How to Fix Clumpy Mascara, and When to Replace the Tube

How to separate fresh mascara clumps

If a heavy swipe has stuck a few lashes together, stop adding mascara. Set the wand down and check the clump in the mirror. You want to separate the coating that's there, so resist the urge to cover it with another layer.

Reach for a clean, dry spoolie, the small spiral brush shaped like a mascara wand. Use it without loading it with product. If you prefer a purpose-made lash comb, check that its directions allow this use and that the teeth are smooth and intact. A comfortable grip matters when you're working this close to your eye.

1. Set up at the mirror. Wash your hands and find enough light to see the individual lashes. Keep your head still, with room to move the brush without bumping anything. Wait until you're somewhere stationary if you're currently in a car.
2. Work while the coating is still soft. With a light touch, brush through the coated lengths toward the tips, keeping the tool clear of your eye and the inner rim of your lid. Let the brush separate the lashes as it passes.
3. Check the brush between passes. Once its bristles are loaded, set it aside for cleaning according to its directions. Start with a clean tool if you need another gentle pass, so you don't carry the excess mascara back onto the lashes.
4. Stop if the lashes pull. Don't saw through a stubborn patch or keep dragging the brush over it. If a gentle pass doesn't help, move to removal. The same applies when mascara has dried into a hard piece at the tips.

L'Oreal Paris describes this dry-spoolie technique for excess mascara before it sets. Give the brush a chance to pass easily through the lashes, then stop once you're happy with the separation. Repeated brushing isn't necessary.

Keep pins, sewing needles and tweezers away from this job. The American Academy of Ophthalmology warns against sharp objects for separating lashes. If a tool catches your eye and you develop pain, blurry vision or light sensitivity, get prompt medical attention. Those are possible signs of a scratch on the eye's surface.

For a dedicated tool, Godefroy's Eyelash Comb and Eyebrow Brush Dual Ended Set has a fine-toothed end intended for lash separation and synthetic bristles for brows. Follow its directions and keep it clean. You can also use a clean spoolie you already own.

When to remove the mascara and restart

When a clump has hardened and brushing pulls at your lashes, take the mascara off. Leave your foundation and lipstick alone if they're still looking good. A careful lash cleanup lets you restart the part of the makeup that's bothering you.

Choose a remover labeled for the eye area and suited to the mascara you wore. Keep your eye closed and follow the remover's directions, giving it time to loosen the coating before gently wiping it away. Use a fresh part of the pad as it collects makeup. Avoid scrubbing back and forth along the lashes.

For a waterproof formula, check that the remover specifically handles waterproof eye makeup. Our waterproof-mascara removal guide explains that process in more detail. A cleanser that removes your foundation may leave this kind of mascara behind, so changing the remover is a better next step than pressing harder.

Tubing mascara can have different removal directions. For example, Clinique describes warm water and gentle pressure for its tubing formulas. Check your own product rather than assuming all long-wear mascaras come off the same way. Don't pull little tubes or flakes off dry lashes.

Finish the rinse or cleanup specified by the remover, then let the lashes dry before applying fresh mascara. Check the mirror for small dark patches left between the lashes. If the eye area feels irritated, leave the mascara off instead of immediately trying another application.

Keep pads and your usual eye makeup remover within reach when trying a new mascara. If the first attempt feels too heavy, you can take it off and try a lighter application. There's no need to keep working at a finish you already dislike.

Why mascara starts clumping

The first swipe can tell you something useful. If it leaves a blob behind, look at how much product is on the wand. If the first coat looks good and later coats join the lashes together, try changing how you build the finish. Check the tube itself when a formerly smooth formula turns thick or dry.

Before the brush touches your lashes, inspect its tip. If a bead of mascara is hanging there, remove that excess as the product directs. You don't have to scrape the wand bare. The aim is to avoid depositing a visible lump in one spot and then spending the rest of the application spreading it around.

Maybelline identifies overloading and layering as common causes of clumping. It also advises against pumping the wand in and out of the tube. Withdraw it normally, apply the product and close the tube when you're finished.

Read the layering directions on your own mascara. A technique that works with a friend's slow-setting formula may be awkward with one that sets quickly. Keep any extra coat light and follow the maker's instructions, without adding a countdown that the product doesn't call for.

Old mascara left from yesterday gives today's application an uneven starting point. Remove it before applying a fresh coat. If the tips still look dark and stiff after cleansing, finish the removal process instead of hiding the residue under another layer.

