Mascara can make a tremendous difference to your look and is the cosmetic product most women say they can’t do without.

Here are a few hints and tips to help you get the most out of your mascara.

Apply in light layers. Three or four coats of thinly applied mascara are much more effective, natural looking  and long-lasting than one thick, clumpy coat.

Go to the edges. Concentrate your mascara on the outside of the eye. This will widen the eyes and draw attention to the curved edges making then more attractive.

Keep lower lashes light. Always use less mascara on the lower lashes to lift the eyes. Too much on the lower lashes can make eyes look droopy.

Look after your lashes. Rub Vaseline, baby oil, or eyelash conditioner into your eyelashes at night, keep your eyes firmly closed for this! This will keep your lashes conditioned and prevent breakage and splitting at the tips.

Stop wiggling! Don’t wiggle your mascara wand around in the mascara tube before you apply, go on you know you do. This introduces air and can cause it to clog and clump. Just dip straight in and out and keep the top on at all other times.

Warm up thick mascara. If your mascara thickens towards the end of a tub place it in a cup of warm water, keeping the lid firmly on, for a few minutes until the mascara thins.

Cosmetics don’t last forever! Once they have been opened bacteria from the air, hands, brushes etc can soon multiply at an alarming rate.

Have you noticed the little symbols like a  pot with an open lid on the labels of most cosmetic products these days?

Written on the pot is a number and the letter M. This number is the number of months the product will keep once it’s been opened. So if the pot symbol says 6 M then after 6 months through the product away.

This is especially important with mascara, eyeliner and other eye products as eye infections can be very unsightly and painful and can even be very serious.