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It's always a good time to share our favorite mascara hacks—all the little tips, tricks, and lightbulb moments that will not only make applying easier, but help you optimize whatever wand is in your makeup bag.

1. Step Back

Once you’ve coated the front side of your lashes per usual, look down and carefully coat the backside of your lashes with mascara for an instant thickening effect. Flick your wrist as you reach the ends to add more curl and follow up with another coat to the front of your lashes for even more lift and volume.

2. Baby Your Lashes

Use a small shadow brush like BESTOPE Eye Makeup Brushes to dust your lashes with baby powder or a translucent powder in between coat of mascara—it will help your mascara cling to your lashes, making them look even thicker in the process.

[Read: 8 Insanely Easy Ways to Get the Best Brows of Your Life]

3. Be Flexible

A tip we repeatedly hear from makeup artists? Bend your mascara wands. The thought of snapping your favorite brush may sound scary, but gently bend the tip so the brush is horizontal—the new shape will make it easier to maneuver the wand around hard-to-reach-places like the inner and outer corner of your eyes.

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4. Get Toasty

If your favorite mascara is starting to get clumpy, a little bit of heat can thin the formula. Make sure the cap is tightly secured and let the tube sit in a glass of hot water while you apply your liner to smooth it out. But if your wand is over three months old, you’re better off replacing it to keep things clean.

5. Lay It on the Line

Wiggle your wand close to your lid to create the illusion of eyeliner and make your lashes look even fuller. You can also dip an angled eyeliner brush like into your mascara tube and use it to line your eyes when you're in a pinch or want to add more definition.

[Read: 5 Simple Tips to Keep your Lips Beautiful]

6. De-Clump with a Toothbrush

If your mascara went on a little (or a lot) clumpier than you originally planned, use a toothbrush to comb through lashes and fight spider eyes without completely starting over.

7. Twirl, Don’t Pump

Pumping your mascara wand may seem like a daily ritual, but the bad habit actually forces air into the product, making it much easier for bacteria to spread. Instead, pull the wand upward and gently twirl it to evenly distribute the product.

8. Keep Your Guard Up

Avoid smudges on your lids with a handy pick like beautyblender® liner.designer. You can also improvise grabbing a credit card or spoon and gently placing it over your eyelid when you apply your mascara to avoid going back in fixing flubs with remover or cover up. A spoon can also help you curl your lashes: With the spoon facing outward, place the bottom edge along your lashline. Use your index finger to gently press your lashes against the edge while rotating and pulling the spoon upwards (the curling motion!) so the edge eventually hits the tips of your lashes.

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9. Whip Up a Cocktail

Don’t be afraid to mix and match formulas—sometimes it takes more than one wand to get the look you want. Try layering specialized mascaras (we love using Benefit’s Roller Lash to curl and separate and stila HUGE™ Extreme Lash Mascara to thicken and volumize for night’s out), or mix and match different formulas, like applying a waterproof mascara like Bobbi Brown No Smudge Mascara over a lengthening mascara, to not only make it last longer (and the waterproof product easier to remove), but to keep it from rubbing off on your lids.

10. Make Moves

To customize your lash look, try switching up the direction you hold your wand: Hold it horizontally for thicker lashes, vertically to coat each lash for a more natural finish, and wiggle it from lash line to ends to help hold curl

Let’s face it: even to the most experienced makeup junkie, eye shadow can be intimidating. Palettes! Primers! Colors! Blending! Creasing! It’s enough to make your head spin. But knowledge is power, and that’s why we’ve put together this handy list of eye shadow tips to change your eye shadow game and bolster your confidence. Here are 12 genius hacks to help you finally get that flawless eye shadow look.

1. Primer is half the battle…

Don’t even think about using eye shadow without applying primer first. Primer solves the problems of oily lids, creased lids, eye shadow smearing or fading, and just makes your shadow go on better and look better in general. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion has a cult following, and if you’re on a budget, NYX has several great options $5.

And if you don’t have any primer on hand, you can always use concealer under your eye shadow. As long as your concealer has a thicker consistency (rather than runny), you’ll find that it does a decent job of priming your lids for eye shadow.

2. …And decent brushes are the other half.

