It does not make sense to spend a lot of money on mascara because you should replace it every three months. Mascara is also a great item to go cheap on because there is little difference in quality between so many of them. My $1 Wet ‘n’ Wild mascara goes on the same or better than all the department store mascaras I have tested. I just have not found department store mascaras to be of any higher quality than drugstore formulas. Yes, I understand that for some of you this is your favorite product and you would never change brands. That’s OK. Pick another area to cut costs, but look at these figures first:
A $15 mascara will cost you $60 a year
A $5 mascara will cost you $20 a year
A $3 mascara will cost you $12 a year
A $1 mascara will cost you $4 a year
If you are using a $15 mascara like Lancôme, at least consider switching to a $5 L’Oreal Mascara (both companies are owned by L’Oreal) like Lash Out or Voluminous. These are both excellent thickening mascaras for those of you who like the big wands and brushes. My mother, who has sparse eyelashes, is hooked on these. I have tried them as well and they are excellent, just not my taste. Really, nobody can tell by looking at your eyelashes what brand you used or how much you spent. I hope to find a thickening mascara under $3.50 that will meet my mother’s standards. The closest runner-up I have found so far is Fetish “Fat Boy” mascara.
Eyelash separating. Please don’t use anything sharp near your eyes to separate your eyelashes! There are better and safer ways! Almost all of the eyelash separating combs sold don’t work well. That is why I have witnessed a woman separate her eyelashes with a T-pin. There is only one I have found that works very well and it is just a few dollars at the drugstore. The brand name is Rubiglo (Available at some drugstores. You can call Rubiglo at 1-800-521-1514 to find out where they are sold near you or to get a catalog. You can also contact Rubiglo through their web stie on my link’s page). I tried a knock-off brand that looked the same, but the teeth turned out to be different and it didn’t work. The Rubiglo comb is a flat, rust colored, one-inch square piece of plastic with very fine and close together teeth on one end. You separate your eyelashes after the mascara dries (I would do it a little sooner if you use a mascara that dries on the stiff side) and you need to wash the comb’s teeth after every use. I use soap and a soft toothbrush (the same one I use first to brush my eyebrows with). If you take good care of it, it can last quite a while. I know this sounds like a lot of work, but separating your eyelashes makes a big difference in how your lashes look. Much more than the brand of mascara you use.
Some women prefer to use a clean mascara wand or a toothbrush to separate their lashes. There are a lot of mascara wands for sale. Never spend good money for something you can get for free! Before you toss your mascara (or toothbrush) next time, save the wand and wash it very well and get all the mascara off it. Let it dry thoroughly. Use these before your mascara dries.
If your mascara is clumpy try wiping the wand off with a Kleenex before you apply your mascara. Removing any clumps or excess mascara with a dry mascara wand while the mascara is still wet will also help.
Customize your mascara. Do you love the brush from one mascara, but the formula of another? Save the wand you like from your old mascara tube and wash it off with soap and water. Let it dry. Use it to apply the formula you prefer. You will have to wash it and let it dry after each use. This will not always work well. Not all brushes will fit properly through the opening of another mascara, and sometimes you will have to wipe excess mascara off the brush with a tissue before you apply. But if you’ve got an unused mascara sitting around because you don’t like how it goes on with it’s own brush, why not give it a try?
Layering mascara formulas. Do you have one mascara that goes on too thick and clumpy, and one mascara that goes on too thin for your taste? Try using the thicker mascara as a base. Apply one to two coats of the thick mascara, then separate your lashes. Now use the thin formula to fine-tune the thickness with the last coats.