Don’t you hate it when you finish your eye makeup and then go to put on your mascara and accidentally swipe the brush against your lids or your lower lash line?
Shoot!
Maybe it’s just because I’m uncoordinated and always in a hurry, but I do it all the time. To clean up the extra bits and bobs of mascara along my lower lash lines and lids that these mascara mishaps cause, I used to lightly dab a Q-tip moistened with makeup remover on the trouble spot(s), but I was never in love with that method. It was unprecise (like wielding a club in my clumsy hands), and whenever I used it I usually ended up also disrupting my eyeshadow, primer and concealer, too.
Yesterday I tried a new technique, and so far I love the results! Thankfully, it only took, oh, 22 years of wearing makeup to figure this out. Better late than never, I suppose. 🙂
Now, I dampen a thin concealer brush with eye makeup remover (you could even moisten the brush with a makeup remover wipe), and then carefully use the brush to precisely apply makeup remover to the problem areas. Then, using a pointed eyeshadow eye brush like the MAC 219, I lift away any excess product now loosened up by the remover.
The process is just delicate enough, although a tad time consuming, not to disturb the makeup beneath it, but it takes me less time than repairing my makeup after a Q-tip’s been involved.
I bet that other thin, skinny concealer-like brushes would also work great, like an old lip brush you might have laying around, or maybe even something like a Sonia Kashuk Bent Brush. Just as long as it’s thin and precise, it should fare better than a Q-tip.
Since we’re on the topic of touchups, do you have any tips or advice? How do you clean up minor makeup mishaps without disturbing your overall look?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Vonvon says
May 18th, 2011 at 7:05 amThere is this product called Swabplus(the brand), that has remover pre-packed into the tube of the Q-tips. You just need to break the tip at one end, and the remover liquid will flow into the cotton on the other end, and you can use it to clear up mascara, and mascara smudges. They have other products in the range too, like lipstick remover, eye makeup remover, nail polish corrector. Hmmm… I think I should review this in my blog soon. 🙂
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Vijaya says
May 18th, 2011 at 7:27 amI was about to mention the same product. I’ve heard good things!
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Karen says
May 18th, 2011 at 8:32 amCool, thanks for the heads up, Vonvon.
Antonia at Swedish Love Affair says
May 18th, 2011 at 7:12 amGood tutorial, and this first photo is so… dark! In a very good way.
Karen says
May 18th, 2011 at 8:32 amThat’s what I like about it too.
raisa says
May 18th, 2011 at 7:31 amI actually apply mascara before any other eye makeup so I can swab my smudges away- because I always smudge! It might take getting used to applying eyeshadow after mascara, but after a bit of practice, I have no problems 🙂
Karen says
May 18th, 2011 at 8:28 amHi Raisa,
Do you wear eyeshadow as well? What do you when little bits of shadow get on your lashes?
raisa says
May 18th, 2011 at 10:08 amI do wear primer, eyeshadow, liquid liner- the works! I’m usually quite careful about patting on eyeshadow, but the couple of times I have had shadow get stuck on my lashes, I’ve just had to veeery carefully apply another coat of mascara- that’s where your tips will definitely come in handy!
But you do get used to it after a while 🙂
Beatrice says
May 18th, 2011 at 7:31 amanother trick that I learned somewhere along the line is when you get mascara on you lids, just wait for the mascara to dry (even though it kills me not to quickly fix it every time! lol) and then with a dry cotton swab, lightly brush it away. It honestly works and my makeup stays in perfect place 🙂
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Karen says
May 18th, 2011 at 8:28 amCool, I’ll give that a try, Beatrice.
Danielle N says
May 18th, 2011 at 10:37 amthat’s what I do, too! I doubted it would work when I first heard about it but it really does 🙂
Alison says
May 18th, 2011 at 11:06 amI do this too! It seems too simple to be true, but it really does work.
Amber says
May 18th, 2011 at 11:53 amI do this too!! It is my favorite makeup tip it always works!
Sarah says
May 18th, 2011 at 8:54 pmThis is what I do too.
Beautiful Canvas says
May 19th, 2011 at 1:03 pmI do this too, just wait for it to dry and flick or scrape it off
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Kim says
May 18th, 2011 at 7:47 amSee? And this is why your makeup always looks so perfect! 🙂 I’m actually much lazier. I put liner on first, then mascara. Then after the mascara dries (and I’ve wiped off any spots with a damp Qtip, that I actually just lick), I put on my shadow. I can see where this method might not be very good for smokey eyes or when using shadows with a lot of fallout. But for my everyday looks, it works well. 🙂
Karen says
May 18th, 2011 at 8:27 amHi Kim!
So, kinda off topic, but I need — NEED! — to talk to someone about Game of Thrones. I’m all caught up in the series now and all I have to say is holy crap, did that guy really chop off that horse head?!? And was that kid nursing from his mum, like, eight?!? And did Ned really get stabbed in the calf? I mean, seriously. I can see why the books kept you up late.
Kim says
May 18th, 2011 at 12:40 pmHAHA! I love the off-topic! I usually know more about that than makeup. 🙂
OK, yes! The Mountain (Gregor Clegane, the Hound’s brother) is a monster. He held the Hound’s face in burning coals for playing with his knight doll, which he didn’t even care about, when the Hound was like 6 years old. If Gregor has a redeeming quality, the books have yet to reveal it!
