Over 40 Beauty: A Cure for Raccoon Eyes
It doesn’t matter what brand of mascara I use, even if it’s waterproof I end up with it smudged under my eyes. Even if I don’t put mascara on my lower lashes I still experience it. Not only that, it’s usually more under my left eye than my right. Once at a concert in the bathroom I complained to my friend about my raccoon eyes and another concert attendees said it’s because as we get older, we lose fullness and elasticity under our eyes which makes it even easier for our mascara to touch and smudge under our eyes.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found my skin looks better if I don’t wear a lot of foundation or powder. I’ve found an under-eye concealer that doesn’t wear away, but it’s dewy which makes the raccoon eyes happen even faster. I don’t want to have to resort to powder and regular touch-ups, and I don’t want to go without mascara so I’ve been trying to find some sort of solution.
Last weekend while I was in Charleston we stopped in Pink Dot Beauty Bar, an all-natural cosmetics boutique, makeup application salon, and lash bar. This is an adorable shop with friendly, down to earth staff that’s worth a visit when in the city. While perusing their selections, I saw Blinc mascara. I remembered Blinc, I used it over a decade ago.
The original Blinc mascara was created in 1999. Unlike most mascaras which are like a paint, Blinc creates tubes around the lashes. I remember I liked how it stayed in place all day and night, but ended up moving on to other mascaras that provided more lengthening or volumizing properties.
Blinc now comes in more than one formula, and one of those new formulas is Mascara Amplified, which is volumizing. Since using Rodan + fields LashBoost I don’t have as much of a need for lengthening mascara so this sounded great. I bought a tube and used it that very evening. The formula is dry, easy to apply, and easy to layer without it getting clumpy. However, I didn’t find it very volumizing. This is what I would call a “day mascara,” one that will make your lashes more defined, dark, and thick, but nothing super glam or dramatic.
Blinc mascara can flake a tiny bit, but that’s easy to brush away. Reviews online say that when it starts flaking more than usual, it’s time to replace your tube. But with sweating, laughing so hard I teared up, and rubbing with allergies, I haven’t had raccoon eyes. Blinc says it can be worn when running marathons and even after a 16-hour plane flight you won’t have smudged eye makeup.
A primer can add thickness to any mascara. I asked the woman at the store if Blinc mascara could be used with any primer, or just Blinc’s primer. She admitted she’s used it with other brands of primers no issue. When I got home I tried Blinc mascara with my L’Oreal lash primer… and it technically works. I found the best success was to wipe the primer wand to get rid of excess product before applying and let the primer dry completely before applying Blinc. Even then, I wasn’t thrilled with the results – it did make the lashes look thicker but in a Tammy Faye way. However, someone who is more skilled with primer may be able to make this work better. I wonder if the Blinc primer would be more effective.
Almay recently came out with their version of tube mascara called Liquid Lash Extenders. I decided to get a tube of it to compare to Blinc, hoping for a positive result at a much lower price. When I took these pictures, I did both eyes with Blinc, then removed everything from one eye and did the Almay. And I hated the result. It seemed so wet, it didn’t dry fast and smeared under my eyes when I blinked. I decided to try it again the next day in place of my makeup when doing my full face and the experience was far different. Yes, Almay Liquid Lash Extenders is wetter; it takes longer to dry and if you’re not patient it could smear. However, I think the reason it was such a fail when I took photos was because there was still water or micellar water on my lashes. On dry lashes, this product is pretty fantastic… dare I say better than Blinc? It is a bit shinier when it dries, and I think it does a better job of lengthening and volumizing. Just like Blinc, this mascara didn’t smear, didn’t smudge, and easily came off with warm water.
I’ve decided that I’d rather have less dramatic lashes if it means I have lashes that don’t smudge and give me raccoon eyes. All week it’s been only these mascaras and I have found myself not needing to check my makeup, wipe away smudges, and because of this my concealer is staying in place longer (and I’m tugging less at my under eye area).
Application Tip: Start right at the lash line and wiggle the wand as you swipe up the lashes. This way you get deep near the root and don't miss a lash. Wipe the end of the wand (more necessary with Almay than Blinc) and use it to touch any lashes missed. Do a final swipe on the outer lashes swiping towards your ears instead of out for a bit of a doe-eyed look.
