How Do I Stop My Mascara From Smearing?

Runny mascara formulas aren’t the only cause of dreaded raccoon eyes. “There can be several reasons for mascara smudging,” says Terri Apanasewicz, veteran makeup artist and founder of veryTerri beauty, whose clients include Cindy Crawford and Kaia Gerber. “One that most people don’t think about is facial movements, such as closing or squinting the eyes when speaking.” Another cause is simply oily skin and eyelids. 

To help minimize the problem, Apanasewicz suggests using a waterproof formula, and prepping the lashes before applying mascara. “Use a blotting paper on the lashes to remove oil or any skin care that may have inadvertently gotten on them. Follow that with brushing the lashes with a translucent powder,” she says. “This will further ensure there is no oil on the lashes and may even help thicken the look of the lashes, too.” You can also try a tubing mascara, which is less prone to flakes.

If you’re going to be in an especially warm climate, you can skip mascara all together and just curl your lashes with an eyelash curler for a subtle pop. We love the look of a natural eye and bolder lip.