With all this experience there must be some good consumer advise. What brand name and type is preferable? Good,Better and Best.

Yes.. I've taken classes and "could" be called a make-up-artist if I so desired...

There's no one brand that is "best" but I'd suggest the Kanebo Sensai (I think it's spelled) line's mascara, it's the only black mascara I've seen that's actually "pitch black".

Just remember to throw out and replace your mascara every 6 months to avoid bacterial growth and eye infections.

Quote from: Miniar on May 22, 2009, 10:09:50 AM
Just remember to throw out and replace your mascara every 6 months to avoid bacterial growth and eye infections.

And because it does dry out and gets clumpier. I'd also suggest that you base your mascara on your eyelashes. "Volume" lash mascara doesn't work well with short, thin eyelashes, for instance. Try a "lengthening" brand instead.

Try not to get it all over your face as well and do the lashes last.

N~

Currently I am using MAX Volume pitch black. Great big lashes.  And curl them before hand.

Janet

Thank you Janet. I.ll being looking for that kind.

I have issues getting my lower lashes covered, I have tried several different brands and still no joy, it's like the brush is shapped wrong, any suggestions

Using the very tip of the brush, lightly go over the lower lashes.  This will apply the mascara to them.  Then lightly brush the lashes toward the outer part of the eye.

Use a very light touch or you will be removing mascara from your cheek. 

Janet

And to keep your lashes from clumping, don't apply a second coat until you've let the first one dry for 45 seconds.  Also, twirl the brush slightly as you go from root to tip, sort of like the brush is a fork and your lashes are spaghetti.. This helps it stay even, so you're not just lifting all the makeup off one side of the brush.

I've tried lots of mascara but I haven't yet found one that honestly stands out from the pack.  Bad application, in my opinion, makes more of a difference than brand does.  I've heard good things about Maybelline, though, the one in the pink and green tube.  I haven't had a chance to try that one yet, but I've tried other Maybellines.. for my purposes, it's fine.

Is your hair still a light brown like in your avatar?  Pitch black might not be the best color, then.  It really depends, but sometimes the blacks look a little too dramatic for an everyday look. There are also black-browns, which I usually use, that will make your lashes look nicer without actually proclaiming that you're wearing makeup.  That's just my preference though.. I like subtlety. If you do want a more dramatic effect then go for the blacks.

Yes my hair is a light brown, by summers end it should lighten considerably, I thought about getting highlights when I go fulltime, yes for everyday wear I plan on a brown and black for special occasions

I use a covergirl lashblast (I'm wearing it in my avatar pic, but not very noticeable).  comes in a big fat orange tube.
My wife uses the Maybelline in a pink/green tube as Janet pointed out. 
Don't waste money on expensive name brand mascaras.  They're very rarely (read: never) worth the extra money. 

regarding lower lashes, it's acceptable to not apply mascara to your lower lashes (or so I've heard and read).  If you want to though, use Janet's suggestion about the tip of the wand. 

Lastly, with every new tube of mascara, you can take the wand and put it tip down into a kleenex and apply light pressure to bend the wand just a little bit.  The idea is to give it a little bit of a curve.  This will help the wand to better fit the natural contour of the eye.  Your lashes don't sit in a two dimensional line, they curve outward with the eyeball.  I tried it, and do it with all my mascaras.  Works pretty well.

When I've done makeup for folk I've also made a point out of wiping "most" of the mascara off of the brush before starting. You get a more even coating and less clumping that way.

L'oreal Double Extend REALLY  works.  I love it.  I put on one coat, let it dry, then put on a coat of Cover Girl Professional Super Thick Lash.

The other important elements are:
1) The tip of the wand tends to pick up clumps that sunk to the bottom of the tube.  Touch that to a tissue to get them off.
2) With regular mascara, do the topside of one lash, then the other.  Then the bottomside of that lash, then the other, then the lower lashes; all without redipping the wand.

If you want to get up to your eyeballs in product reviews, instructions and tips - look up a site called Makeup Alley.

Personally, I like CoverGirl Lash Blast.  But I will tell you the truth, the mascara is not nearly as important as the brush that is in it.  You need to find a kind with a brush that works on your lashes.  The bottom ones are hard to learn.  As has been said, use the tip only.  I finally found that holding the brush in place while moving my head left to right was a lot more accurate and meant less screwups as I was learning.  I know it sounds crazy, but try it.  Just make sure there are no clumps on the brush.  And one more thing, you WILL mess up.  So I like to do my mascara first.  Then I put on foundation.  That way if I smudge some I can just clean it off and start over. 

Hope this helps.

Kristi

I agree that moving my head rather than moving the brush is more effective. I rarely make a mess. I'm planning on a shopping spree and was curious. There are so many new products I felt maybe some the the wonderful ladies here may have experience with something new. Thanks,Hugs,Gen

Lash stiletto is ok for length but it makes my lashes really clumpy so do all the mascaras that are 2 step processes (one is like a white coat then you put the black mascara over it). I use lash blast (the stuff in the really big orange tube by covergirl) because it keeps your eyelashes separated. I can't say how long it makes my lashes because mine are already long. but I think it helps some.

OK this morning while getting ready I tried first the tip, no joy but then I tried moving my head JOY with a little more practice I should have this new method mastered Thanks for the tip