This Mascara Trick Is The Secret To Making Your Eyes Pop

This beauty trend is about to be your new go-to.

It seems like every week there’s a hot new makeup trend that will totally revolutionize the way you get ready—from contouring to baking to unicorn eyeliner, these trends can be somewhat overwhelming.

But mascara stamping is a beauty technique that’s been used by makeup artists for year, and not only is it insanely simple, it’s incredibly effective. But what is it, and what does it do?

Mascara stamping makes your lashes look not only longer (which is what mascara is generally supposed to do) but also thicker and fuller. It also helps your eyes appear wider, which helps you look more awake and gives your face more pop.

Best of all, mascara stamping only adds a few extra seconds to your beauty routine, unlike contouring which requires a full half-day of work.

Step 1: Curl Lashes

First, start with curled lashes. You should always curl your lashes before you apply mascara, and a heated curler works more effectively than a cold one. Pro tip: the Shu Uemura eyelash curler is widely considered to be the best one out there, no matter what your eye shape.

Step 2: Apply Mascara Normally

Next, apply your mascara as usual, making sure to add a little extra on the outer tips and in the corners to add length and volume.

Step 3: Stamp!

Finally, press the mascara brush against the roots of your eyelashes from the underside. This will feel a little strange at first, but it will help your lashes appear much thicker without looking spidery and overly made up.

Though this beauty trend has long been a favorite of makeup pros and beauty bloggers, it has finally reached the mainstream. Now we can all have fuller, prettier lashes without looking like Yzma from The Emperor’s New Groove.

via GIPHY

To see lash stamping in action, check out this tutorial with before and after shots from Good Housekeeping here. You can also watch this YouTube tutorial below to see a full video of mascara stamping in action: