OUR beauty editor Amy Packer sees false lashes in a new light – and a new treatment has her all aflutter.
All
eyes are on lashes in the beauty world at the moment – from extensions
and falsies to magical serums that speed their growth and mascaras that
nourish, it’s all about maximising what nature has given you.
In the name of research, I recently underwent the Ooh-La-Lash treatment
at Bliss London (£150; 020 7590 6140).
I say “underwent” because it was at the waxing/extraction end of the
pampering scale rather than the massage/facial.
As I lay back with my eyes closed, the therapist used two pairs of
tweezers to isolate lashes before painstakingly gluing longer, fuller
individual synthetic hairs to my natural set.
After the first hour, I was bored. A further 75 minutes later, I was chomping at the bit to escape.
By the end of the appointment, I was tetchy and swore I’d never undergo such a vacuous treatment again.
This was two and a half hours of my life I’d never get back.
Then I looked in the mirror. As a glasses wearer, I had requested a
more natural looking set than Jordan-style spiders, but the addition of
between 30 and 40 lashes to my own set had me all aflutter.
Sleeping for the first couple of nights wasn’t comfortable, as I
couldn’t assume the usual position (arm thrown across peepers), and my
eyes felt a little crusty, but soon the excess glue disappeared and I
was left with a long, full set of lashes that fanned out gently at the
edges.
The treatment lasts up to 21 days or until your lashes fall out naturally.
How to use and apply fake eyelashes
During that time, you don’t need mascara, which made them amazing for a
recent break in Croatia when I was jumping in and out of the water all
day.
So far, the lashes have lasted well over two weeks.
They have started to look a little patchy, but it’s nothing a coat of
the black stuff can’t disguise. I’m also never sure quite what
direction they’ll be pointing in when I wake up, but after a little
grooming (yes, ladies – I’ve had to start combing my eyelashes!),
they’re mostly where they should be.
While I would consider having them again, it would have to be for a very special occasion.
If you’d rather work with your natural lashes, the latest arrival on
the beauty scene is RapidLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum (£39.99; 0845 070
8090).
When it was announced that this
American wonder product was due to be brought to the UK, more than 800
women duly threw themselves on the waiting list and 1,400 were snapped
up the week before launch in pre-sales.
The magic wands are now flying off the shelves in Boots at a rate of three every two minutes.
But what of the results? Well one tester, after religiously applying
the serum for three months, had lashes so long and tendril-like that I
had to inspect them close up for seams.
Another felt that while she didn’t see any added length, after eight
weeks her lashes were thicker and fuller. I’ll be using it as my
falsies depart and I’m left with my own, depleted set.
Despite not hitting the shelves until September, Revlon Grow Luscious
By Fabulash (£8.99; nationwide) already has beauty editors twittering
with excitement.
I’ve had a preview and it’s impressive stuff, instantly plumping and lengthening without flaking.
I’ve not had it for enough time to tell whether the promised long-term
benefits (conditioning and strengthening) come to fruition thanks to
the combination of wheat protein, panthenol and phytantriol, but I
shall report back before it’s available in the autumn.
In the meantime, you can always use falsies – check out our simple step-by-step guide below.
Many people are dissuaded from trying falsies because they think it’s
complicated but, with MAC senior make-up artist Lynsey Alexander’s
step-by-step guide, application is a lot easier than you might
anticipate.
1. The most important thing
to remember when applying false lashes is to curl your natural ones
first. Most false pairs have a natural curve, so if you don’t do your
own first there will be a gap between your natural ones and those you
are applying.
2. Measure your false
lashes before adding glue by placing them along the eye to see if they
are the right length for your own eye shape. If they are a little too
long, trim from the outer edges a little at a time so you don’t overdo
it.
3. Next apply a latex glue along the
spine of the false lash, placing a little extra on the corners where
you need most hold. Never apply the glue directly to your eyelid!
4. Allow the glue to dry for a minute before attempting to fix the lash
in place, as it needs to oxidise and become tacky in order for it to
stick effectively.
5. The biggest
mistake made when applying a lash is sticking it to the lid or lashes
as opposed to the lash line. Slide the lash into place at a 45-degree
angle until it rests on the bottom of the natural lash line. You’ll
know you’ve hit the right spot as the lashes will look like they
actually belong.
6. Allow the glue to
bind the false lash to your lid lash and, when it’s dry, add a flick of
thin black liner to hide any tell-tale signs you’ve applied falsies.
7. If you wish to use your lashes more than once, mascara should always
be applied before the false lash. But if you really want a dramatic
look, coat both your natural and false lashes with mascara after
application.
