Before I went to makeup school, I thought the reason you got clumps was from letting your mascara dry too long. Turns out, it’s actually the opposite. When you apply a second coat immediately after the first, “you’re pushing all of the wet mascara from the base to the tips of your lashes,” says Stewart. That’s what really causes clumps. So make sure you wait at least 10 seconds for your lashes to be semi-dry before applying your next coat.

Bonus tip: When you’re curling your lashes before you put on mascara, bring your lash curler to the outer corner of your eye, and roll it inward until all of your lashes are inside the little window. The biggest mistake women make is leaving out the tiny lashes on the inner and outer corners, which gives you a crimped look.

Don’t forget to check out this exclusive video on our Facebook page for a step-by-step tutorial on how to apply false lashes.