Lash Factor

Posted: Wednesday 6 April 2011 10:48am

Long and beautifully thick eyelashes can draw attention to your face and most importantly your eyes. Eyelashes can flitter and flirt, can smile, and look absolutely becoming and intoxicating.

Mascara can help tremendously but there are other ways to enhance your eyelashes. Due to recent scientific breakthroughs, special formulas have been developed that can actually help you naturally grow longer and thicker eyelashes. And of ccourse you can always fake it!

Here’s our lash-tastic guide:

NEW LASH TREND – SPIDER LASHES

Don’t let the name put you off – this trend is more ’60s sexy, than it is scary. Seen on the runways at Chloe, Mui Mui, Valentino and Lanvin this trend is easy to DIY. The trick is to load on at least three coats of a volumizing mascara to both the top and bottom lashes and then use tweezers to clump a few lashes together into star-shaped points. The look is simple and startlingly gorgeous.

Click here for our photo gallery of all the products you’ll need for flash lashes

SALON STRATEGIES

You can enhance your lashes without having to apply mascara every day. Here are three salon strategies for long mascara-free lashes:

TINTING is a very popular treatment that emphasises the lashes. Using a vegetable dye and a low percentage peroxide activator, the eyes are prepped with tint pads and Vaseline to protect the area. The lashes are carefully coated in the tint from the base to the tip.

Cost: approximately $25, takes 20 minutes and lasts 4-6 weeks.

PERMING the lashes opens the eye up like a mini eye lift. A mini rod is temporarily adhered on top of the top lash line, then the lashes are temporarily curled up over the rod and adhered. A perming solution is then applied and rinsed off after 10 minutes.

Cost: Approximately $55, takes 20 minutes and lasts up to 12 weeks.

EYELASH EXTENSIONS – A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

Everything I’d heard about eyelash extensions before I wrote this piece was a horror story – lashes being pulled out, lashes falling out, lashes not growing back (you get the idea…). But in the name of research I booked my appointment at Love Those Lashes and I have never looked back.

I went for a medium length acrylic lash extension to give me a natural look erring on the side of glamorous. The process was totally painless but you do have to keep your eyes shut for close to an hour, as each extension is individually grafted onto each lash using tweezers (a very steady hand) and a specially formulated adhesive. (I did find I started to get a bit wriggly towards the end.)

When you do finally sit up it’s amazing, you’ve got long, perfectly shaped lashes that look completely real.

It wasn’t half an hour after leaving the salon that I got my first compliment – and since then I’ve had many more.

At first I was a bit precious with them, I didn’t want to touch them (although you do have to brush them morning and night) and I was very conscious about crushing them while I slept. But after a couple of weeks they become like your own (only longer and better!).

There is one problem though – you will become addicted. I am! A full set of lashes costs from $180 and last for 3-5 weeks, then it’s recommended you have refills every 3 weeks which range from $50 to $120.  For more info call 1300 LASHES.

TOP TIPS FOR LONGER LASTING-LASH EXTENSIONS

1. Brush the lashes gently with a lash brush every day preferably after your shower, when lashes are still wet.
2. Use a cleansing cotton tip to clean the lashes at the root.  It is important to maintain healthy lashes by ensuring they are free of dirt and makeup.
3. Avoid oil based cleansers as this will break down the glue.
4. Coat the lashes twice a week with a lash coating conditioner 5. Avoid rubbing your eyes.
5. Do not play with the lashes or pull them off.
6. If one wishes to wear mascara only apply water based mascara to the tips of the lashes.
7. Regular refills are required every 2-3 weeks.

Why get lash extensions? As we grow older our lashes become thinner, brittle and shorter.  Eyelash extensions are the perfect solution as they are light weight and mimic natural lashes and will not damage your lashes.

Looking good all the time – with lash extensions they always look their best at any time; day or night.

MASTERING EYELASH CURLERS

“Curling your lashes can open up your whole eye area,” says Natalie Bloom, creator of Bloom Cosmetics. “Always curl them before applying your mascara otherwise you can snap the lash. I get the best results by gently heating my aluminium eyelash curler with my hairdryer for a few seconds. Next I place the curler as close to the base of my lashes as possible. Squeeze for 10 seconds and then let go. Voila!”

MAGIC WAND MOVES

“Apply your mascara to your upper lashes from underneath, and to your lower lashes from on top, to avoid it looking heavy and gloppy,” says Bobbi Brown, founder of Bobbi Brown cosmetics. “Hold the mascara wand parallel to the floor and brush form the base of lashes to the tips. Roll the wand as you go to separate the lashes and avoid clumps.”

FAKING IT

“Apply false eyelashes after you’ve applied all your eye makeup, including mascara,” says Simone Bush, senior make-up artist with the Napoleon Perdis National Core Creative team. “First measure the false lash against your natural lash line, if it’s too long, cut some off the inner part of the false lashes where the lashes are the shortest.  Next apply a small amount of eyelash glue along the base and wait a few seconds for the glue to become a tacky. Lift your eye at the eyebrow area with one hand and then place the false eyelash at the roots of your own lashes with the other hand. Make sure it’s perfectly lined up before the glue dries.”

YOUR MASCARA MENU

For Lengthening:

• Jane Ireland Longest Lash Mascara, RRP $65
• Estee Lauder Lash XL Maximum Length Mascara, $48
• Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Lash Extending Treatment Mascara, $45.

For Curling:

• La Prairie Cellular Treatment Mascara Instant Curl, $75
• L’Oreal Lash Architect Carbon Gloss, $25.95
• Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara, $38

For Volumising:

• Estee Lauder Turbo Lash All Effects Motion Mascara, $62
• The Body Shop Super Volume Mascara, $22.95
• L’Oreal Extra-Volume Collagene Mascara, $26.95
• Benefit BADgal Lash Mascara, $38

Waterproof:

• Catalinageo Long & Deep Mascara, $31.50 – 1800 4 MAKEUP (1800 462 538)
• Maybelline New York Define-A-Lash Mascara Waterproof, $19.25
• Ere Perez Natural Waterproof Mascara, $26.95

For Dramatic Flourish:

• Australis Mega Lash Mascara, $12.95
• Manicare Glameyes Mascara, $14.95
• Rimmel Lash Maxxx Mascara, $17.95

Nourishing:

• Shiseido Nourishing Mascara Base, $45.
• L’Oreal Double Extension Renewal Serum Inside Mascara, $28.
• Lancome Hypnose Precious Cells Mascara, $52.

Lash Growth Boosters:

• Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara, $21.95
• ModelCo Lash and Brow Growth Stimulator, $42.
• Jan Marini Marini Lash Eyelash Conditioner, $240.

False Lashes:

• Revlon Beyond Natural Glue on Eyelashes, $9.99
• ModelCo Flutter Self-Adhesive Lashes, $16
• Benefit Naturally Lush Lashes, $30 (including application at the Benefit Browbar.)

by Nikki Yazxhi

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