We recently got this email from a reader:

I have a make up question for you!! I just bought the L’Oreal telescopic mascara in carbon black and its really really gluggy/clumpy. Ive used the same kind before (although in regular black), and it wasnt like that. Any tips on how to un-glug it? Its brand new so I dont really want to bin it just yet.

I got Amy to answer it cos she’s smarter:

My first thought is, take it back. It might be a bung batch of mascara. Exercise your consumer power!

But if you can’t be bothered taking it back, how about a lash brush/comb – do you have a lash brush to brush out the clumps with??

Or maybe apply a lash primer first?? The lash primer that comes with my loreal mascara seems to thin the mascara out a bit and make application a bit smoother. It might work…

So we heard back:

Thanks for such a quick reply! I don’t have the receipt any more, so can’t take it back (although I did consider that).

Lash brush might be the best option. It is quite a thick mascara generally – which is why I like it. I have short blond eyelashes and it always makes them nice and long and black. This is my fourth one! I’m not very adventurous though, once I find something I like I tend to stick with it.

On a different note, I also bought the L’Oreal sensitive eye make up remover but it doesn’t seem to work with the telescopic mascara! It doesn’t seem strong enough and I always end up using a facecloth to wipe the rest off.

And Amy finished off:

Also, just one more thing… When I worked at Smith&Caugheys we didn’t require a receipt to give money back or replace a product – as long as we stocked it we had to replace it. We didn’t even ask for a reciept. So depending on where you bought it you could try taking it back…

And now we turn to you, dear reader – how do YOU deal with clumpy mascara?