Friday, September 7, 2012

Get the Most Out of Your Tube of Mascara!


Mascara can be expensive. Especially since it's a product that needs to be replaced often. If you're like me and go through a tube of mascara within three weeks (because you like to apply so many layers, of course) and want to extend the life of your dried out tube before purchasing a new one, try these awesome tricks — maybe some of you know them too!

  • Run your mascara wand under hot water until the wand runs clean. Then, dip the wet mascara wand back in the tube, rubbing it against the inside walls of the tube. The heat and water will soften the product in the tube, making your mascara apply just like new!
  • Fill a coffee mug up with water, and place the mug in the microwave for a minute or so. Remove the mug from the microwave and place your tube of mascara in the water. Let it sit for a couple of minutes to warm the product up. The heat will soften the product, loosening the product from the walls of the tube. When remove the wand, your mascara should look wet, as if it was new! Application will be less dry and flaky.

If your mascara is older than two-three months, you don't want to risk an eye infection, so toss the tube, but make sure to save the wand! I typically toss my mascara after one month since I have pretty sensitive eyes.

When your mascara is beyond saving, rinse the wand completely with warm water and soap, and lay it to dry. You now have a new eyelash comb/separator or eyebrow brush.

A spoolie (mascara wand) is a must in my makeup bag, as it's a tool I use every day, so having a few of them lying around doesn't hurt!


Uses for your Wand

Keeping Baby Hairs/Hairline/Sideburns in place - Spray your favorite firm-hold hairspray (over the sink, so you won't create a mess) on the brush end of the wand and use the brush to comb those little baby hairs in place. I have unruly sideburns, and when I do this simple little trick, my hair looks so much more clean and put together.

Budge-Proof Brows - The hairspray trick also works perfectly for keeping unruly eyebrows in place. Just be sure not to apply too much, or they may feel too stiff, depending on the hairspray you use.

A Subtle Brow Tint - This is a trick that works great for those with fine/light colored brows, or those who want to add a bit of color to their brows without filling them in. Roll the wand through a matte brown eyeshadow that flatters your brows until the bristles are coated, and lightly brush them through the brows. You might experience a little fall out, so I like doing this before my foundation. (see photo below)


A Lash Conditioner - Next time you're at the store, hunt down a bottle of Unrefined/Cold Pressed Castor Oil. It works great as a lash/brow conditioner. Pour a little castor oil in a travel container (you don't want to contaminate the bottle) and dip a clean mascara wand into the oil. Lightly sweep it across your brows and eyelashes at night, and you will notice quicker growth and stronger lashes and brows. I've done this and it works!

Separating the Lashes - Although a brow comb works wonders for separating clumpy lashes, a clean spoolie works great too! Sometimes a comb can actually remove mascara off the lashes, so say goodbye to the extra milometer of length your lengthening mascara gave you. I notice when using a clean mascara wand, it seems to disturb my mascara less, while helping separate clumps and pick up excess mascara.

A Replacement Wand - Do you have any mascaras where you loathe the wand? Save your favorite mascara wand and use it with any mascara you want for better results.

Do you have any helpful tips you'd like to share? Let me know in the comments!

Image Credits: Mascara Wands (Publishers Vault).

57 comments:

  1. omg thanks so much for these tips!! I've never thought of doing these things : O

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  2. Great tips. I have to try the first one!

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  3. Great post! specially the brow tint idea.will try it surely!
    http://sifascorner.blogspot.com/

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  4. I think this post has helped me out, especially the part of using the masacara wand as a way to fill in your eyebrows as i don't no how to do it with a eyebrow brush, Thank you x

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  5. Fab tips! Will definitely be trying a few of the wand saving ideas out :) x

    http://wewereraisedbywolves.blogspot.co.uk/

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  6. Thank you for this..Great post! :)

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  7. great tips as always, thanks! I am going to try that first one for sure!

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  8. I really like the tips, thank you! It was REALLY useful! I never know what to do with my mascaras but I'll definitely use these ideas! :)

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  9. Oh wow thanks for these tips! They are all really awesome and I'm always going through tubes!

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  10. Great tips! I'm never throwing away a mascara wand again!

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  11. great post! i never knew of any of these tricks! i'm definitely gonna try using my extra wands to tame my baby hairs

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  12. Natty, What castor oil do you use? Any brand/kind you can recommend?

