Some people look forward to twisting open a new tube of mascara and swiping it onto lashes for the first time. This may be because they get aggravated the second their mascara starts getting dry and running out. So, they turn to hacks for easy ways to revive the dried-out goop. Sure, you can stick the tube into a glass of hot water or add a couple of drops of contact lens solution. You can just embrace the dryness, though.
Oddly enough, I anticipate those last couple of swipes of mascara. The second the formula begins losing moisture is when I really start enjoying a mascara; if you ask me, that's when it's at its peak of usability. In fact, this is when my friends start asking me if I've gotten lash extensions. "No, it's just dry mascara," I'll tell them. [Ed note: I have literally asked Devon if she got lash extensions, and "dry mascara" was indeed the answer.] In response, I usually get laughs or eye rolls. I know what you're thinking; it sounds bizarre and completely counterintuitive.
Hear me out on this.
Dry mascara has several benefits that are often overlooked. First and foremost, it's more buildable than a fresher formula. My go-to technique for applying mascara is quite extensive, and as I've mentioned several times, it can take up to three minutes to complete. (I time it via my favorite songs of the moment. Right now, it takes as long as BTS's "Serendipity." If I were using a fresh, wet mascara, I wouldn't be able to get to the third step without having lashes chunkier than cottage cheese.
As demonstrated above, I start off by pressing the bristles close to the roots of my lashes and swiping the wand halfway through them. For the second coat, I just brush the ends. Next, I swipe all the way through them. Then, I let my lashes dry while I fill in my brows. (Because the mascara is dry already, it doesn't even need that full amount of time.) Once my arches are set, I swipe all the way through again before holding the wand vertically and brushing upward with tiny, feather-like strokes. This step helps curl my lashes.
A buildable mascara means fewer clumps. When you don't have to worry about clumps, you can add more natural-looking volume and curl to your lashes. Trust. By the time I'm done with my multistep mascara routine, my lashes truly do look like I got lash extensions. They're perfectly separated and lifted without the telltale signs of mascara. Don't get me wrong, clumpy lashes have a time and place and can be chic as fuck, but I'd rather not.
Another major plus of dry mascara is you can feel free to sneeze or blink. My allergies are so bad that just breathing makes me want to sneeze. Because dry mascara dries so quickly, a smudging disaster is less likely to occur every time a sneeze decides to strikes. Plus, stray marks of dry mascara are easier to remove than fresh ones. You can usually just flick away the flake and leave the rest of your makeup undisturbed instead of breaking out makeup remover and creating smudges.
I swear I'm not the only one who feels this way. Several people on the MakeupAddiction subreddit support my theory. At least a dozen threads exist with people raving about the wonders of dry mascara and asking for suggestions for formulas on the drier side. Some people swear dry mascara helps their lashes hold a curl better without the need for a curler. (I loathe lash curlers, I might add.) In fact, they say that wet formulas uncurl their lashes. Others even leave the tube cracked open to accelerate the drying-out process. (I try not to do that to lower the chances of bacteria and dust contaminating my mascara. This is my same reasoning for not pumping my mascara before applying it.)
So, which mascaras veer on the drier side? Here are a couple of suggestions, starting with my personal favorite. Yours might already be on the list, making you a dry-mascara fan without even knowing it.
Related stories:
I Stopped Wearing Mascara for a WEEK and This Is What Happened
Maybelline New York The Colossal Big Shot Mascara Is Seriously Hot-Yoga-Proof
Now, check out some Best of Beauty winners in the eye makeup category:
