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When I apply mascara on my bottom lashes I always seem to manage to get some on my skin which then needs to be wiped off. It seems to me like this means I'm not applying it properly if this happens. So ladies what are your techniques for applying mascara to your bottom lashes without getting it on your skin?

PS If it matters I'm currently using Physicians Formula Fake Out mascara, though I've had the same problem with any mascara I've tried.

I've only done it a few times in my life, but hopefully I can offer some help. What I found helped with that was folding a tissue in half and then putting the tissue right up under your bottom lashes to the line of your eye. Hold the tissue nice and flat so it is smooth like your skin but make sure it's right up underneath your lashes. Then you just apply the mascara as you would normally and instead of the mascara going on your skin it goes onto the tissues. I hope this helps  :)

The best way is to go very lightly. You have to go lighter on the lower than the upper lashes because they're usually not as thick.

Also, just practice, practice, practice in front of the mirror on a day when you have nothing better to do. You might be blinking some or your lower lid muscles quivering since it's not usually natural to be putting something that close to your eye. If you practice enough, you'll be able to put it on without  having your muscles quiver. When I was young, my aunt told me she used to spend hours practicing putting on her mascara until she could do it right every time. When I wore makeup, I followed this advice until I could do it. Now, I hardly wear eye make-up, but whenever I do, it always looks as close to perfect as possible. It's like riding a bike, once you learn to balance, you have it down forever.

Edit to add: Joey posted at the same time as me, so I didn't see his tissue suggestion. This would work, but it's not necessary once you learn the amount of pressure you need and when to stop your hand from brushing it onto the lashes. Also, if you're wearing an under-eye concealer, you'll want to be careful since the tissue could possibly wipe some of it off since you likely put on the concealer before doing your mascara.

(On a side note, if you wear eye liner on your lower lid, you'll probably find that it'll start running after a few hours because of any sweat and oils on your face. The liquid concealer works great to prevent this, because you'll have concealer there to keep it from running down in any lines or wrinkles.)

Hmmm, my top tips would be, in no particular order...

1. Rest your elbow of the arm holding the mascara on a solid surface. This will stabilise you a little.
2. Use a magnification mirror when applying eye makeup
3. Keep cotton buds/q-tips ready, and a little moisturiser rubbed on the tip. Its great for removing little errors as it gets under the lash without touching them, plus it leaves the skin moisturised too. Spin it a little as you remove.
4. Squint just a tiny bit as you apply as it lifts the lashes a little. Also tilt your head forward so that your eyes look up a bit.
5. go slow. Its quicker to go slow than it is to correct so never rush.

Good luck! :-)

I rather love it when two of my favourite brothers help out like that.

Thank You.

Now if anyone can help with eyeliner!!!!!

I always thought the best use for eye liner was to give it to a kid and give them some drawing paper to use it on.

Quote from: LordKAT on October 14, 2013, 03:07:55 AM
I always thought the best use for eye liner was to give it to a kid and give them some drawing paper to use it on.

You are a Philistine and probably use it to draw spots and stripes!!! :laugh: :-*

Quote from: Cindy on October 14, 2013, 02:31:12 AM
I rather love it when two of my favourite brothers help out like that.

Thank You.

Now if anyone can help with eyeliner!!!!!

Try using a felt tip eyeliner, I've found they're a lot easier to work with than the other types

Quote from: Shakti on October 14, 2013, 05:18:58 AM
Try using a felt tip eyeliner, I've found they're a lot easier to work with than the other types

I find pens are ok,  but they don't have a good flow of ink.  It may be harder to get the hang of,  but liquid is where it's at for the top and kajal for the inner part.

Quote from: Cindy on October 14, 2013, 02:31:12 AM
I rather love it when two of my favourite brothers help out like that.

Thank You.

Now if anyone can help with eyeliner!!!!!

Sephora or Ulta (or other high-end places) have a *wonderful* eyeliner called 24/7 (it's in with the Urban Decay products).

This stuff is *AMAZING*... I have put it on, sweated buckets, cried hugely, wiped my eyes and it remains in place!  The only problem I have *ever* had with this stuff is that it is a real pain to get off before going (in male mode) to work the next day.  I recommend the urban decay makeup remover for that... rub it in along the eyes, let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe with a wet washcloth.  Presto, it's gone!  Soap and water do not work at all for it... it's *that* permanent.

This gal used to do sideshow acts under hot lights... eyeliner looked like a horror show before I found this stuff.  :)

Regarding the mascara I'd say try one that does not clump, yet stays somewhat dryish. My tear channels clogs up so fast and I always got mascara everywhere until I tried one from i.d named weather everything. It's very natural and not as prominent, but it can easily be built up and works like a charm with primers/build up base mascaras. I can BLINK again!!

And the brush is very neat and nice to work with. When I'm out of it I tend to use other mascaras but the brush from that one. Practise is also your best friend. I always apply mascara with my mouth wide open lol!

