Q Most beauty articles advise curling eyelashes before applying mascara. But I get better results curling them after the mascara has dried. Which is the correct method?

A The reason that experts advise curling your lashes before applying mascara is because they become more brittle and prone to breaking once mascara dries and hardens.

So, better to stick to curling first and then putting on mascara if you want to keep your eyelashes looking lush.

To get even better results, apply lash primer before mascara.

M.A.C.'s Prep + Prime Lash ($23) goes on as a white coat that dries to a semi-clear base. It helps condition your lashes and intensify the lengthening effect of the mascara, which will stay on longer too, says the brand's creative artist Beno Lim.

He also advises: Check the expiry date of your mascara. Most last for only about six months, after which you are risking an eye infection if you use them.

Also, do not pump the mascara wand vigorously in the tube - this traps air and spoils its texture. Just dip gently, pull the wand out and tissue off any excess.

And if you feel like refreshing your mascara stash, check out M.A.C.'s Zoom Fast Black Lash ($22), launching next month, or Chanel's latest Noir Obscur mascara ($47), which boasts a bewitchingly dense black pigment.

This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times.