If you’ve been attempting to blend your eye shadow with one of those itty bitty sponge applicators that come with most drugstore eye shadows, you owe it to yourself to consider investing in a few quality eye shadow brushes. A good makeup brush is required for decent blending, which is what it takes to bring an eye shadow look to the next level. MAC makes great brushes ( the #239 ($10) in particular is very versatile), as does Sonia Kashuk—we especially love this very useful brush kit ($15) that’s both high quality AND inexpensive.

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3. Blend a cut crease for easy definition.

A cut crease really helps to make your eyes stand out (especially if you don’t have naturally defined eyelids). Simply take a dark shadow and blend it really well along the upper crease of your eyelid, connecting the end of the line with the outer corner of your eye. Look downwards at a mirror while you do this instead of straight ahead; it will help you find your crease. Use a lighter shade on your mobile lid (that’s the part that moves when you blink) to create contrast. Add eye liner and mascara, and boom: sultry, defined eyes.

4. Make colors more vibrant with white shadow.

If you really want to make your eye shadow colors pop, apply a white base first. We love NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk ($4) for this—the pencil makes it so easy to use. Blend it all over your lid and then apply your shadow on top for a more vibrant color.

[Read: 8 Insanely Easy Ways to Get the Best Brows of Your Life]

5. Get an instant brow lift.

We hope so, because it’s another great use for white eyeshadow. Applied on your brow bone (so right underneath your eyebrow), white shadow acts as a highlighter and can also hide any errant eyebrows in between threading appointments. Make sure you blend this really well; nobody wants a crazy streak of white on their eyes.

6. Look more awake.

You can also use white pencil eye shadow to line your lower waterline. This will make your eyes look bigger, and make you look awake and alert. It’s a life-saving technique for those late nights followed by early morning. If you find that the white looks too harsh or obvious for you, a light nude shadow works equally well.

7. Fix broken eye shadows easily.

Dropped your expensive eye shadow palette? Don’t stress: you can fix it easily (and cheaply). Simply add a few drops of rubbing alcohol to the broken shadow, mix it and smooth it out a little bit with a spoon or stick, and then press it flat with a tissue. Then leave it to dry, and it will be as good as new—we promise.

8. Know your eye shape (and work with it).

Knowing what sort of eye shape you have will greatly help you adjust makeup tutorials for your needs. If you have hooded eyes, you may not be able to see eyeshadow when your eyes are open—so focus your shadow efforts underneath the lower lashes and at the outer corners, instead. Wide-set eyes can achieve balance with dark color at the inner corner, while close-set eyes should concentrate darkness at the outer corners instead. Monolids should experiment with cat eyes and highlights at the very center of the lid, and babes with deep-set eyes can really get into dramatic smoky eyes without it seeming like it’s too much. Once you know what works for your unique eyes, you can easily adapt any shadow look to work on you!

9. Dealing with shadow fallout: not as impossible as you think!

There’s two solutions for the annoying problem of getting eye shadow fallout all over your face while making up your eyes. The first and simplest: do your eye makeup first, then do the rest of your face. That way you can clean up any messes left behind without disturbing your foundation and concealer. The second solution is to use an eye shadow shield, a brilliant invention that totally saves our faces on the daily. We love Milani Eyeshadow Primer ($6)—it could not be simpler to use and really, genuinely works.

[Read: 5 Simple Tips to Keep your Lips Beautiful]

10. Fix mistakes in one second.

Another awesomely affordable product that will save you from eye shadow messes is this SO NATURAL SMUDGING ZERO REMOVER STICK ($12.50). If your eye shadow smeared or fell onto your cheekbones, simply use this pen to swipe it off. It’s also great for saving time when you want a very precise look: just go totally crazy with messy blending, then when you’re finished, use this pen to swipe off the eye shadow where needed to create a perfectly precise line.

11. Matte brown eye shadow is your friend.

If you buy any shade of eye shadow (besides white, obvs) make it brown. You can use a matte brown eye shadow for so many things: concealing a wide hair part, contouring under your cheekbones, as a natural-looking eye liner, and to define and fill in eyebrows. LORAC PRO Matte Eye Shadow Palette ($28) is perfect for this because it has both a light and a dark matte brown shadow—plus it even has a handy white shade for all of your highlighting needs.

12. Keep it simple.

Intimidated by palettes, unsure of blending several colors together, or just in a hurry? There’s nothing wrong with picking up just one shade at a time and applying it all over your mobile lid for a quick pop of color. We can’t get enough of Makeup Revolution Eyeshadow Palette (25.29) for both their range of colors and incredible staying power, but you should also check out the new Aesthetica Starlite Powder ($10), which has beautiful packaging and beyond amazing pigment.

