How to apply Mascara correctly: instructions, mistakes, and tips

The right technique determines length, volume, and curl. The following four steps show you how to apply Mascara without clumps or smudging.

Clean your lashes and eyelids thoroughly, and make sure that your eyelids, lashes, and the area under your eyes are clean and dry. Oil-based creams or traces of Make-up shorten Mascara’s staying power and encourage smudging. 

If needed, lightly set the skin with powder to prevent smudging and improve wear.

Use an eyelash curler before applying Mascara to give your lashes a natural curl and open up your eyes

Slowly pull the brush out of the tube without pumping. Pumping pushes air into the tube and dries out the Mascara. Carefully wipe off excess product on the rim of the tube or with a tissue to avoid clumps.

Place the brush horizontally at the upper lash line and move it in small zigzag motions toward the tips. Hold the brush vertically if needed to apply mascara close to the lash line. Carefully apply mascara to the lower lashes with the brush held vertically.

Applying mascara only to the upper lashes creates a subtly lifted, more awake-looking appearance. This is especially suitable for tired eyes or hooded eyelids. Applying mascara to both lash lines creates a fuller, balanced look.

Beauty experts’ tip for light lashes: With very light lashes, it’s worth applying an additional coat from above to completely coat every lash with color before the classic application from below sets the curl.

Apply a thin layer to the tips and let it dry briefly. Apply the second layer from the roots to the tips for more volume and length. If needed, you can apply a third layer. Wait briefly between layers to allow the Mascara to dry.

Use an eyelash comb to separate the lashes and remove clumps after applying Mascara.

• Look slightly downward while applying mascara to reach all the upper lashes and achieve an even application.
• Emphasize the tips separately by lightly applying mascara only to the ends of the lashes. This makes the lashes look visually longer and the eyes appear more open.
• Correct any smudges carefully using a cotton swab or correction pen without affecting the rest of your look.

• Using an eyelash curler after mascara instead of before: Always use the curler before applying mascara. If you use it afterward, the color pigments will already have dried, making your lashes more likely to break.
• Too much product on the brush: Wipe off excess Mascara on the tube’s rim or with a cosmetic tissue before applying. Otherwise, clumps and “spider lashes” may form. 
• Pumping instead of twisting: Gently twist the brush as you pull it out of the tube. If you pump it instead, you force air inside, causing the Mascara to dry out faster.
• Not starting close enough to the lash line: Place the brush directly at the lash line. If you only apply Mascara to the lengths and tips, your lashes will look shorter rather than longer.
• Too many coats: Apply a maximum of three thin coats, allowing them to dry briefly in between. Additional coats only increase the risk of clumping.
• Using Mascara for too long: Replace your Mascara every 3 to 6 months, even if there is still product left. Bacteria enter the tube each time you apply it.

Choose Black Mascara if you want an intense, expressive look. The color puts the eye area in focus. Opt for brown Mascara if you prefer a softer everyday look or have a light skin tone and hair color, where Black can quickly appear harsh. Both colors complement every eye color, so the choice ultimately depends on your individual coloring and the occasion.

Black Mascara is the classic choice if you want an expressive look and intense eyes. It puts the eye area in focus, adds depth and definition, and instantly opens up the eyes. Black is especially suitable if you are planning dramatic Make-up for an evening or special occasion.

Brown Mascara is ideal for a natural, soft everyday look. It is especially flattering for lighter skin tones and hair colors, as deep-black mascara can quickly look too harsh and unnatural. Brown lashes create less contrast with the skin and eye color, making the face appear overall softer, fresher, and more harmonious.

Combination tip: Apply Black Mascara to the upper lashes for intensity and brown Mascara to the lower lashes for a soft transition.

Volume and length depend on the brush shape and formula, not on the color of the Mascara. A thin brush catches each lash individually and lengthens it, while a dense brush coats each lash more fully and creates more volume.

Do you have short lashes: Choose a small, thin brush that catches each lash individually and gently lengthens it without clumping.

Do you have thin lashes: Use a dense brush that makes each lash look fuller.

Do you have brittle lashes: Choose a nourishing formula with oils or vitamins that helps strengthen them during application.

Do you have sensitive eyes: Choose a hypoallergenic formula without irritating ingredients.

If you want both volume and length in one step, try the Mascara from JACKS beauty line. It combines both effects and creates defined, well-groomed lashes that beautifully intensify your eyes.

Daily mascara application and makeup removal put strain on delicate lashes. That’s why you should choose a nourishing formula that not only coats each lash with color pigments but also contains active ingredients that strengthen the lashes and protect them from drying out.

The Mascara combines intense color pigments with nourishing active ingredients and, like the entire JACKS beauty line product range, is formulated to be vegan.

Remove your eye makeup every evening; this is essential for healthy, long eyelashes. Mascara-coated lashes can break during sleep and cause gaps along the lash line. Residue can clog hair follicles, irritate sensitive eyes, or even contribute to eye inflammation. Make removing your makeup a regular ritual, comparable to brushing your teeth, and avoid vigorous rubbing.

Use a gentle, oil-based cleanser such as Beauty Elixir; it gently dissolves the color pigments while also nourishing the lashes. For brittle or sensitive lashes, additionally apply a nourishing serum or oil along the lash line after removing your makeup.

Applying Mascara correctly is the key to an expressive look and defined lashes. If you have short lashes, a slim brush and several coats can help create more length. If you have thin lashes, a dense brush can help create more volume. If you have a light skin tone and hair color, brown rather than black Mascara can create a softer look.

The most important points summarized:

• Cleanse and thoroughly degrease your lashes before applying Mascara
• Always use an eyelash curler before, never after, applying Mascara
• Apply Mascara in zigzag motions from the roots to the tips
• Build up a maximum of three thin coats, allowing a short drying time between them
• Twist the brush as you pull it out instead of pumping it
• Replace your Mascara every 3 to 6 months
• Remove it thoroughly in the evening with a gentle cleanser