Deliberately grouped lashes are a finish you can choose, too. If that's the look you like, you don't have to comb every lash apart. Use a fresh product in good condition to create it, and remove it before bed.

Can you fix a dry mascara tube?

Replace it. The FDA advises discarding dried-up mascara and says not to add water or saliva. Water can introduce bacteria and dilute the preservative, while saliva brings bacteria from your mouth into the product.

Eye drops, contact-lens solution, oil and makeup remover aren't a home repair kit for mascara either. Being suitable for one use doesn't establish that an ingredient will preserve a different mixture. Keep those products in their own containers and use them for their labeled purposes.

Skip hot-water baths, microwaves and hair-dryer tricks intended to revive the tube. Warming a thick formula does not establish that it is fit to use again. You also can't check the condition of its preservative system by watching the mascara become softer.

Throwing away a partly full tube is frustrating, particularly when you liked the formula or paid a lot for it. For occasional wear, consider a smaller size next time. Keeping one tube open at a time makes its dates easier to track, though it still needs replacing on time.

Fresh coating on the lashes may separate gently. Set clumps that resist brushing need removal and a fresh application. A dried-out tube needs replacing. Stop brushing whenever the lashes pull.

When to replace your mascara

The FDA's eye-cosmetic safety Q&A says to discard mascara three months after purchase. Use an earlier deadline if the product gives one, and replace it sooner if it dries out or changes. Don't wait for the calendar if the formula has already stopped behaving normally.

Check the tube and carton for a date or an open-jar symbol. The American Academy of Dermatology explains that the number beside M on an open-jar symbol counts months after opening. That is a different starting point from the FDA's purchase-based recommendation. A longer number on a package doesn't mean you should keep using a dried or changed tube.

Add the purchase date and the day you open the tube to a phone note, or write them on a small label. Set the replacement reminder then, while you still have the receipt and carton nearby.

New lumps in the formula, an unusual smell, a change in color or a markedly different consistency are reasons to replace it. If you cannot remember how old a partly used tube is, choose a fresh one. These checks help identify obvious changes, but a normal smell alone cannot tell you everything about the product.

Discard eye makeup you were using when an eye infection developed, and wait until the area has healed before wearing it again. Stop using any cosmetic that causes irritation. If that irritation persists, see a clinician, as the FDA advises.

Researchers have examined what happens inside used mascara. In a small 2008 study of daily use over three months, cultures found microbial growth in some returned tubes. The study did not establish an individual wearer's chance of infection. It helps explain the attention to replacement without giving you a way to test a tube at home.

Make the next application easier

Start with clean, dry lashes and arrange the mirror where you can see the outer corners without twisting your wrist awkwardly. If you use a manual curler, use it before mascara, following the tool's directions. Our eyelash-curler guide covers positioning and release.

Give the first coat a look in the mirror before reaching back into the tube. If you already like the definition, leave it there. For extra depth, use the formula's layering directions and concentrate on the areas you want to build instead of automatically coating every lash again.

If clumping keeps happening with a new tube, try one adjustment at a time. Start with less product on the wand and see how that first coat looks. You can judge the effect of that change without also introducing a primer or switching brushes. A new mascara that still applies badly is worth raising with the seller or manufacturer.

Keep the cap tightly closed between uses. Store the tube somewhere clean and dry, away from direct sun and a hot car. The FDA explains that heat, air and storage conditions can affect cosmetic texture and preservation. Put it away on a shaded shelf when you finish, with the cap secure.

More clumpy-mascara questions

Why does only one eye turn clumpy?

Compare the application before blaming the formula. You may reload the wand between eyes, add extra strokes to one side or reach one outer corner less comfortably. Try the same light first coat on each eye and look before adding more. Persistent irritation on one side needs a separate check, rather than more makeup troubleshooting.

Should I buy a lash primer?

You can try one if you want its intended effect and it works with your mascara's directions. First check loading, leftover makeup and the age of the tube. Adding another layer will not repair a dry mascara, and you may find that a lighter first coat gives you the finish you wanted.

Can I borrow a brush to fix my lashes?

Use your own clean tool. Health Canada advises against sharing eye makeup. Keep the brush you use for separation clean and separate from someone else's makeup kit, even when you're getting ready together.

Do I need to remove mascara before bed if it still looks good?

Yes. Remove it before sleeping, including any small clusters at the tips. Leave your clean lash brush ready for the next application and put a replacement reminder on the calendar when you open a new tube.