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Why Do My Lashes Lift at the Corners?

Four things cause it, and in this order: the lash was not trimmed to fit, the glue was applied wet instead of tacky, there was oil on the lid, or the adhesive was old. Almost every lifting corner is one of those, and all four are fixable in the next thirty seconds of your routine.

Fit, which is the usual culprit

Strip lashes are made longer than most eyes. A lash that overhangs your outer corner has nothing to stick to at the end, so it lifts away from the lid and catches on everything. Hold the strip against your lash line before any glue comes out, see where it ends, and trim from the outer end only. The inner end has the shortest fibers and cutting there ruins the taper. Trim a little, check, trim again.

Glue applied too wet

Lash adhesive needs thirty seconds or so to go tacky before the lash goes on. Applied wet, it slides, does not grip, and dries in whatever position the lash drifted into. Run a thin line along the whole band including both ends, wait until it turns from white to clear and feels sticky rather than liquid, then place it. This one change fixes more lifting corners than any product.

Oil on the lid

Adhesive does not bond to oil. Face oils, rich moisturizer, primer and oily makeup remover residue all leave a film that guarantees a lash will lift. Wipe the lash line with micellar water or a little alcohol and let it dry completely before applying. If you use eye cream in the morning, keep it off the lid itself.

Old adhesive

Lash glue thickens and loses strength once opened, usually within a few months. Old glue looks stringy coming out of the tube and grabs unevenly. If a tube has been in your bag since last year, replace it rather than fighting it. Store it upright with the cap on, away from heat.

Band shape against eye shape

If the fit, glue and lid are all right and the corners still lift, the band may be too stiff for the curve of your eye. Bend a stiff band into a C shape and hold it for a few seconds before applying, which pre-curves it to your lid. Failing that, switch to a lash on a thinner, more flexible band, which will follow the shape of a hooded or a very round eye far better than a rigid one.

Pressing it down properly

Set the middle first, then the inner corner, then the outer corner last, pressing each with tweezers or your fingertip and holding for a few seconds. The outer corner is under the most movement all day, so it is the one that needs the longest hold and the most glue at the very end of the band.