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    1. Hi Kristen,

      I purchased my bottle from Whole Foods. The brand is called "Home Health" it's cold pressed and cold processed. The bottle looks like this - http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SaZyV9_mHfY/Td_tZwAhP4I/AAAAAAAABsY/TDC0Jtbh1l4/s1600/CastorOil.jpg.

      It's the only brand I tried and it really helped grow in my brows in a quick amount of time. I'm sure any brand of cold-pressed (unrefined) castor oil will work the same.

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  13. a really great post thanks you for this new tricks

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  14. Love this post! Great ideas! xx

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  15. Great tips! What mascara is featured in the "before" and "after" photos w/ Tip 1? I love that brush!!

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    1. It's L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara (the original). It's a very good brush!

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  16. What a useful post! If I didn't somehow end up with a bunch of unopened mascaras I have yet to use (darn the sales. they always trap me. lol), I'd totally make use of these methods ASAP

    http://shortandsweetjoy.blogspot.com/

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  17. Those tips are amazing! Thanks you absolutely love this post ;)
    www.troublemakeronheels.blogspot.co.uk

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  18. Really well written and useful post Natalie. So many fab tips and tricks. Who knew there are so many uses for old mascara wands? Will definitely give a couple of them a go. Thanks for sharing chick. ;)

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    1. Forgot to mention I have now saved this post as one of my favourites in my laptop :)

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  19. Thanks for the ideas!! Some of them are so simple but I never thought of them. These are really helpful! :) Great post. <3

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  20. awesome tips!!!! LOVE your blog :)
    merrybellyland777.blogspot.com

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  21. Great ideas! Thanks!

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  22. What mascara is the fifth wand from in the picture?? The little comb like one. I've been trying to find that kind everywhere !!!

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  23. Oh my gosh, this tip is a life saver! My favorite mascara is drying up so.. off I go now to get some hot water! :D

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  24. wow! great post!

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  25. I have learned alot from your tips on the mascara. That is nice to know. Is there anything out there that would help my eye brows to grow back to where I liked them bfore?

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  26. Oh my god that's genius! I can't believe I never thought about saving the wands from old mascaras before! All these tips are great.

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  27. I just had the problem of running out of mascara today. I wish I'd seen this before throwing out my old tube. I'll be using the hot coffee cup tip and keeping the wands for other uses in the future. Thanks.

    Tea Todd

    http://teatodd.blogspot.com

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  28. Loved the tips! I did the hot water in coffee cup this weekend and it made them like new & I should get another week out of them!

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  29. Great tips ;) I've been looking for mascara which is good for eyelash extensions, normally its not recommended to wear mascara while wearing extensions but when theres a special occasion or an evening out its nice to bump it up with a little mascara.

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  30. I never thought about keeping my mascara wands!! Definitely will start my collection soon!

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  31. great tips! never thought of them before!

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  32. Your work is awesome.I must appreciate that. I am also a fashion promoter and I like people making efforts for that. Keep it up and check me at Latest Fashion trends

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  33. What a fantastic post! Some very useful tips, I'm going to be more resourceful with my wands from now on!

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  34. I tried running my mascara wand under hot water and it wasn't working. Then I realized I had waterproof mascara. Any tips for getting the most out of waterproof mascara? My brush looks like your before picture but the mascara is not dried out yet.

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  35. My friend who is a makeup artist recommended putting a drop of saline for eyes in the bottle. Works like a charm for me.

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  36. Sometimes mascara can seem really dry or even empty after using it only a couple of times, don't throw it away a few drops of saline in the tube, stir with the wand and youre good to go!

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  37. great tip for Subtle Brow Tint , thank you!

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  38. What I like best about this face wash is that I can use it to remove mascara (non-waterproof) without having to be rough on my eyes. I have been using it for years, and my skin was the happiest after I stopped using harsher cleansers (even during my acne periods in college) and used this with a spot cleanser for blemishes. Also, the smell is understated and pleasant. I had to buy it here on Amazon because my local stores weren't carrying it anymore. :/

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  40. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  41. Experience is the mother of wisdom.



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  42. Equinox anti aging serum is a great option for moisturizing cream that helps you keep your skin moisturized and supple in winters.
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  43. If this problem occur every time how we can get out of from this issue?

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  44. Great tips, thank you very much

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  45. I need to try the castor oil trick. For some reason my brows have been somewhat balding and I have no clue why.

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