5 Unique Ways Of Using Your Old Mascara Wand

Whether you are a beginner in makeup, a college- or office-goer, or a party animal, you need to have some essential beauty products in your makeup kit. One of the products that you must possess is a mascara. If your mascara is all used up, don’t throw it away. There are some unique ways of using your old mascara wand. Also, remember the environmental adage to reuse and recycle? So, clean the mascara wand and reuse it. In this article, we have discussed some unique ways of using an old mascara wand. Keep reading!

Quick Tip

An unusual recommendation is to thoroughly clean out the mascara bottle and wand and use it as a travel-friendly perfume container. The mascara wand can be used to dab a bit of the fragrance when needed.

Five Best Ways To Use Old Mascara Wands:

Read on to find out how to use these little makeup buggers!

1. Brush Your Eyebrows:

Sanitize your old mascara wand with a detergent solution or spray some rubbing alcohol on it to instantly disinfect it. Sanitize the mascara wand to prevent bacterial infection. Load up the clean mascara wand with Vaseline or your favorite brow gel and gently brush your eyebrows after you are done with the makeup. Whether you like to use a brow gel or just brush back your eyebrows to make them appear neat and tidy, these mascara wands will be the perfect inexpensive tool for you for eyebrow shaping. You can also fill your eyebrows with a dark brow powder or a dark brown eyeshadow. Then you groom them by running a clean mascara wand over them. This trick will soften the harsh edges and lines of the eyeshadow and give a natural look to your eyebrows.

2. Exfoliate Your Lips:

Exfoliating lips with the mascara wand? Yes, you heard it right. Traditionally, many of us use toothbrushes or fingers to use a lip scrub to exfoliate our lips. But, a clean mascara wand is more effective than a toothbrush. Load your old clean mascara wand with Vaseline or lip scrub or even olive oil mixed with sugar granules and create swift circular motions to remove all the chapped bits on your lips. Mascara wands are effective, yet don’t feel harsh on the lips.

3. Tame Hair Flyways:

Whether you are going for a super-sleek pony or a fancy tie up bun, flyways are quite annoying and can pose a serious problem when it comes to creating those pinned-up hair styles. Now, all you need to do is to apply a pea size bit of Vaseline in your mascara wand to smoothen and tame the flyways and keep them in place. The jelly formula of the Vaseline keeps all the dry and frizzy hair in place, giving you that gorgeous sleek and polished look while hair styling. The mascara wand is the perfect size to coat the tinniest of the hair. But remember—a little Vaseline goes a long way, so don’t over do it! You can also apply hair spray to the mascara wand and then push the flyways in place. It works more effectively than a big paddle brush.

4. Removing Cuticles:

Start by applying a bit of a hydrating cuticle remover cream, or you can even replace it with just a bit of organic extra virgin olive oil and allow it to sit for 2 to 3 minutes to soak up and soften the cuticles. Then, take a clean mascara wand and start gently buffing the base of your nails to get rid of any ugly bits.

5. Hydrating Eyelashes:

Dip the clean mascara wand in a mixture of Vitamin E-rich castor oil and almond oil. Apply it at night to your upper as well as bottom eye lashes after removing all the eye makeup. Allow the mixture to sit for the whole night and wash it off the next day. You will start noticing fuller and thicker eyelashes within one week of application.

On a similar note, Avery, a blogger, shared how she reuses several makeup products, including old mascara wands. She cleans old mascara wands, preferring voluminous ones, and uses them as eyebrow spoolies as well as eyelash combs. In her blog, she wrote, “I kept the brushes to use for separating my lashes and combing out clumps (i).”

Apart from these ways, you may also use them for painting, nail art, pet grooming, shoe cleaning, wire cleaning or crafting a few artistic items.

Quick Tip

You and your friends can also donate your old mascara wands to a wildlife organization called Wands For Wildlife. They use it for wildlife caregiver resources and to make art for charity.

Be it to use for your eyes or your artwork, cleaning the mascara wand is equally important. Read on to find out how to clean it.

How To Clean A Mascara Wand?

• Wipe off any excess mascara from the wand using a tissue or cotton pad.
• Mix a few drops of any cleaning product (a soap will do) with warm water.
• Dip the wand in the solution and swirl it for about 10 seconds.
• Remove it and use a tissue or cotton pad to eliminate the remaining residue.
• Hold the wand vertically, bristles pointing upwards, and massage the bristles gently with your fingers.
• Turn the wand horizontally and repeat the process.
• For stubborn residue, scrub the bristles with a toothbrush or a spoolie brush.
• Lay the wand on a clean tissue or paper towel and let it air dry completely.
• Once dry, store the cleaned mascara wand in a clean makeup bag.

Infographic: Easy Ways To Use Your Old Mascara Wand

Did you know that you can use your mascara wand again instead of throwing it away? If you are wondering how to do so, you have come to the right place. We have compiled five unique and easy ways to use your old mascara wand. Check the infographic below to know more.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Should you use disposable mascara wands?

Disposable mascara wands are primarily used by makeup artists or as testers. However, you can use disposable mascara wands if you are sharing mascara with someone else or for other purposes including as a spoolie, an exfoliator, or a cleaning tool.

Should I clean my mascara brush?

Yes, you should clean your mascara brush or disinfect it every 7 to 10 days. You can clean a mascara brush by wiping it down with tissue or cotton ball, with baby shampoo or by putting it in a glass of rubbing alcohol.

How long does a mascara wand last?

Mascara should be replaced generally after 6 months. However, if the mascara wand is in good shape, you can clean it and use it for other purposes.

Can using an old mascara wand cause clumping or other issues with my mascara application?

The old mascara wand can cause slumping if the bristles have become uneven or brittle. If it is too old and not cleaned properly, the mascara wand may increase the risk of an eye infection.

How can I tell if an old mascara wand is still in good condition and safe to use?

If the mascara wand has all its bristles in place and you can apply mascara without clumping, the wand is still in good condition and safe for use.

How can I properly dispose of an old mascara wand when it’s time to replace it?

Carefully remove all the bristles from the wand with scissors or pull them out through your fingers and dispose of them in the bin.

What are some things to consider before reusing an old mascara wand?

First, make sure that the wand is in good condition to be used. Next, clean the wand thoroughly with tissue and soap to remove all the formula from it.

Learn how to use a mascara wand like a pro to get beautiful, long lashes! Follow along with this video for easy steps to achieve the perfect eyelashes.

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Tiara MckenzieCosmetologist

     

Tiara McKenzie is a highly accomplished bridal makeup artist with over 12 years of experience in the industry. She is originally from Huntsville, Alabama, and now calls Charleston, South Carolina, home. Over the years, she has built a sterling reputation for her exceptional skills, meticulous attention to detail, and unwavering commitment to her clients.

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Jyotsana RaoBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

 

Jyotsana Rao is an engineering graduate from NIT, Nagpur, who discovered her love for writing during her undergraduate days. She is passionate about writing about everything related to beauty - makeup, fashion, hairstyles, skin care, or hair care and has 4 years of experience on writing in these genres.

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Vaishali SinhaBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Vaishali Sinha is a beauty and lifestyle writer with five years of experience in writing for various genres. She has a master’s degree in Comparative Literature from Jadavpur University. She combines her passion for beauty and lifestyle topics with her artistic background as an Indian classical vocalist to bring a fresh and creative perspective to her writing.

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