26 Beauty Habits to Break Right Now

Are You Pumping Your Mascara Wand to Get More Product?

It won't. Every mascara tube has a built-in wiper that cleans the same amount of product off the wand each time you pull it out, says cosmetic chemist Jerry Bisram. But, more important, pumping the wand forces air into the chamber of the mascara tube, which mixes with the formula, causing the mascara to deposit unevenly on your lashes. Pumping also may be the reason your mascara smudges; friction softens the formula, so it takes longer to set. 

— Kate Sandoval