All formulas of Blinc mascara and primer are $26 at Sephora. Blinc also carries eyeliner pens and a waterproof brow mousse that my friend bought during our trip and really likes (Sephora seems to no longer be selling it but I found it at Dermstore and Amazon).
Almay Liquid Lash Extenders mascara should be at your local big box retailer or drugstore but I wasn’t able to find it near me. However, Amazon carries it for $8.99 (I got Blackest Black but there’s three colors to choose from). It's also available at Ulta for the same price.
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I’ve been using the L’Oreal telescopic but I picked up the Almay after reading your post. I was just lamenting that the racoon eyes are more bothersome now (I’m the same age as you) because I don’t want to be rubbing the skin under my eyes to wipe it away! Day one and no smudges! As always, thank you!
I agree on the L’Oreal beauty tubes! I started using it a few years ago and it was a total life changer for me. I’m tempted to check out the Almay version now, though!
With all your comments I now recall Beauty Tubes. I don’t remember why I didn’t continue using it!
Love your blog!
I’m curious to know what you use to wipe your mascara wand? Tissue? Thanks!
I’ve used tissue but now I use a muslin cloth I got with my Colleen Rothschild cleansing balm. This way it’s less waste and the mascara comes off in the wash!
Thank you, Thank you! I have the same problem so this post is very helpful. I am going to try the Almay version ASAP.
Awesome!
Several years ago I discovered that Garnier Clearly Brighter roll-on works well as a concealer on my dark under-eye circles. It stays looking normal and doesn’t crease. Mascara doesn’t migrate there, though it’s true I skip mascara on the lower lashes. The mascara I’m using and am quite happy with is Neutrogena Healthy Volume, which has olive in it and really does seem to help my lashes grow. Both drugstore brands of course, but I’ve tried the expensive stuff and these really seem to work better for me.
Great tips thank you for sharing!
Let’s try that last sentence again. I’m using the telescoping mascara right now! (Commenting via phone is hard, hahahahaha)
LOL
Have never used Blinc and if I hadn’t just ordered Thrive Causemetics mascara I would give it a try. I used to just need color on my lashes but now need volume. I was a big fan of Clinique Chubby lash but they aren’t cruelty free. Blinc is so if Thrive doesn’t work out I’ll order. Big fan of Thrive and their message though.
I may have missed this in another post, what concealer do you use? I use Revlon PhotoReady but they sell in China so are not cruelty free and it’s drying in the afternoon. Since you said yours is dewy I’m curious.
I’ll be doing a concealer post soon. A mix between Becca brightening with Glossier over it, and IT Cosmetics’ illuminating version.
I really don’t have a problem with mascara smearing, but I’m curious what concealer you use that doesn’t move? Everything I try creases terribly and makes the skin look much worse under my eyes.
I’ll be writing a post on it soon but check out IT Costmetics’ concealer. I use the illuminating and you need the tiniest tinies bit and I use a dense soft brush to buff it in. http://bit.ly/2DIsc2Z
My favorite–tubing mascara! One tip I’ve heard and tried for myself is to use your favorite mascara as the primer and then apply the tubing mascara over it . You can get a more dramatic look that way and still get the benefit of the tubes. I haven’t tried this is EVERY mascara out there though (generally I use IT Superhero and it works pretty well, but it’s no Lancome Hypnose for example). My preferred tube mascara is Lancome Beauty Tubes which comes with its own primer, but I have also heard very good things about the Kevyn Aucoin one and some people prefer the original Japanese ones (sorry can’t remember brand name). I wan’t that thrilled with Blinc but haven’t used it in a while.
Great tip! Yes I used Kevyn Aucoin many years ago and don’t remember loving it. Do you mean Japonesque? I used to use their heated lash curler years ago!
L’Oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes mascara!!! I wear glasses and have allergies, and it’s the only mascara I’ve found that doesn’t smudge, doesn’t flake, and doesn’t give me raccoon eyes. It has a primer on one end and the mascara on the other, so it’s a smaller tube and doesn’t last as long as a regular full-size mascara (I find that I have to replace it every 3-4 months). It does have to set for a minute, but once it’s dry, it’s good to go for the rest of the day.
Agree with the L’oreal recommendation! I used this mascara a year or two ago and liked it. I can’t actually remember why I stopped. Probably because I, like many women, are always looking for the latest and greatest in mascara. I generally like L’oreal Mascaras, imbusung the Telescoping mascara tught
Sounds perfect!