How many mascaras do you use

One swipe of this gave my little eyelash hairs more volume than I could ever imagine. Plus, I can layer without clumping or smudging.

This mascara is polymer based, so the formula creates a tube-like encasement around each lash. My fav part is the removal: it literally slides right off. It also comes off easily with water at the end of the day so I'm not standing there rubbing my eyes. The bristles on this brush are spaced out and tease each strand outward and upward. Without a good black mascara they're basically invisible.

Benefit's They're Real ib black glides on smooth without any clumps and makes my little weaklings look thick and, well, yeah, real. It also manages to coat my lashes without getting everywhere and doesn't leave any black residue by end of day. It really adds so much volume and fullness to my natural lashes I don't even need to curl them to get compliments. This really is a game-changer.

I use this mascara when I want my lashes to be the star of the show. Shop Elle. But here's a little secret: Top makeup artists almost never open one tube of mascara, swipe the wand a few times, and call it a day. Instead, they mix and match formulas, wands, and even shades to solve the most common mascara mistakes. And you can do the same. Makeup artists including Mally Roncal swear that layering a coat of regular mascara over a coat of waterproof mascara is the best way to coax stubborn lashes into holding a curl.

Oh, and curl your lashes the right way: Pumping a curler along your lashes gives you a more natural-looking bend than just pressing it right at the base. Sure, you probably have your go-to wand, but consider this: If you opt for two formulas — also known as "mascara cocktailing" — you can achieve an even more dramatic effect. Always do this before applying your mascara — curling your lashes second could result in breakage, yikes!

Using a thickening mascara, Laramie recommends popping the mascara wand right against the base of your lashes, then doing a little "Z" motion as your work up the lash. This builds thickness and allows the mascara to fully cover the root, preventing that awkward gap that sometimes happens when mascara isn't fully applied.

Apply an elongating mascara from the center of your lashes to the tips for extra length. Just remember: Since you already coated the roots with the thickening formula, you don't need to keep applying it there. To get that sexy, borderline cat eye look, Laramie recommends adding a little mascara using the end of the brush, holding it vertically and lightly stroking the outer lashes.

Long, lifted eyelashes that make your eyes stand out.