Its hard to know where to start when looking for the right mascara.

Im here to help, but first, lets start with the basics.

Lets start with a quick and dirty definition of mascara.

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Its composed of black pigments bonded together by a polymer and thickened by various waxes or oils.

But there are a few different types.

For starters,washablemascaras are made with a higher water content, so they are easier to remove.

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Finally, washable mascara can be removed using just water, though any sort of makeup remover is recommended.

Its not the end of the world, but I avoid washables for this reason.

Theyre not bulletproof, though.

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Otherwise youd tug on your lashes too much trying to remove it.

Just as important as the mascara itself are the brushes.

For every different jot down of mascara, there is a brush to optimize its performance.

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Here are a few things to look for when looking for the right mascara brush combo.

Its the classic way to apply mascara that is still seen in products today.

The bristles come in many different lengths, shapes, and sizes, for different effects.

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But theres also a newer bang out made from rubber instead of traditional bristles.

Brushes with little rubber teeth are becoming more common.

Its like a fresh wand every time.

Rule of thumb: The longer the bristles, the longer the lashes.

A bristly brush shaped like an hourglass will always give you insane volume.

Small brushes with short teeth are best for volume, but not so much for length.

I take my makeup off by first using a makeup-removing wipe on everythingbutmy lashes.

Then I wash my face with warm water and a good cleanser.

If you dont have an oil cleanser at your disposal, then a moist makeup wipe is also sufficient.

The key is to work with a light hand no matter what youre using.

A Few More Mascara Options

Youll notice that mascara comes in different shades.

Brown is good for enhancing lashes without going for full drama.

Blues are great for bringing out different eye colors.

But have you ever noticed how there is always a few different shades of black?

Heres the deal with that.

Youll often see Black, and thenBlackest Black.

So whats the difference?

Black usually has a bit of brown in it to soften the shade, like any natural black hair.

And then theres spoolies!

A spoolie is a spare, disposable mascara brush.

My mascara started looking its best when I started using spoolies.

Apply your mascara as you normally would, and then run a spoolie through your lashes.

It will even out the product and have them looking their absolute best.

you’re able to get these at any beauty supply shop or by the hundreds on Amazon.

Its much better than the alternativean eye infection.