Mascara Hacks
4 Genius Mascara Hacks That Will Change the Way You Do Your Eyelashes
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Ask women what makeup step they won't leave the house without, and the majority will respond: mascara. These itty-bitty brittle brushes have potent power to transform your eyes — opening them, brightening them, and making them appear more wide set. Some say they feel naked without any lash enhancement.
Since we are all so obsessed with and devoted to wearing mascara, we asked Nars makeup artist Niko Lopez how to take one wand (Nars Audacious, specifically) and manipulate it four ways to create different lash looks. The results are mesmerizing.
Keep reading to discover how to DIY natural lashes, winged-out lashes, lush lower lashes, and megavolume lashes. We promise you'll never do your makeup the same way again!
Prep Your Face
Do your makeup, but leave your lashes bare. Then grab your favorite wand — we used the Nars Audacious one ($26) — and get ready for some eyelash magic.
Natural Lashes: Step 1
"You're not changing anything, so it just makes whatever you have look better," Niko said of this everyday style. "This lash look is the most basic and works for any eye shape."
To start, hold your brush horizontally and flat at the lash line. Stroke it straight up. Start at the base of the lash to get the most thickness at the bottom, and then wiggle it up, making it finer toward the ends.
Natural Lashes: Step 2
Angle the wand about 45 degrees and hold it flat, and do the same straight stroke on the outer corner.
Natural Lashes: Step 3
Natural Lashes: Final Look
"Using the mascara wand horizontally will give you the most coverage if you evenly apply to every lash," Niko said. "It's natural because of the way you're angling the brush, really enhancing the natural shape of the eye."
Winged-Out Lashes: Step 1
If cat eyes are your signature style, then you need lashes to match! Begin by doing the steps from the first natural lash look. Focus a bit more on the outer edges.
Winged-Out Lashes: Step 2
Then, rest the wand at the end of the lash line at a 45-degree angle.
Winged-Out Lashes: Step 3
Flick the wand out and up. Create a checkmark shape when you're flicking. Do this about five times or until you get the desired look.
Winged-Out Lashes: Extra Credit
"To really enhance the almond shape, I find that creating a cat-eyeliner look on the outer corner really helps give the eyes that lift," Niko said. "It enhances the lash technique."
Winged-Out Lashes: Final Look
This lash look will give you more almond-shaped, wide-set eyes.
Lush Lower Lashes: Step 1
Press the snooze button, and rely on this eye-opening (literally and figuratively) trick. Create your desired top-lash effect, be it natural or winged. Flip your brush around so it's vertical, and focus on the bottom row! First, lightly run the wand back and forth against your lower lashes.
Lush Lower Lashes: Step 2
Taking the tip of the wand, make a straight line down from the root to the tips. "Really focus on getting a lot of mascara right at the root of the lash," Niko advised.
Lush Lower Lashes: Final Look
"This technique is great for girls who want to give their eyes an instant pick-me-up," Niko explained. "You get bigger, brighter eyes that look more awake. You're really emphasizing that the eyes are open by doing the top and the bottom. So it's great for women with smaller eyes."
Megavolume Lashes: Step 1
"This creates maximum volume for going out or for the girl who is not shy!" Niko said of this pumped-up party style. So, if you want Betty Boop eyes, keep reading. To begin, coat your lashes with mascara using the previous natural lashes look. While the hairs are still wet, close your eyes, and lightly dust them with loose powder. It should cover the entire area thoroughly.
Megavolume Lashes: Step 2
Go over the powder with your mascara wand, coating every lash to be black again. Repeat the entire process a second time: powdering wet lashes, and applying mascara over it. "You're going to get it all over your face, so I suggest just dusting it off when you're done with a clean loose powder brush," Niko advised.
Megavolume Lashes: Step 3
When it comes to mascara application technique for the second coat, the choice is yours. "You could incorporate wiggling in there if you really want to make them clumpier looking, it just depends on what look you go," Niko noted.
Megavolume Lashes: Final Look
This is not for the faint of heart, but it's definitely for Instagram.
Megavolume Lashes: Final Look
If you're feeling daring, try it with a matte red lip.
Enjoy Your Lashes!
No matter which look or combination you choose, allow your lashes to be an expression of your personality.
