While brows have been stealing the spotlight of late, lashes have always been a beauty obsession. And for good reason. Not only can they put the finishing touch on your look but they can also help you appear wide awake when you’ve logged a poor three hours’ sleep.
Whether you have time for a treatment or need a 5-second quick fix, here’s how to get better, longer, thicker lashes at every effort level.
Mascara
Finding the right mascara is no easy task. Especially when you can’t try them on! The trick is to look for the right shape of brush. So, how does one go about deciphering all of the hourglass, spherical and wavy shapes? Well, it depends on what kind of look you are going for. If you want lush volume, opt for a fat and fluffy brush (either wire or plastic bristle) to get larger than life thickness. For a more fluttery, defined look, go for smaller brushes that are plastic or rubber with closed shaped bristles. For a winged lash look and a good lift, choose a curved brush or one that looks like an hourglass.
The best way to apply? Curl your lashes first, rotating the eyelash curler upwards to achieve a more intense curl. Start with the mascara brush at the root of your lashes and wiggle and pull up. This way you’ll coat the lashes individually, while making them look long and full.
Falsies
Fake lashes can be even more transformative than mascara, adding a splash of volume and glam to your look. Thanks to the zillion YouTube tutorials out there, putting them on isn’t so bad. But be warned, it can take a few minutes – so if you have to be out the door in 15 minutes and haven’t put your falsies on, opt for mascara instead.
To apply fake eyelashes, prop your elbows on the table and lean over the mirror. This will steady shaky hands and give you a better look at what you’re doing. Apply the lash glue to the base of the strip (use a cotton swab or bobby pin), allowing it to dry for 30 seconds before applying it to the natural lash line, starting at the outside corner.
After you have applied your falsies, use black liquid liner to blend the strip with your real lashes.
Growth Serums
This requires consistent use in order to see results. Most growth serums contain a complex of nourishing ingredients and biotin to strengthen the lashes you already have and stimulate growth and pigment. It won’t magically happen overnight, from four weeks on is more realistic.
Extensions
If you’re not up for the waiting game, extensions are your go-to. While they can generally be expensive and require some upkeep, you won’t have to apply mascara on a daily basis and can enjoy that beautiful ‘I woke up like this’ look.
Lash extensions enhance your features without the need for makeup and can drastically cut down your beauty routine, meaning you can get out the door quicker in the morning. However, upkeep is important and it is generally recommended that you see your stylist every 2-3 weeks for a refill.
If you don’t remove overgrown lashes, this can result in breakage. When the extensions grow away from the base they can twist and pull off the natural lash.
Whatever your chosen method, there’s one thing that will stay constant: good eyelashes will never go out of style.
