The Weird but Obvious Way to Keep Your Mascara from Clumping

No more dry tubes.

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(Image credit: Design by Betsy Farrell)

There's nothing more sacred than a brand new tube of mascara. It's like a fresh coat of paint.

But alas, with each uncapping of the tube, mascara inevitably gets drier and drier—the proof is in the clumps. However, there is a way to make it feel like the first time every time. And chances are it's been right there, in your medicine cabinet, all along.

You secret weapon? Eye drops. Yes, squeeze a few drops in the tube—between 2 and 4—then use the mascara wand (the cleaner the better!) to stir it up, give it a few shakes, and instantly your formula will be like new. Use that extra slip to coat your lashes so that they're long, full, and curled to a tee.

While water will give you a similar effect, it can present a problem for waterproof formulas, as well as create more clumps. The texture just isn't as silky. Another bit of advice: Make sure that you're using a fresh or designated eye drop bottle as you don't want any bacteria to make its way inside the tube.

Happy swiping!

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Lauren Valenti
Beauty Editor

Lauren is the former beauty editor at Marie Claire. She love to while away the hours at coffee shops, hunt for vintage clothes, and bask in the rough-and-tumble beauty of NYC. She firmly believes that solitude can be a luxury if you’ve got the right soundtrack—that being the Rolling Stones, of course.