One of the most common questions I get asked as a beauty editor is: "How do I stop my mascara smudging?" And the truth is, I've always been in the same camp as you. As someone with hooded eyes, my mascara often ends up transferring onto my upper lids. Similarly, some mascaras tend to crumble and flake underneath the lower lids, too.

It doesn't matter whether you're using a luxury mascara or an affordable mascara; it seems some of us are cursed with our eye makeup smudging. And even with the most careful application, it can still end up in places it wasn't intended. It's one of my biggest beauty bugbears.

To put a stop to mascara smudging once and for all, I enlisted the help of celebrity makeup artist, Lan Nguyen-Grealis, to share her expert tips.

There are a few things that can cause your mascara to smudge. But what you might not have considered is how much your skincare can play a part, particularly if you have oily skin or are prone to oily eyelids. "One of the most common reasons for smudging can be oily eyelids where the mascara transfers," says Nguyen-Grealis.

If you're used to wearing a heavier eye cream or moisturiser around your eyes, consider switching to a lightweight formula instead. Oily or greasy skincare around the eyes can tamper with your eye makeup, so look for lightweight eye serums, gel eye creams and oil-free moisturisers to help prevent things from slipping and sliding. And if you're prone to oily eyelids, opt for an eyeshadow primer on the lids to help create a preventative barrier between your mascara and your skin's natural oils.

There are also a few key application tips that can help prevent and fix smudges when you're applying your mascara. Firstly, Nguyen-Grealis recommends curling your lashes with an eyelash curler first can help to lift your lashes up, which makes it much easier to get your wand into your lashes and avoid smudging. "Using a mascara primer will also help the mascara to grip better," she says.

If you have deep-set eyes or hooded eyes, then consider trying a lash guard, which can help to shield your upper and lower lids when you're combing a mascara wand through your eyelashes.

It's also important to not overload your lashes with mascara. "A bad quality mascara can causs mascara to smudge, flake and fall off, especially if you're overloading the lashes with too many coats," says Nguyen-Grealis.

However, even the most careful mascara application can end up in smudges (if you've ever sneezed after applying your mascara, you'll know what I mean) so keep some tiny Q-tips on standby to tidy up any transfer. "Make sure to dab rather than drag the smudges, especially if it's still wet," she says.

If switching up your skincare and application technique doesn't help, then Nguyen-Grealis says upgrading your mascara to a tubing formula can make a big difference. Tubing mascaras are renowned by many who experience their mascara smudging. They work by creating tiny polymer 'tubes' that wrap around each lash and are more long-lasting than the waxy mascaras that can flake or transfer onto lids. Another benefit of tubing mascaras is that they're far easier to remove than standard mascaras. Often, you can just use warm water, and the tiny tubes will slide right off your eyelashes with ease. They are a great mascara for older lashes or sensitive eyes, too, as they are gentler to remove. "Opt for a tubing or waterproof mascara, in particular one with a smaller wand to ensure minimum overload of lashes and smudging," she says.

If tubing mascaras still aren't cutting it, then it's time to pull out the big guns and try a waterproof mascara. These formulas will take a little more work to remove (you'll need a good eye makeup remover) but will ensure your mascara stays put all day long, without transferring onto your upper lids or appearing underneath your eyes by lunchtime. "Sometimes in the hot weather and humidity, mascara can melt and smudge, especially if placed on lower lashes," says Nguyen-Grealis. "Opt for waterproof mascaras, as they are long-lasting as they have more staying power than the average mascara."

As a final measure, there are a few makeup setting tips and tricks to help keep your mascara in place. If you haven't already, invest in a good makeup setting spray. This will help to not only lock in your makeup but also create a barrier between your mascara and lids to prevent smudging. Additionally, a loose or pressed setting powder acts as another layer of protection both on lids and underneath the eyes to help soak up excess oils and prevent mascara from transferring to your eyelids. "To prevent mascara transferring underneath, use a light dusting of translucent powder after concealer to ensure no oils or moisture cause smudging," says Nguyen-Grealis. "Usually, applying powder to set the eyelids can help with oily lids. If you're wearing eyeshadow, try a long-wear eyeshadow primer first, but still powder on top, especially if you're using a cream eyeshadow base, to avoid transfer. Then, set with a setting spray," she says.