10 Mistakes you could be making that are ruining your eyelashes

It comes as no surprise that pretty much everyone has a deep appreciation for a great set of lashes. The beauty market is saturated with products that work to get your lashes looking longer and lusher than ever before, and over the years the options for lash lifts and extensions alike have skyrocketed. It’s safe to say that lashes are a hot commodity.

However, they aren’t just there to make you look pretty—they play a pretty crucial role in protecting your eyes too. Namely, they prevent irritated eyes and infections by keeping nasty particulates out. Understandably, applying a bunch of beauty products over them may be doing them more harm than good. 

Here are all the things you could be doing wrong with your lashes:

 

You’re sleeping with your makeup on (or you’re not removing it properly)

Do we really have to explain why this is so bad? Keeping mascara on your lashes overnight dries them out, which weakens them. On the same note, not removing your liner properly (especially after tight-lining) is a surefire way to clog your lash follicles.

Not to mention, the friction that is bound to happen between your face and your pillow as you sleep will rip your lashes out from the root in clumps, thanks to your mascara. 

The solution? Take it all off before you head to bed. Use a pointed cotton bud (such as this sustainable and reusable option) dipped in an oil-based remover to clean the hard-to-reach gaps in your lash line.

 

You’re using dirty makeup brushes (and neglecting to clean your mascara wand)

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If you can’t remember the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes, you’re in trouble. Make sure you’re giving your brushes a scrub every other use at the very minimum—this will keep potential infections at bay. If you need a guide, this should help.

Another thing you may not have realised is that it’s necessary to keep on top of your mascara hygiene. Your mascara wand is, for lack of a better word, gross. Dried, caked-on product makes the application clumpy and serves as a petri dish for a whole host of bacteria. So, to keep your application smooth-sailing (and your eyes germ-free), clean your mascara wand regularly! Not sure how to? Not to worry, we’ve got you covered there too.

 

You’re using expired products

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Your eyes are super sensitive. As a result, anything you put on your eyes needs to be within its shelf-life to help you avoid a nasty case of styes and/or conjunctivitis.

This means that you should remember to chuck your lash serums and mascaras away after two to three months, tops. And, while we’re talking about conjunctivitis, make sure you keep track of the expiration dates of your eye makeup and treatments.

 

You’re using waterproof mascara every day

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We all love waterproof mascara—it looks amazing, it holds a curl for longer, and it keeps your lashes full all day long. However, when it’s time to remove it, you’re bound to run into issues. What makes waterproof mascara so great is, unfortunately, the same thing that makes it quite so difficult to remove.

In the end, you’ll be tugging and pulling on your lashes, causing trauma to the root which can result in your lashes falling out or being weakened.

Here’s one real solution: Keep waterproof mascara for special occasions only! If you absolutely can’t live without it, make sure you’re topping up with plenty of lash serum to keep the condition up.

 

You’re curling your lashes wrong

Yes, there is a wrong way to curl your lashes. For your convenience, here’s a definitive list of things to avoid when curling your lashes:

• Avoid using too much force on your lashes. You want to curl them, not rip them out. A good way to make sure you avoid having to do this is to make sure you’re using a good lash curler. Which, actually, brings us to our next point…
• Avoid using a poor-quality curler. High-quality lash curlers allow you to curl the lashes with the least amount of force.
• Avoid curling too close to the root. In fact, stay as far away from the root as you can—this may damage the hair follicles and cause breakage and fallout.

• Refrain from curling your lashes after mascara. Only curl your lashes before—first, your mascara will stick to the plate of the curler, making it the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and other nasties. Next, it’ll stick your lashes to the curler, tugging on the root and weakening them.
• Don’t heat your curler with a blowdryer before curling. We know it seems like a revolutionary idea, but it’s bad news. You could burn not only your lashes, weakening them and further causing breakage, but also your lids. Ouch!
• Clean your curler! If you need to know exactly how, read our guide to cleaning anything and everything on your beauty desk.
• Replace the rubber or silicon cushion on your curler. This cushion wears out over time and makes your lash curler much less gentle. Not to mention, metal on metal might just cut your lashes right off!

 

You’re using fake lashes wrong

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