How to Fix a Lifting Lash Corner During Wear

It's 2pm. You're mid-conversation, reach up to rub your eye, and feel it: the outer corner of your lash is sticking straight up. You have two choices — pull them off and face the world with one eye naked, or fix it without making it worse. I've been here more times than I want to count. Here's exactly what I do.

WHY THE OUTER CORNER ALWAYS LIFTS FIRST

The outer corner of your lash line is the warmest and most mobile part of your eye. It moves when you laugh, squint, or sleep on your side. That motion breaks the bond faster than the center, which stays protected by your brow bone. On top of that, skin oils collect at the outer corner, and oil is the enemy of lash adhesive.

THE FOUR-STEP CORNER SAVE (WITHOUT REMOVING YOUR LASHES)

Step one: press the corner down with a clean fingertip for 15 seconds. The warmth helps the band soften and re-form to your lash line. Step two: blot the corner with an oil-blotting paper to get rid of the oil so the lash can re-adhere. Step three: apply a tiny dot of fresh lash adhesive to the lifted corner with a toothpick. Press the corner down gently for 10 seconds. Step four: use the back of a spoon to press the corner against your skin for another 5 seconds. The rounded shape matches your lash curve and resets the angle of the lash.

WHEN TO STOP FIXING AND START OVER

If the lash has lifted for more than a few hours, the adhesive on the rest of the lash is likely weak too. Trying to save a lash that's lifting at the inner and outer corner at the same time will just make your eyes look lopsided. Better to remove the whole lash and start fresh with a thin coat of adhesive. You'll be back in front of your mirror in five minutes.

WHAT KEEPS A LASH CORNER DOWN IN THE FIRST PLACE

The real fix is prevention. Look for a flexible band that curves naturally rather than a flat, stiff one. A band that bends with your lash line is far less likely to pop up at the outer corner. Also, make sure you're trimming the lash to fit — one that's too long will always pull at the corner.

THE LASH THAT ENDS THE CORNER LIFT CYCLE

Since I started using PHANSTA LASHES, I've almost stopped thinking about corner lifts. Their bands are flexible enough to follow my eye's curve, and they stay down through a full day of talking, laughing, and sometimes falling asleep on the couch. If you're tired of fixing your lashes in a bathroom mirror, this is the upgrade.