Afternoon beauty fix: Smudges begone! Say goodbye to raccoon eyes with these tips

I wear dark navy eyeliner and lots of mascara, but I can’t get it to stay put. How can I prevent my mascara from smudging below my eyes?
Ah, yes, this is an age-old problem also referred to as “raccoon eyes.” The solution is in the preparation of the skin surrounding your eyes, and using mascara that’s as close to certifiably “smudge-proof” as possible. Mascaras touting “water-proof” and “smudge-proof” formulas are fairly close in composition (a magical blend of waxes and acids) though Benefit Bad Gal Waterproof mascara ($19, benefitcosmetics.com) creates especially buxom lashes, and Bobbi Brown No Smudge mascara ($24, sephora.com) makes precise application a cinch thanks to its short, stubby brush. Before applying eye makeup, prep the skin surrounding your eyes with an oil-free primer, like Cargo Eye Base ($20, ebeauty.ca) to keep pigments in place between breakfast, dinner, and beyond!

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