Mascara

There are few things more annoying than creating flawless eye makeup only to have mascara get all over your lids and ruin the whole thing. And even if you're not wearing any eye shadow or liner at all, pulling out the makeup remover to scrub your eyes is a waste of those precious morning minutes. So what's an enterprising young lady to do? Learn a few clever ways to keep your lids safe from the dreaded mascara stripes when you read more.

London-based brand Eyeko has always had great packaging, but their new mascara design is truly brilliant (and adorable). The brand's mascaras are all now in tubes that look like old-fashioned lip balm, and each also comes with its own little guitar pick-shaped lid guard so you don't get mascara everywhere when you apply. It's simple and straightforward, but also a great idea that leaves us wondering why every mascara doesn't have an adorable guard in its blister pack. Plus, the mascaras are categorized by brush — another smart idea since most of the difference when it comes to the way mascara looks is in the brush, not the formula. You can't get much more user friendly than that.

Lee noticed that many makeup artists in her field were first wiping mascara off on a tissue before application to get the perfect amount of product. So she invented LashControl, which, with a built-in rubberized "sleeve," allows you to internally pinch away excess product before it even comes out of the tube. Clever, no? Available in: Pink Squeeze for lengthening; Purple Squeeze for volumizing; and Clear Squeeze, to be used as a topcoat or for grooming the brows.

There are a seemingly endless amount of products available for those of us wanting longer, thicker, and darker eyelashes. But one of the latest launches, pro-only CryBaby mascara, offers up a semipermanent solution. Katherine Goldman of Stript Wax Bar in San Francisco invited me to try it out, so to see what I thought of the custom service, just keep reading.

Great Lash lovers, get pumped, because here's some great news. Maybelline's iconic mascara turns 40 this year, and to celebrate, the brand is launching a limited-edition specialty series ($7).

Fashion designers Max Azria, Vivienne Tam, and Tracy Reese (hers is pictured) have each designed their own interpretative packaging for the iconic green and pink mascara. You'll only be able to find these made-over mascaras at Target, so be sure to scoop one up when they hit shelves next month. Don't be surprised if you have competition in the aisles; one Great Lash is sold every 1.7 seconds, after all.

Are you endlessly delighted with dial-a-lash type mascaras, rotating wands, vibrating brushes, and other novelty eyelash-enhancing miscellany? Then you should be delighted about the latest in mascara technology: Buxom Amplified Lash Mascara ($22).

"And why should I be making a run on Sephora for this stuff?" you may be asking. Because it transforms. That's right, the wand on this new product gets longer or shorter with a twist of the cap. I tested the wand at different lengths so you can see whether it really does make a difference, so to see the expandable brush in action, just keep reading.

Are you always on the hunt for longer, thicker, curlier lashes? Well then, you're in luck. Over the weekend, I asked BellaSugar readers for their best lash-enhancing tips, and you really came through. Want to see some of your most clever tips? Then just keep reading.

When I want my eyes to look extra dramatic, I always take the mascara wand and tilt it outward as I apply so that my lashes slant out, creating a "fringe" effect. It's just a little trick, but it makes a big difference for me. Another friend of mine swears by applying one coat of mascara, curling her lashes with a heated curler, and then applying a second coat for hold.

Talking with her about our favorite ways to maximize mascara, I realized that most of us probably have a mascara tip or two, and that if we pool our resources, we could come away with some serious (and seriously smart) lash-enhancing hints. So what little things do you do to get your lashes looking great? Respond in the comments, and then I'll put together an article with everyone's advice on Monday.