Lysa is a total freak and, yes, her son is like 8! They’re skimming in the show for time purposes but, trust me, she is not raising a well-adjusted child!
The Ned stabbing is actually a little better than the book, where his leg injury is more gruesome. I’m really, really excited to see how they treat it all in the HBO series. So far, the only real changes have been for time reasons but the plot has been consistent, with the exception of one major thing which may be timing or may be a huge plot change. Oh, and the Loras/Renly plot line was suggested much later in the books but never spelled out like in the show. I’m eager for next week! 🙂 Lastly, sorry it’s so long, but if you start reading the books, the first 4 are in paperback and the 5th comes out in mid-July in hardcover. I hate waiting years between books so this was the ideal time for me to start reading (obsessively).
Nina says
May 18th, 2011 at 7:53 amMy skin and my lids are naturally oily so when I smudge the mascara accidentally I just use a Q-Tip and the smudges come right off (gross, isn’t it?) That’s when I don’t wear any shadows. If I’m wearing shadow, then I just wait for it to dry and then lift it up with a Q-Tip again, it never resists or damage my eye make up.
Karen says
May 18th, 2011 at 8:24 amThanks for the (Q) tips, Nina. 🙂
S says
May 18th, 2011 at 8:34 amThis comes in a timely manner as I sneezed wet mascara *everywhere* this morning….. Ugh. Luckily there was no eyeshadow to get messed up with the q-tip method. Still, though, the mascara always gets junky when I rub my eyelids since the q-tip is huge and smashes my lashes together. I’ve got a few little brushes lying around collecting dust, maybe I’ll try them next time. And there will be a next time….I *always*, without fail, get mascara on my lids every single time.
Larie says
May 18th, 2011 at 9:16 amHaha, I’m far too lazy for cool tips like this. I’m more prone to getting mascara on my contact lens than on my eyelid, though – ugh!
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Nina says
May 18th, 2011 at 9:34 amim impatient and tend to blink soon after i put on mascara. that means i always have smudges in my lower eye area.
i just dab it w/ a qtip that i very sparingly dip into makeup remover. it works but not always. 🙂
when that happens, i wait til the specks of mascara are dry and then genly run a spoolie brush over the area. 🙂
Essy says
May 18th, 2011 at 11:44 amSuch simple, easy, “why didn’t I think of that” tips. No more q-tips for me!
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Trisha says
May 18th, 2011 at 11:55 amUgh, this happens to me all the time. The curse of naturally curly, long lashes. 😉 Usually I just dab it away with my finger, which usually works if the mascara’s still wet. And it doesn’t take any of the eye shadow away. That I’ve noticed, anyway.
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gio says
May 18th, 2011 at 12:31 pmWhat a useful tip, thanks for sharing.
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productdoctor says
May 18th, 2011 at 12:39 pmAnyone know of a way to prevent getting the mascara all over your lids in the first place??? No matter how careful I am, I always end up splattered!
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Karen says
May 18th, 2011 at 12:41 pmYou can try placing a business card behind your lashes before applying mascara (it works kinda like a shield). I’ve tried it before, but I’m a creature of habit, and it’s faster for me to just apply and then clean up.
Amanda says
May 19th, 2011 at 4:24 pmThey sell those mascara shield things, too – just do a quick google!
Chris25 says
May 18th, 2011 at 12:51 pmCredit cards can work in place of business cards. Accepted anywhere mascara is applied. 🙂 I swipe the mascara brush against the inside of the tube after applying. Then I use the less mascara-ed brush to comb out any excess.
Ariana says
May 18th, 2011 at 1:13 pmvery innovative and smart, I like!
sara says
May 18th, 2011 at 2:00 pmYOU ARE A GENIUS I LOVE YOU. def trying this out soon, karen!
karo says
May 18th, 2011 at 2:05 pmCool!
No more Q-tips for me!
Thanks Karen!
You are great!
xoxo
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Instant Karma says
May 18th, 2011 at 6:28 pmOoh, this is such a good idea! I have to clean up with q-tips all the time. I got tired of needing to touch up my eye shadow, so I’ve started applying mascara after my eyeliner, but before any shadow. However, this means I have to be really careful to make sure I don’t end up with, say, gold eyelashes, lol.
Amanda says
May 19th, 2011 at 4:29 pmI always feel like I’ve filled in my brows just a little TOO much. I usually take a q-tip (sometimes dipped in make up remover, depending on how much of a rush I’m in) and run it just under my arches to clean them up and really give my brows some definition.
Soo says
May 20th, 2011 at 5:26 pmthis sounds so helpful! I’ve actually always gotten frustrated with applying mascara and getting it on my lids (even with a mascara guard). I’m definitely going to try this out next time I apply makeup. thanks Karen~
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M @StyleSizzle says
May 24th, 2011 at 3:00 pmI use the q-tip trick too. It’s totally annoying when your concealer comes off too but I find less wipes off if you do water instead of actual eye makeup remover and it also helps until the mascara is actually dry. The worst for me is having to start your eyeshadow over because then, you might as well start from square 1!
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Pat says
June 21st, 2014 at 3:49 pmUse the Somaluxe Face Wash – thats the only thing that is able to remove mascara without having to be rough on my eyes. I have been using Somaluxe for 2 months now, and my skin is the happiest in years. . .