She also notes that, in addition to bottom lashes, this kind of brush is great for hard-to-reach areas on the upper lashes like the inner corners. “You have a lot more control because you have length,” she says, referring to the long, skinny handle.

Makeup artist Kate Talbert also posted about this alternative application technique recently, as she’s a big fan, too. (No pun intended.)

“One of the problems we have with mascara, especially on the bottom lashes, is that you can’t get each and every lash. And if you do, oftentimes they’re over-coated, which leads to clumpiness and smudging,” she says. “Painting your mascara on eliminates all those things.”

After demonstrating how she paints her bottom lashes, she moved on to the top. “I’ll go in right at the base, and this is going to give them a little bit of a tightline effect, so it’s going to add some definition,” Kate says, “I love it because you can just get each little lash.”

Kate is using the Bdellium 730 Bent Lash Fan but we’re also quite fond of the Kevyn Aucoin Angled Fan Mascara Brush.

Does it take an extra two, three seconds? Maybe. “Honestly, not really,” Kate says. “But it’s a hundred percent worth it.”

This article was originally published on Allure.