Mascara is one of the simplest ways to transform your look — just one coat can profoundly define your eyes and awaken your face. Even though it's easy to apply, mascara smudges can happen to anyone (yes, even professional makeup artists). We’ll break down why this happens and how to prevent it for long-lasting lashes.

Why Does Mascara Smudge?

Our Skin's Natural Oils

Whether you have oily skin or not, eyelids naturally produce oils that can affect even the most carefully applied mascara.

Heat, Moisture, and Sweat 

Humid summer weather, workouts, or getting caught in the rain can all lead to smudging or running. Your skincare might also be contributing - excess product that hasn't fully absorbed combines with moisture to create a not-so-ideal environment for mascara.

Other Factors

Rubbing tired eyes, seasonal allergies, or using the wrong mascara wand for your lash type can all cause smudging or flaking. 

Sometimes, flaking can be caused by the mascara wand itself — it may not be the right shape for reaching and coating all of your lashes. A curved wand, like the one in  The Mascara, lets you delicately coat short inner lashes while lengthening all over.

4 Ways to Prevent Mascara Smudges

Start with Clean Lashes

Start every day with a fresh complexion. Applying today's makeup over yesterday's products or this morning's skincare practically guarantees smudging later on. Start with a gentle oil-based cleanser, like our Cleansing Stick, then follow up with a water-based cleanser to remove any residual oil for a fresh, clean slate.

Take Your Time While Moisturizing

Give your Eye Cream and any other facial moisturizers plenty of time to fully sink into skin before applying mascara. Products can migrate to your eyelashes if you rush this step.

Pro Tip: Set your skincare and complexion products in place by lightly dusting our Tinted Face Powder before applying The Mascara.

Prep with a Curl

Before applying mascara, give your lashes a curl. Curling helps to lift them at the base, which helps prevent mascara from transferring to your lids or under your eyes.

Rethink Your Technique

Consider skipping mascara on your bottom lashes altogether — their closeness to the under-eye area makes them more prone to smudging. If you’ve already concealed your under eyes with The Face Pencil, you definitely don’t want to create more darkness.

If you love a striking look and usually apply a few coats for extra volume, give yourself time between each coat to let them fully dry.

The Bottom Line

Mascara smudges happen to everyone, but with these simple techniques, you can keep your lashes defined and your under eyes clear all day long. Our clean, best-selling formula,  The Mascara, features a curved wand specifically designed to coat short inner lashes while lengthening outer ones — making it easier to get all of the length and volume you want, while keeping your look smudge-free.