How to Fix It When You Get Mascara on Your Eyelids

Imagine this: After perfectly blending a killer eyeshadow look and mastering sleek, sharp winged eyeliner, you go to apply a few coats of mascara to finish off your eye makeup—only to end up getting a smudge of black on your lid. Trust us, we feel your pain. We’ve all been there, and as frustrating as it can be to have your once flawless makeup seemingly ruined by a slip of the hand, we’re here to tell you not to panic. Yup, it’s possible to fix mascara on your eyelids without totally starting over from scratch. So, put down the tube and check out the tutorial below. Then, check out our step-by-step tutorial on applying mascara without getting it on your eyelids and save that knowledge for next time!

HOW TO REMOVE MASCARA FROM YOUR EYELIDS

Take a deep breath and follow the steps below—we’re about to save your eye makeup look.

What you’ll need:

Thin, angled makeup brush or pointed cotton swab

Makeup remover

Eyeshadow for touch-ups

STEP #1. LET IT DRY

You’ve probably made this mistake before, but one of the worst things you can do when mascara ends up on your eyelids is to immediately try to wipe it away. This causes the wet mascara formula to smear around and make things worse. Instead, you want to wait for it to dry. When you do, you may even be able to carefully wipe the spot off without any real effort. If that doesn’t cut it, all you need to do is keep following these steps.

STEP #2. GRAB YOUR TOOL

In order to remove mascara without ruining your makeup look and having to start over completely, you’ll want to use a precise tool. This can either be a thin, angled concealer or lip liner brush that will allow you to remove the mascara without removing too much of the makeup around it or a pointed cotton swab. A regular cotton swab will likely leave you with a blank spot on your lid that's sorely lacking eyeshadow.

STEP #3. CAREFULLY REMOVE

Dip your tool of choice in a makeup remover, like the L’Oréal Paris Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser Waterproof - All Skin Types. Carefully apply it to the mascara until it’s no longer visible.

STEP #4. TOUCH UP

Ideally, you won’t have much touching up to do thanks to your precise removal technique, but if you do notice a small area that needs a bit of eyeshadow, go in with a small, clean eyeshadow brush and reapply as needed. All done!

HOW TO APPLY MASCARA WITHOUT GETTING IT ON YOUR EYELIDS

Now that you know how to fix mascara on your eyelids, you’d probably like to know how to avoid this mishap in the first place. Here’s how to apply mascara—without getting it on your eyelids!

What you’ll need:

Business, playing, or debit card

L’Oréal Paris Bambi Eye Washable Mascara, Lasting Volume (or another favorite mascara)

STEP #1. POSITION YOUR CARD

Prior to applying mascara, you’ll want to grab a card—this can be a credit card, business card, or any card you have on hand. Place it behind your lashes, as close to your lash line as you can. This will be a buffer between your mascara and eyelid.

STEP #2. APPLY YOUR MASCARA

While holding the card with one hand, use your free hand to sweep on mascara as you normally would. Take your time—there’s no rush! Mascara mishaps are most commonly caused by rushing. Fortunately, if you do slip while applying, the card will prevent mascara from ending up on your lids.

STEP #3. WAIT IT OUT

Speaking of rushing, if you are too quick to go about the rest of your makeup routine after applying mascara, you may end up getting some on your lid. Instead, leave the card in place and give the formula a minute to fully dry. If you remove the card too soon and the formula is wet, it could end up transferring to your lid or even beneath your brows. No thanks!

Editor’s tip: Applying mascara to your lower lashes and worried about getting it on your under-eye area? You can use the same method and place a card beneath your bottom lashes, as close to your lash line as possible. Just don’t forget to wait for your mascara to dry afterward!

Next up: Want more makeup tips and fixes? Head on over to our articles, How to Fix Cakey Makeup and Foundation and How to Fix Bad Makeup Without Starting Over, for your next lessons.