Psst: The simplest tweaks can make the biggest difference.

Because your eyes are the window to your soul, your brows are the v chic curtains that fancily frame your face and give it structure. So, it's important that you don't sleep on doing them and actually give them the TLC they deserve. Thankfully: makeup artist and brow wiz Cyndle Komarovski served up 11 easy ways, so you can properly fill-in, feather, create a realistic-looking tail, and more, taking you from brow to br-WOW. Too cheesy? Whatever. These tips are good, keep reading.

1. Use flicking motions to create the most realistic-looking hairs.

Okay, please, please, please do not fill in your brows with one single, heavy-handed strike of any product—albeit a pencil, like Revitalash Hi-Def Brow Pencil, or powder, try Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo. Tiny hair-like strokes are the goal here, so you'll want to use small flicking motions to apply said pencil (or an angled brush dipped in brow powder—you pick the poison, remember?) in the direction your hair grows.

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2. Keep the tail of your brow in check.

Overextending the tail of your brows can create a droopy effect, drawing your face down, making you look sad. Your eyebrows naturally stop at a place that lifts your face up and out, which is what you want to maintain. To measure where the tail of your brow needs to end, place a brow pencil diagonally at your nostril and line it up with the side of your eye. Where the pencil hits your brow bone is where the end of your eyebrow should end (or can be extended to) without it looking fake.

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[Read: 5 Simple tips for applying professional eye makeup]

3. Create a believable arch.

Pointy arches = a "Hi, I look surprised and/or mad but I'm not even!" kind of vibe. So, if you weren't born with a high arch but want to create a subtle one, hold a brow pencil against your nostril and line it up diagonally with the center of your eye. That's exactly where any arch should go naturally.

Next, take a spoolie brush—this Duo one will do—to help brush your eyebrow hairs downward. Then, with your brow product of choice (a pencil and a light touch is key here!), ever so slightly alter your brow shape, creating a slight peak where your natural arch is. Finally, fluff your brow hairs back into place with your spoolie so they fall into place and so that the arch looks natural.

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4. Buff out any harsh lines.

Mapping out the shape of your brow with a pencil and then not diffusing it can be a total tell-tale sign that they're, well, drawn on. A fast fix? Create your shape by using tiny, hair-like strokes, regardless of whether you use a pencil, an angled brush topped with brow powder, or a brow mascara, and then use a spoolie to buff out any harsh lines with subtle back and forth motions.

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5. Give your brows some shape.

Unruly, brushed-up brows are in, as you know (thank you, Glossier, for making them a true thing), so I'm not referring to that type of look. What I am talking about are unshaped brows that, with the help of a little grooming slash shaping, can really give more structure to your face. Don't have time to see a brow expert? Use your natural brow shape (where most of your brow hair is is where your shape lies) and tweeze any strays—these Tweezerman tweezers are cute!—that fall outside of that shape for perfect arches.

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[Read: An ultra-slim retractable pencil used to outline and fill in brows]

6. Tend to your sparse spots.

If you've fallen victim to over-plucking in the past—I have, too, it's okay—know that you're not alone. To mask sparseness, fill in any spots with brow powder using an angled brush or you can opt for a pencil. Then, groom your brows into place with a brow mascara—whether clear or tinted, like Glossier Boy Brow.

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7. Use concealer below your brows instead of highlighter.

Outlining your brows with highlighter can put too much of a spotlight on your arches. Instead, opt for a concealer that's one shade lighter than your skin—Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Concealer has alllll the skin tone options—to brighten up your brow area.

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[Read: 10 Best Mud Masks: How to Use Mud Face Masks? ]

8. Fill in your brows with a light application and intensify from there.

As a general rule: it's always easier to add product but taking away is always harder. The same goes for applying too much brow product at first, which can honestly make you look entirely different—and even angry. So build your brow slowly. Another key to making your brows look darker yet natural? Not getting the formula you're using on your skin. If you have a bald spot you're trying to fill in, that's one thing, but if you're just trying to deepen your brow hair color overall, your best bet is a brow mascara, like Tarte Double Duty Beauty, that you can lightly swipe on for a more dramatic yet believable effect.

