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4 Easy Tips On How To Fix Dry Mascara

By Sophie Joaman • August 3, 2022 • 5 mins read

When you buy a new mascara, the last thing you want is for it to dry out too quickly. You’ve paid good money for the product, so it’s quite right that you want it to last for as long as possible. A lot of the time mascara dries out for reasons that are actually quite avoidable in the first place. Like if you forget to screw the lid back on properly. Air can get into the mascara tube and oxidize the product, causing it to dry out.

Similarly, over-pumping the wand into the tube can have the same effect. Air is sucked into the mascara tube and reacts with the mascara, which in turn makes it flaky and clumpy. You then go to use it and find that it is doing nothing for your lash look. Not ideal! It goes without saying though, that if your mascara is out of date, chuck it away. Old mascara can result in a build-up of bad bacteria that can result in nasty infections if used.

If, however, your mascara is still in date but has dried-out, there are things you can do to revive it. One simple trick is adding a few drops of saline solution to the mascara tube to help loosen the formula. We’ve put together a few of the best tips and tricks to try out now.

Hot Water

To get your dried-out mascara back to its best, place the mascara tube into a hot mug of water. Don’t put the water inside the tube, just place the whole thing in the water and leave it for a few minutes. The heat works to soften the product inside the mascara tube and break down any dry or clumpy parts. Your mascara will be smooth and give your lash an effortless application when you use it again. If the formula still feels too thick, try adding a few drops of saline solution to revive it and restore a smoother consistency.

Contact Lens Solution/ Eye Drops

If you’ve got contact lens solution or eye drops lying around the house, then utilize them to bring your dried-out mascara back to life. Saline solution and eye drops help to soften any clumps and dryness within the product and moisten the formula to get your mascara working again. Simply add 2-3 drops of saline solution into the mascara tube and gently swirl your wand around to break down the clumpy bits. Make sure not to add too much solution; however, if you think you need more after applying the first couple of drops, add in another drop carefully and stir once again.

Using eye drops and saline solution is also a great way to banish any bacteria lurking within your mascara tube. Your mascara will get a new lease of life, helping to revive your lash look, and you won’t have to buy another one in such a hurry.

Clean The Wand

We often don’t wash our mascara wands, and we certainly don’t realize just how much build-up can occur on them. This can definitely contribute to your mascara dry out quicker. It makes sense, therefore, to give your mascara wand a good clean. Place the wand in a glass of hot water and use baby shampoo to get rid of the mascara buildup. Then, rinse and dry before putting the wand back in your mascara tube. You can even add a drop or two of aloe vera or saline solution to soften up your dried-out mascara even more and revive its smooth consistency for effortless lash application.

Roll Don’t Pump

Most people think that pumping the mascara wand into the mascara tube will help you get more product onto the tool. This can unfortunately have the opposite effect and will only serve to draw air into the tube, which will likely dry out the product much quicker. A good preventative tip to stopping mascara dry is to gently roll and swirl the wand against the sides of the mascara tube whenever you are using it.

No one wants a dried-out mascara, especially when you’ve just bought it or paid good money for it. That’s why it’s important to know how you can keep it going for longer and revive it when needed. No one wants a dried-out mascara, especially when you’ve just bought it or paid good money for it. That’s why it’s important to know how you can keep it going for longer and revive it when needed.

If your mascara is drying out too quickly, try these tips to bring it back to life. Adding a few drops of saline solution can help loosen the formula, making it smooth and easy to apply for flawless lash definition. And when it’s time to remove it, a gentle cleanser will do the trick without causing clumpy residue.

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Sophie Joaman

Sophie Joaman is a freelance writer with a real love and focus for fashion, beauty, lifestyle and culture. With a Master's degree in Journalism and Media Communications, Sophie is ​​currently an ongoing contributing freelance writer for Cohorted Cult-sister website of beauty subscription box Cohorted. She was also a contributing writer during London Fashion Week and London Fashion Week: Men's from 2015-2018.

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