Mascara Cocktailing Is Super Trendy Right Now — How To Find Your Menu

Fancy a fluttery, fluffy set of lashes? Plenty of good-for-you mascaras fit the bill, yet each formula typically serves one lash goal: length, volume, definition, curl, etc. But what if we told you that you could combine forces and wind up with your most spidery, luscious lashes yet? 

Like many other beauty TikTok tips, mascara cocktailing has actually been a makeup artist trick for years. "Mixing and matching mascara is something that's been done forever, but I do love the cute 'cocktail' analogy," notes makeup artist Jenny Patinkin. "Some mascaras are formulated for length, some for volume, some for curl, and some for extended wear. Applying your own mascara cocktail can help you tick all the boxes you could possibly want."

Want to thicken up your lashes but also crave some doll-like length? Apply a lengthening formula underneath a volumizing product to achieve all of your doe-eyed dreams. Looking for lashes so lifted they kiss your brow bone yet fluffy enough to resemble falsies? Pair a thickening tube with a curl-enhancing product. You get the idea.

Now, don't just layer any ol' mascara and expect sky-high lashes. Mascara cocktailing requires a bit of a learning curve, as not all products pair well together. For example, "I like to apply waterproof mascara over regular mascara when I'm doing red carpet or bridal makeup because it helps with wear time, but applying waterproof mascara under regular mascara can make the lashes brittle and stiff," explains Patinkin. (FYI: Layering regular mascara underneath a waterproof formula also makes removal a breeze at the end of the day.)

"I also don't recommend trying to cocktail with tubing mascara since it'll likely make your lashes look clumpy, and it'll be more challenging to wash off at the end of the day," she continues. Tubing mascaras, if you're unfamiliar, create teeny polymer "tubes" around each individual lash to encourage separation and prevent smudging.