The Dreaded Clump: How To Avoid Excessive Mascara

Clumpy mascara can be the worst thing ever. The gorgeous, long lashes you set out to achieve suddenly look like garden spiders. Thankfully, there’s ways to add length and volume to your lashes without having to deal with the annoyance of excessive, chunky mascara. We asked L’Oréal Paris Consulting Makeup Artist, Billy B., for his thoughts on how to get rid of that nasty old clump. Read these simple tips and then grab a tube of Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes Mascarato try them out!

Wipe it off

A wand that is loaded with way too much mascara is one of the biggest causes of clumping. You can either replace your wand or even easier: grab a paper towel. Billy B. says, “A good tip is to wipe off the wand before you place it back in the container.”

Coat collection

Some people have a habit of applying coat after coat of mascara to get them to look thicker. However with great thickness comes awful clumpiness. A good 2-3 coats is all you should do.

Know when to toss it

Expired makeup can lead to all sorts of problems, and unfortunately, mascara is one the cosmetic that has the shortest life span. Usually after three months, mascara can begin to get pasty, which leads to clumping. Bacteria can also start to present itself so you’ll want to toss it out ASAP. Basically, if it starts to smell funky, it’s time to replace.

Check the temp

Excessive heat can cause most makeup to age so be wary of where you store it. For waterproof mascaras, the fridge is your best bet. Otherwise, keep your mascara in a cool, dry area that is out of the direct sunlight.

Close ‘em tight

Make sure you’re properly putting away your mascara after usage. Trust us, you’re not going to want germs and foreign particles getting into any of your cosmetics. “Keeping lids airtight is helpful for extending makeup’s shelf life,” says Billy B.  

Don’t be afraid to separate

Sometimes it’s best just to manually separate your lashes, but don’t try to go old school and separate them with a safety pin. That’s just dangerous and straight out of a horror movie! Instead, try specialized tools like Billy B’s Lash/Brow Groomer.