place longer throughout the day. You can even dab a little castor oil onto a cotton swab to apply to your lashes at night as a substitute for lash primer.

Step 2: Apply waterproof mascara as you normally would

Place the mascara wand at the base of your lashes and wiggle it slightly, then lift the wand and sweep it towards the outer corner of your eye, along the length of your lashes. This will help curl your lashes and make your eyes look bigger and your lashes longer. The only difference when using waterproof mascara is that you should wait for the mascara to dry between coats, unlike regular mascara, where you should quickly apply multiple coats before it has a chance to dry.

Since waterproof mascara isn't oil-proof, this won't prevent all smudges, but it can still be helpful in keeping mascara in place all day. If you don't want to use waterproof mascara every day, apply your regular mascara first, then add a waterproof top coat. You can also apply a waterproof top coat over your regular mascara.

Step 3: Use a specialized makeup remover to remove waterproof mascara

Specialized makeup removers will break down waterproof mascara, making it easier to remove. This will help you minimize wiping and rubbing to clean your face, protecting your eyelashes over time. It can also help prevent wrinkles from constantly rubbing and tugging at the delicate skin around your eyes. Makeup remover wipes, micellar water, and cleansing oils are all popular types of makeup removers.

Sequence 3: Apply mascara

Step 1: Wipe the mascara wand on the edge of the tube to remove excess

Mascara wands often pick up more mascara than you need, so wiping off the excess will help ensure mascara doesn't clump too much on your lashes. Too much mascara leads to clumping and takes longer to dry, making it more likely to smudge and smear. Avoid wiping the mascara wand on a tissue or cloth. This can leave small fibers on the wand that can get into your eyes and irritate them.

Step 2: Apply mascara to your lower lashes first

When you look down to apply mascara to your lower lashes, your upper lashes will touch your upper eyelid. If you've already applied mascara to your upper lashes, this can lead to mascara smudging onto your eyelid. To avoid this, start by applying mascara to your lower lashes first, then your upper lashes. When applying mascara to your upper lashes, look straight ahead so your lashes don't touch your eyelids, but tilt your head slightly forward when applying mascara to your lower lashes.

Step 3: Hold a shield under your eyes while applying mascara

If your mascara smudges during application, hold a flat object under your eye, between your skin and lower lash line, while applying. You can use a spoon, a credit card, a piece of paper, or anything else you find suitable. Some beauty stores even have special shields designed to fit snugly under your eyes when applying mascara.

You can also prevent under-eye smudging by "baking" your makeup with powder. Apply a layer of translucent powder to the under-eye area and let it sit for a few minutes before applying mascara and other eye makeup. Brush off the excess powder when you're done.

Step 4: Apply a clear mascara top coat over your freshly applied mascara if you want to set your lashes

Once your mascara has dried, apply a thin layer of clear mascara top coat over it. This will help keep your mascara in place, preventing flaking or smudging throughout the day. If you can't find a clear mascara top coat you like, try using clear eyebrow gel as an alternative! Some mascara top coats are designed to be waterproof and prevent mascara from running.

Step 5: Try tubing mascara if regular mascara doesn't work well

Tubing mascara coats each individual lash with a special polymer that dries into a tube shape. These are less prone to smudging, although the individual tubes can sometimes flake off throughout the day. Tubing mascara must be removed with warm water. You can also try cake mascara. These old-fashioned mascaras are less likely to clump or smudge than mascaras in applicator tubes.

Step 6: Carry cotton swabs or makeup remover pens as a precaution

Even if you've intensely mattified the surface and used a clear mascara top coat, mascara can still smudge if it gets caught in the rain or you sneeze too hard. If that happens, you can quickly remove smudges with a cotton swab or a makeup remover pen, both of which are also compact enough to easily fit in your bag when you're on the go.

You might notice a gap in your foundation after cleaning with a cotton swab or makeup remover pen. Carry concealer or powder to touch up and cover this area after wiping away smudges.

Author: Alicia D'Angelo. Translator: Huyen Tran.

Source: Wikihow. Copyright: Kallos Vietnam.

A little about the author Alicia D'Angelo

This article was co-authored by Alicia D'Angelo and wikiHow editor Amy Bobinger. Alicia D'Angelo is a New York City-based makeup artist. She currently works with teams for Dior Makeup, YSL Beauty, and Pat McGrath Labs, as well as bridal makeup companies Once Upon A Bride and Miss Harlequinn. Her work has been featured on Today.com, New York Live, Forbes.com, VH1, MTV, Vevo, Entertainment Weekly, Refinery 29, and NYXCosmetics.com. She holds a degree in visual communications from FIDM-Los Angeles.