An essential step in successful makeup, mascara is as effective as it is complex to use... How can you really apply it well without making a mistake? You'll see, it's not rocket science.

Unless you never wear makeup, it's impossible to miss this icon that is mascara. A true little beauty revolution, this long stick containing a paste of black pigments has the (magical) power to considerably beautify the eyelashes. Invented at the beginning of the 20th century by the French chemist Eugène Rimmel, the mascara as we know it today was originally a preparation based on petroleum jelly and pigment powder that was applied to the eyelashes using a small boar bristle brush.

In 1917, the United States smelled a good deal and the American entrepreneur TL Williams (creator of the Maybelline cosmetics brand), launched "Lash-Brown-Ine" the first mascara marketed in the US, containing the same formula as Mr Rimmel's invention... The rest is history, mascara has never left the beauty sphere! Over the decades, the formulas and applicators of the different mascaras have evolved to become more sophisticated and more efficient, offering options for all types of eyelashes and aesthetic preferences.

How to choose your mascara?

Before learning how to apply it properly, you must first know how to choose it. Mascara is not bought at random, in any case it is better not if you hope for a perfect result. There are several small parameters to take into account to choose the best mascara for your eyelashes . To get the one that will hit the mark, we count in particular: the shape of the eyes, the type of eyelashes, the color of the irises. These three points will allow you to know if you should rather turn to a volumizing, lengthening or curling mascara. Obviously, each of these models has precise specificities such as an adapted brush, a special formulation (vegan, care, etc.) or quite simply a different color.

Good to know: blue eyes particularly appreciate dark brown mascara but also go well with midnight blue mascara. Brown eyes have nothing against black mascara and green eyes will tend more towards a light brown/dark brown shade.

Steps to follow to apply your mascara

Now that you have chosen the right mascara, it is time to apply it properly to finally have the doe-like lashes you deserve. Start by getting your gear: mascara, a spoolie brush to remove any clumps, an eyelash curler and off you go.

Preparing your eyelashes

It's like for the complexion, before applying your mascara, you prepare your lashes so that they are the healthiest possible base. After making sure they are clean, brush them with a clean eyelash brush to separate them and remove any dust or eyeshadow residue, because mascara is the last step in the beauty routine. Preparing your lashes can involve applying a care base (like an eyelash serum ) or a volumizing base (white mascara) which is very effective when you have short lashes. It's not necessary, but if you want to pamper your lashes in addition to making them beautiful, it's all good.

For those who have straight eyelashes or simply want to emphasize the curve of the eyelashes, we will use the eyelash curler before applying the layers of mascara. This rule must absolutely be respected, because if it is applied after the mascara, the eyelash curler can break the eyelashes and cause them to fall out.

Applying your mascara with the right gesture

The right move we have all certainly already heard about, we are indeed talking about the famous zigzag. It is the simplest and most reliable method to best apply the black paste that will beautify our eyelashes. This move is rather simple to do and once mastered it slides (almost) by itself. How to do it? Holding the brush at the base of the eyelashes, make zigzag movements slowly going up to the tip of the eyelashes. Repeat the operation until you obtain the desired effect. Be careful, avoid pumping the brush into the mascara tube, this can let air in and dry out the product especially if it is a waterproof mascara...

• A little tip for almond-shaped eyes: we will insist with the mascara on the outer corner of the upper lashes, stretching them as far upwards as possible. This will have the effect of lengthening the look and giving it a beautiful doe-eyed appearance.
• A little tip for a wide-awake look: the idea is to have long eyelashes overall. We will focus on the eyelashes in the center of the eye. By stretching them as far as possible upwards and separating them well enough to give them an enlarged appearance.

Getting rid of packages

It's the little black one. We fear mascara clumps, and sometimes even the best mascara can leave some! To avoid them as much as possible, don't load the mascara brush with material (avoid going back and forth in the tube!). Once out of the tube, you can possibly remove the excess by rubbing the brush on the very edge of the mascara tube. You can also apply it directly to the eyelashes and then smooth out the clumps using a spoolie brush or a clean mascara brush.

We finish our beauty routine by applying mascara to the lower lashes. Here we apply it meticulously, we must avoid clumps and the lower lashes are very fine and small. A little brush stroke is enough!