An essential step in successful make-up, mascara is as effective as it is complex to use... How do you apply it properly without making a faux pas? You'll see, it's not that complicated.

Unless you never wear make-up, it's impossible to miss the iconic mascara. A veritable beauty revolution, this long stick containing a paste of black pigments has the (magical) power to considerably enhance lashes. Invented at the beginning of the 20th century by French chemist Eugène Rimmel, mascara as we know it today was originally a preparation based on petroleum jelly and pigment powder, applied to the lashes with a small boar-bristle brush. 

In 1917, American entrepreneur T.L. Williams (creator of the Maybelline cosmetics brand) launched "Lash-Brown-Ine", the first mascara marketed in the U.S., containing the same formula as Mr. Rimmel's invention... The rest is history: mascara has never left the beauty world! Over the decades, mascara formulas and applicators have evolved to become more sophisticated and effective, with options for all lash types and aesthetic preferences.

How to choose your mascara?

Before learning how to apply it properly, you need to know how to choose it. Mascara can't be bought at random, and certainly shouldn't be if you're hoping for perfect results. There are a number of factors to considerwhen choosing the best mascara for your lashes. Eye shape, lash type and iris color are all important factors in choosing the right mascara. These three factors will determine whether you should opt for a volumizing, lengthening or curling mascara. Of course, each model has its own specific features, such as an adapted brush, a special formulation (vegan, skincare, etc.) or simply a different color. 

Good to know: blue eyes are particularly fond of dark brown mascara, but can also use midnight blue mascara. Brown eyes don't mind black mascara, and green eyes are more likely to go for a light/dark brown shade.

Steps to follow when applying mascara 

Now that you've chosen the right mascara, it's time to apply it properly so you can finally sport the doe eyelashes you deserve. Start by equipping yourself with mascara, a brush to remove any clumps, an eyelash curler and off you go. 

Prepare your lashes 

As with the complexion, before applying mascara, we prepare the lashes to ensure the healthiest possible base. After making sure they're clean, we brush them with a clean lash brush to separate them and remove any dust or eyeshadow residue, as mascara is the final step in the beauty process. Eyelash preparation can involve the application of a care base (such as an eyelash serum) or a volumizing base (white mascara), which is very effective for short lashes. It's not necessary, but if you want to pamper your lashes as well as make them beautiful, it's a win-win situation.

For those with straight lashes, or who simply want to emphasize the curve of their lashes, eyelash curlers should be used before applying coats of mascara. This rule is absolutely essential, as if applied after mascara, the eyelash curler can break the lashes and cause them to fall out.

Apply mascara with the right gesture

We've all heard of the right gesture: the famous zigzag. It's the simplest and most reliable way of applying the black paste that will embellish our lashes. It's pretty easy to do, and once you've mastered it, it glides on (almost) by itself. How do I do it? Hold the brush at the base of your lashes, and make zigzagging movements, slowly working your way up to the tips. Repeat until you achieve the desired effect. Be careful not to pump the brush into the mascara tube, as this can let air in and dry out the product, especially if you're using waterproof mascara... 

• A little tip for almond-shaped eyes: apply mascara to the outer corner of the upper lashes, stretching them upwards as much as possible. This will lengthen the eyes and give them a doe-eyed look. 
• A little tip for a lively look: the idea is to have long lashes overall. We're going to insist on the lashes in the center of the eye. Stretch them upwards as much as possible and separate them properly to give them an enlarged appearance. 

Se débarasser des paquets

It's the little black one. We fear mascara clumps, and sometimes even the best mascara can leave them! To avoid them as much as possible, we don't load the mascara brush with material (we avoid going back and forth in the tube!). Once out of the tube, you can remove any excess by rubbing the brush at the very edge of the mascara tube. You can also apply it directly to lashes, then smooth out clumps with a brush or a clean mascara brush. 

We finish our beauty routine by applying mascara to the lower lashes. Mascara is applied with great care to avoid clumps, as lower lashes are very fine and small. A quick brushstroke is all it takes!