I'm always amazed at women who apply their make up including mascara on the train in the morning on the way to work. It's hardly the most stable of platforms... when they're using eye liner I'm always worried the train might lurch and they'll poke their eye out. Ow. So my tip is, don't do it on a train!  ;D

I like that tissue under the bottom suggestion though, I'm sure I've seen it used by other women too.

Hahaha my sister always applies makeup in the car!

If you place your hand properly under your eye it should become less shaky, but that requires a short shafted brush. I just can't work with the normal length shafted mascara brushes, they're wayyyy too long! (And I only apply makeup once every leap year these days so I'm out of training as it is)

Use a business card to shield your skin.  Always curl the upper and lower lashes.  And lightly power the lashes to help set the mascara.

One common tip for makeup routines is to follow an order. I apply eyeliner first, then mascara. Let the mascara dry (like five minutes? This is when I brush my teeth). Then just use some makeup removing wipes/warm water on a q tip to remove any mascara specks. I have long eyelashes so I wind up with that from when the wet mascara touches my ocular ridges. Im too lazy to be bothered with shielding my skin though. THEN I apply any eyeshadows/pencil my brows. The last step should always be any foundation because if you apply foundation first it's harder to remove mascara/eyeshadow fallout without messing up your previous work.   The most frustrating thing in the world is to have everything flawless then have black eyeshadow or mascara mess up a spot :P


Tldr: don't stress it, it's an easy fix if you do everything in order. it's basically bound to happen

:( I made a video on how to do the lower lashes but it won't upload. At least it was more entertaining than raking the yard.

This is great ever time i think up of a good question to ask the answer is already there. thanks and loads of love peeps

Quote from: Kittenswithmittens on October 14, 2013, 02:14:15 PM
Regarding the mascara I'd say try one that does not clump, yet stays somewhat dryish. My tear channels clogs up so fast and I always got mascara everywhere until I tried one from i.d named weather everything. It's very natural and not as prominent, but it can easily be built up and works like a charm with primers/build up base mascaras. I can BLINK again!!

And the brush is very neat and nice to work with. When I'm out of it I tend to use other mascaras but the brush from that one. Practise is also your best friend. I always apply mascara with my mouth wide open lol!

The new Fake Out mascara from Physicians Formula is a lot like how you discribed, and yes it's a lot easier to work with, I just got it last week. Before I was using Revlon Lash Potion and it got everywhere. Also LearnedHand, yes I think you're right about using a light touch, I've been practicing when I do my mascara, and I'm getting a lot better, I'm not quite 100 percent there though.

Quote from: Abby on October 14, 2013, 11:47:06 PM
One common tip for makeup routines is to follow an order. I apply eyeliner first, then mascara. Let the mascara dry (like five minutes? This is when I brush my teeth). Then just use some makeup removing wipes/warm water on a q tip to remove any mascara specks. I have long eyelashes so I wind up with that from when the wet mascara touches my ocular ridges. Im too lazy to be bothered with shielding my skin though. THEN I apply any eyeshadows/pencil my brows. The last step should always be any foundation because if you apply foundation first it's harder to remove mascara/eyeshadow fallout without messing up your previous work.   The most frustrating thing in the world is to have everything flawless then have black eyeshadow or mascara mess up a spot :P


Tldr: don't stress it, it's an easy fix if you do everything in order. it's basically bound to happen

I was taught foundation first before anything else. Also eyeshadow should go on before your other eye makeup, or else the dust from it will mess up your eyeliner and/or mascara.

I NEVER do my foundation first. It's way easier to clean up fallout off of bare skin than it is to clean off foundation

Quote from: Grace_C on October 14, 2013, 02:37:52 PM
I'm always amazed at women who apply their make up including mascara on the train in the morning on the way to work.

My girlfriend did it once on the train without a mirror. I'm like "how the heck!" but she's got super long lashes so it wasn't that hard for her.

Anyway, my tip for the lower lashes, use the tip of the brush and do them individually.

Depends on the look your going for. Applying mascara to bottom lashes makes eyes look bigger. I think big eyes are more a manly trait so I tend to make my eyes more smaller and seductive

One tip that I have recently discovered... be patient, and do three or four passes over the lower lashes.  If you can feel the brush on your lower lashes, realize that some mascara is transferring even if you can't see it, and that light coating will help the next brush stick to it, until eventually the lashes are done perfectly. 

My biggest problem before was impatience... I would assume it wasn't working so I would try harder, and that would increase the risk of brushing the applicator against my skin.  As with so much in beauty, haste makes waste.  Take your time to perfect your look! :)

Quote from: Shakti on October 17, 2013, 05:55:46 AM
The new Fake Out mascara from Physicians Formula is a lot like how you discribed, and yes it's a lot easier to work with

I've been using Maybelline Great Lash and I keep having issues after a while where I get specks and smudges below my eyes. Last night I put on mascara and I deliberately was very, very light on the bottom lashes to try to avoid this issue, but the specks & smudges I eventually got were even worse than usual.