Applying eyeshadow is relatively easy. However, learning to apply eye makeup the right way is no simple task. How do you choose the right shade for your eye color and skin tone? Do you really need 10 makeup brushes? Will you ever use every color in that eyeshadow palette?

We know that it’s easy to get confused about the best ways to make your eyes pop, so we’ve crafted a 5-step guide to show you exactly how to handle all those eyeliners, mascaras, and shadows, no matter your eye shape or color. Let's get started:

tip 1: Start with great makeup brushes.

There’s a reason famous artists don’t finger paint: it’s much harder to create a masterpiece without the proper tools. The same holds true for makeup application. Invest in a few good cosmetic brushes for even, precise, and hygienic makeup application. Luckily, you can get great ones without dropping an entire paycheck.

When we tested the best makeup brushes in our Beauty Lab, we found that synthetic brushes are almost always preferable to their natural-fiber counterparts, and they are more affordable, easier to clean, and allergy-friendly. (Psst: All of our winners were synthetic, and the pros couldn’t differentiate them from pricier natural picks!)

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Tip 2: Apply a base eyeshadow to the lid.

Using your eyeshadow brush, sweep your favorite base shade on your eyelid. If you have brown eyes, shimmer might be the way to go.

Depending on the look you’re going for, you can bring this base color all the way up to your brow bone in preparation for a more dramatic smoky eye, or you can stop at the crease of your eye for a basic, everyday look.

In the latter case, here’s a foolproof trick: place the color into the crease of your eye when your eyes are open, and work down toward the lash line. That way, you’ll never overshoot your crease or end up with messy lines.

YOU'LL LOVE THESE SHADOWS:

[Read: 5 Simple Tips to Keep your Lips Beautiful]

Tip 3: Concentrate darker shadow in the eye crease.

Dark colors attract light, so placing a darker tone of shadow in the crease of the eye makes your eyes pop by adding depth and dimension in the exact right spot.

To get the look, dip a domed brush like e.l.f. Blending Brush (amazone.com) into a dark shadow and sweep it right along the eye socket, following the shape of your eye between your brow bone and eyelid. A deep brown like Revlon Colorstay 16 Hour EyeShadow (amazone.com) is a universally flattering choice, no matter your eye color.

If you have hooded eyes, your upper lid covers most of your mobile lid when your eyes are open. That means you will have to play with different, higher placements for crease shadow, because if you simply apply along the eye socket, the color will disappear when you open your eyes. Instead, start with your eyes open and use your brush to mark where you want that dark color to start in order to be visible. Then, close your eyes and blend across, smoothing out any hard lines and focusing pigment on the outermost corner of the eye in a "V" shape.

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Tip 4: Rim your lash lines in a super-dark color.

Eyeliner that's applied correctly can make your lashes look thicker and eyes look wider. If you're not a huge fan of eyeliner, you can get a similarly impactful look (that’s easier to wash off!) with a super-dark eyeshadow. Use a flat, short-bristled brush, like this one by Beauty Junkees ($10, amazon.com), to press the dark color along the edges of your upper eyelid where your eyelashes begin, and along the lower lash line.

If you like to wear liner on your waterline (the inner-most rim of the eye), be aware that the bristles might irritate your eye. In that case, you can trace this line with our favorite eyeliner, or (beauty hack alert!) apply a pale nude liner to the waterline to make the eye look wider and more awake. Just be sure you choose something waterproof, like Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner Gel Eye Crayon (amazone.com).

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[Read: HAUS LABORATORIES gel gloss By Lady Gaga]

Tip 5: Highlight with a pretty shimmery shadow.

Make your brows pop and add lift by adding a shimmery pale eyeshadow or pencil directly under the brow. Benefit High Brow (amazone.com) is an easy-to-use pencil, or you can try Maybelline New York Expert Wear Eyeshadow Singles ($10, amazone.com) for more shimmer. Add the same pearly light color to the inner corner of the eye to brighten things up, too. Finish with a few coats of our favorite mascara, and you're good to go.

1. Use flicking motions to create the most realistic-looking hairs.

2. Keep the tail of your brow in check.

3. Create a believable arch.

4. Buff out any harsh lines.

5. Give your brows some shape.

6. Tend to your sparse spots.

7. Use concealer below your brows instead of highlighter.

8. Fill in your brows with a light application and intensify from there.

BRUSH UP ON THE BEST BRUSHES:

YOU'LL LOVE THESE SHADOWS:

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