Beauty LOreal Superstar Guide: Mascara Tips for Maximum Volume
An educational guide from the Beauty AMZ research team. No hard sell, just what you need to know.
What makes a mascara superstar
Superstar volume comes from three things working together: a brush that loads plenty of product, a formula thick enough to build quickly, and a lash base that grips the formula. L'Oreal's Voluminous line nails the first two with its dense Volume Maximizing Brush and creamy buildable formula, and the Lash Boosting Primer adds the third. Understanding this helps you troubleshoot; if your lashes look thin, you likely need more product at the roots, and if they look clumpy, you need better separation between coats. The goal is thick from base to tip with visible separation, not a solid black fringe.
Curling before mascara
Mascara holds a curl far better than it creates one, so curling is the highest-value 10 seconds of the routine. Use a heated or standard lash curler at the base of clean, dry lashes, pulse gently rather than crimping hard, and work in two positions for an even curl. Apply primer and mascara immediately after while the curl is fresh, since waiting lets lashes fall straight. For stubbornly straight lashes, a waterproof formula holds curl longer than washable, which is worth knowing before you blame the curler.
The wiggle and pull method
How you move the wand matters more than which mascara you buy. Place the wand at the base of the lashes, wiggle side to side to work product between the lashes, then pull straight through to the tips. The wiggle deposits volume at the roots where it counts, and the pull prevents the overloaded-base look that reads as clumpy. Do the same for the second coat while the first is still slightly tacky. For the outer corners, hold the wand vertically and use the tip to flick lashes outward for a winged effect.
Fixing mistakes without starting over
Smudges on the lid are inevitable, and the fix is to wait, not wipe. Let the spot dry completely, then flick it off with a clean dry spoolie or cotton swab; wet wiping just smears it into your eyeshadow. If mascara transfers to the under-eye during the day, a touch of translucent powder on the lower lash line in the morning prevents most of it. For clumpy ends, pinch the tips gently with tweezers after drying to separate them, which looks surprisingly natural.
Nighttime removal and lash health
Sleeping in mascara is the fastest way to brittle, sparse lashes, so removal is non-negotiable. Soak a pad in remover, press for 20 seconds, and wipe down gently rather than scrubbing back and forth. Follow with your normal cleanser to remove residue, since leftover remover can irritate eyes overnight. Give lashes a break from waterproof formulas a few days a week, and condition them occasionally with a lash serum or even a dab of castor oil if they feel dry. Healthy lashes hold mascara better, which means better volume with less product.
Recommended Products
These are the products our research team rates highest in this category.
Best for: Superstar-level volume with a lash-priming base coat
L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Boosting Primer, 2-Pack
- Lash-boosting primer for amplified volume
- Two-pack for extended use
- Lightweight conditioning base
- Pairs with any Voluminous mascara
Pros
- Boosts volume of any mascara layered over it
- Two-pack is good value
- Conditions lashes during wear
Cons
- Adds an extra step to routine
- White primer needs full mascara coverage
- Two-pack may dry out before finishing
Best for: Classic Voluminous volume in the iconic black shade
L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara, Black 305
- Original Voluminous volume-building formula
- Black 305 classic shade
- Volume Maximizing Brush
- Clump-resistant application
Pros
- Legendary volume at a drugstore price
- Builds without major clumping
- Widely repurchased classic
Cons
- Not waterproof, can smudge on oily lids
- Thick formula takes practice
- Needs makeup remover for full removal
Ready to Choose?
See our top product picks for loreal superstar, or jump straight to the head-to-head comparison of the two most popular options.
Lash Primer and Tubing Formulas: What Pairs Safely
The Voluminous Lash Boosting Primer here is a traditional fiber primer, and primers interact differently with tubing versus regular mascaras. With traditional mascaras like the Voluminous Original, primer adds fibers and thickness, and the combination is the classic volume stack. With tubing mascaras, primer can interfere: the polymer tubes need clean lash surfaces to form, and a fiber primer underneath can break the tube formation, causing flaking. If you switch to a tubing formula later, drop the primer or test one eye with and one without. For the tubing side of the pairing question, our Glossier Lash Slick tubing guide explains how tubes behave.
Mascara Hygiene Beyond the Three-Month Rule
Replace every three months is the headline, but the details matter more. Pumping the wand, the quick in-out motion most people do, forces air into the tube, drying the formula and introducing bacteria with every pump. Instead, swirl the wand once inside the tube. Never share mascara or primer, not even with family; eye infections transfer easily through wand contact. The two-pack primer here tempts you to keep the second tube open as backup; do not open it until the first is finished, since the clock starts at first air exposure. For safe removal that protects lashes at the end of the day, our makeup removal guide covers gentle methods.
Removal Methods Ranked by Lash Loss
How you remove mascara affects how many lashes you keep. Gentlest first: warm water and a soft cloth for tubing formulas, which slide off as tubes with almost no rubbing. Next: oil or balm cleansers for regular mascaras, which dissolve the formula so lashes are not pulled. Micellar water on a cotton pad sits in the middle; hold the soaked pad on the closed eye for twenty seconds before wiping, since premature rubbing causes the loss. Harshest: scrubbing waterproof mascara with a foaming cleanser alone, which breaks lashes at the root. If you wear waterproof daily, consider whether a tubing formula would serve you better, since the removal math strongly favors tubes. Our Clinique Lash Power tubing guide details the warm-water removal advantage.