What I think is happening is that mascara comes off of my very long upper lashes when I blink. I'm going to pick up some "fake out" mascara and see if it's any better than the great lash - thanks for the tip!  :)

There are a couple things that you can do with mascara to keep it from falling. There are a couple primers that you can pick up from Maybelline that can help with plumping up the lashes and keeping it on. Another option is if you switch from the regular mascara to the waterproof one. The waterproof formulas are much tougher to get off, either olive oil or baby oil work well, but you'll want a cleanser for after.

As for lower lashes there are a few tricks: open your mouth, it'll help the lower the lashes to give you a little more space to work with. The other thing is business cards... sounds silly but if you slide a white business card, short end first, just under your lashes, you should be able to see them and then apply with however much force you like wihout worrying that you'll poke out an eye! It also keeps the excess mascara from ending up on your face.

Hope this helps a little!
S.

Quote from: Ms. OBrien CVT on October 14, 2013, 03:47:56 PM
Use a business card to shield your skin.  Always curl the upper and lower lashes.  And lightly power the lashes to help set the mascara.

This. The business card works wonders for applying mascara!

My problems with putting mascara on my bottom lashes is that they are really light colored, short, thin, and hard to see.   On my upper lashes the mascara just flakes off. 

  I just use makeup lightly.  My good luck with my whiskers is that they are really light and hard to see. 

Also, living in Florida and not having a car means that means that I always have at least a light tan so it appears that I might be wearing makeup all the time or really don't need it to hide my whiskers.  I do shave three or four times a day just to keep them harder to see.

I am really a plain Jane and its easier for me to pass if I dress in feminine clothing as long as I don't over do it and try and be too sexy.   It's better for me to look like a simple country girl, which I am, then to for me to look like a sophisticated lady.

Hey Michelle, there is another option. Since you like the more natural look, Maybelline does make a clear lash coat that simply helps hold the curl. Many girls won't do the bottom lashes during the day opting to pull that out for a night-time look. With your light hair and darker skin due to the tan, you could potentially get away with the easy clear mascara but tightline the lashes with a kohl or eyeliner. Just make sure to curl your lashes first, tightline, then apply the mascara to hold it all in place.

Maybe try that? Good luck! I envy all your sunshine! I live much further north, it feels like winter is 8 months long!
S.

Hi, Sayra,

Thanks for your advice about mascara.

I now about northern winters, I grew up in the Dakotas living part of my life  within 15 miles of the Canadian border.  Loved the long summer days, but the short gray winter days were depressing.

It can definitely get cold! Happy to help!

A girl on youtube was describing putting the mascara brush onto the lash then jiggling (I can't think of the right word) the brush back and forth so that it lightly tugs on the lashes For me, this means I only have to get the brush to my lash I don't also have to keep it steady while brushing.

I tried putting mascara on a lash curler and then curling the lash, as various people were describing on youtube. It did transfer to the lash, but at the time, I thought the process had somehow broken part of my lashes off (made them shorter).... later, I decided that didn't happen, but it keeps me a little worried about the process.

Anyway, the idea of putting the mascara on a surface and pressing it against the lash is something I want to experiment with.

Also, I think it is working to put petroleum jelly on the lashes with nothing else as a way to make lashes grow... maybe. I use a mascara brush (I bought a pack of 100) and apply it like mascara. That, you really don't want to go into your eye though...  Longer lashes would make it easier to apply mascara, as someone was saying above.

I'm natural blonde, so it is also kinda hard for me to apply my mascara to my bottom lashes.
What you can do is to get an actual mascara that is for the bottom lashes. I definitely would recommend trying out the Bottom Lash Mascara from Clinique. Mascaras with bigger wands tends to be harder to apply to your bottom lashes, definitely if you're a blondie.

try putting a spoon under the lower lashes while applying mascara

My bottom lashes are light colored, short, and thinned out, so it is very difficult to put on mascara.   In fact I am finding that I mostly go without makeup because now you see it, now you don't.   I put on long lasting lipstick.  I eat or drink something and it's gone.  The same goes with the rest of it.  I don't have a car and I live where there is lots of sun so I have a constant tan.   My facial hair is light blond and not easily seen if I keep up with shaving.  My biggest problem have with my facial hair is that no matter how much I shave it my neck and lower face have a sandpaper feel, so while it's hard to see my facial hair it can always be felt.   So I don't need makeup to hide it and my face always has color to it.

This isn't exactly for lower lashes but seen a video that helps make it easier. Basically using a brow comb applying the mascara to it then it goes on lighter but then you have more control over it. I tried still a noob at it lol but made it a lot easier to control the brow comb with the mascara on it then the long mascara brushes. I also reduced clumping and keeps the mascara clean from gunk that is on the lashes:)

Wow there are so many great tips in here. Yea I can hardly get the top ones let alone the bottom ones. Than when I have it looking good I end up blinking and the mascara gets all over. Some of you mentioned that they need to dry first before blinking, I'll have to try that next time. I like the card trick too. I have a bunch of useless business cards so that can help. I have very sensitive eyes and they water if anything gets close to the eyelids which makes it even harder to do for me.