10 Things Women With Great Eyelashes Do from freemexy's blog
You’ve been wielding a mascara wand since you were 15. OK, maybe 13. But
that doesn’t make you a pro, according to makeup artists Grace Lee and
Anastasia Durasova. Read on to permanently change your lash game.Best wholesale eyelash vendor
1. Curl first. Take it from the experts — using a traditional clamp eyelash curler after you’ve applied mascara can chop your fringe right off. Ouch. “It’s the biggest lash mistake,” says Lee, who heads Maybelline New York’s artistry team in Canada. “I understand why women like to do this. It really does crank eyelashes up to almost a 90-degree angle and keep them there. But it’s also very dangerous.” Mascara can stick to the pad or metal, and then bam — they’re gone. Curl your lashes first, and then swipe on mascara.
2. Tag-team curlers. “Hands down, I love the Shu Uemura eyelash curler,” says Lee, a sentiment we hear on repeat from makeup artists. But every eye is shaped differently, which means the struggle is real when it comes to curling lashes. If you can’t fit all of your fringe into the frame of a traditional eyelash curler (often the case with small, large, or hooded eyes), call in back up, like a half-lash curler. Try Shu Uemura New Generation Eyelash S Curler. Its small clamp lets you target inner or outer lashes after going in with a traditional curler. And try Lee’s rule: “The longer you hold the curler, the longer your curl will last.” Aim for 10 seconds.
3. Prime with black. Black mascara is a staple, and for those of us who like our lashes to pop, the darker the better. On the other hand, primers (mascara bases created to maximize length, and volume and condition lashes) are almost universally white. “I don’t like them,” says Durasova, who is based in New York City. “No matter how hard you try to cover your prepped lashes with black mascara, at certain angles, you’ll still be able to see a little bit of that white base.” An eyelash primer is by no means a must, but if you’re a fan, use one of the few inky options available, like It Cosmetics Tightline Full Lash Length Black Mascara Primer.
4. Create a full lash line. “It’s very important to apply mascara from the roots to the very end. A lot of girls skip the roots. They just do the ends,” says Durasova. If you fall into that camp, you’re missing out on the big-time impact of a full lash line. Brushing your eyeball with a mascara wand does not feel good, so I totally get that you don’t want to get it too close to your lash line. The easy workaround for extra lush roots: Dip the It Cosmetics Tightliner 10-in-1 Dual-Ended Brush into your mascara, and then gently push it into your lash line. The divots at the end of the brush scoop up and deliver product. Genius. Then use a spoolie to brush it out.
5. Wing it. Fluttery, flared lashes make your eyes look especially large, but nature doesn’t make it all that easy to score this effect. "The lashes at the outer corner of our eyes are naturally not our longest. Usually makeup artists need to use fake lashes to create wings,” explains Durasova. That is, until now: The brush of Maybelline New York The Falsies Push Up Angel Mascara has its longest bristles at its end point, so it gives your outer lashes their maximum extension and creates wings — and saves you the trouble of applying falsies
6. Get ahead of the curve. Ever noticed that most mascara wands are straight but your lash line isn’t? “Our lashes grow according to our eyelid line. If you want to simultaneously cover all of your lashes, you need a curved wand. It’s anatomically correct,” says Durasova, who bends her disposable mascara wands when she’s working at photo shoots. At home, it’s easiest to pick a mascara with a curved wand to begin with. Maybelline Falsies will automatically hug your lash line — no awkward maneuvering required.
7. Give your lashes top honors. Another pro trick to make eyes look open and bigger: Keep your upper fringe darker than your lower set. If you use a black formula on your top lashes, go for a dark brown mascara on your bottom lashes. To prevent a mess on your lower lashes, wipe the mascara wand on a makeup sponge to get rid of excess formula. “Then just use the tip and sway it back and forth vertically, so you’re lightly coating them,” says Lee. If you’re still getting smudges, create a guard by placing a piece of paper or business card between your lashes and skin, so the mascara doesn’t transfer.
8. Beat the heat. Muggy weather makes hair go flat, and that goes for your lashes too. “That’s because mascaras contain a lot of water,” says Durasova. When the humidity hits your water-laden lashes, they droop. Her solution: “Use a water-resistant formula. It contains less water and dries fast.” For even more hold, follow with a heated-lash curler like one from Japonesque. Unlike a traditional clamp curler, the heated version works by gently pressing up against lashes, so there is no risk of tearing or breaking hairs. A full rotation of lash-curlers (full-clamp, heated, and half-clamp) looks like this:
9. Wean off the waterproof. Waterproof mascara gets props for being the most budge-proof, so it definitely has a place in your arsenal. That place, though, is not daily. “The removal [process] of waterproof [mascara] — the rubbing and the amount of product that you’re applying — will wear down your lashes,” says Lee. “Use it wisely. I only wear waterproof when I need to because it’s really annoying to get off.” As in you need a pile of cotton pads and makeup remover specifically designed to break it down, like the cult fave Lancôme Bi-Facil. Not sure if your remover qualifies? Like the Lancôme, most makeup removers that can handle waterproof formulas have an oil or other non-water component and need to be shaken up to mix up the different liquids right before you use them.
10. Ease up on extensions. A set of doll-like lashes sans mascara sound like a dream, but be warned: “I’ve seen the natural lashes of my clients broken by lash extensions," says Lee. Then, she adds, they’ve felt they’ve had to keep getting them to compensate for their skimpy lashes. The good news: Any breakage or thinning should be temporary. Eyelashes, like the hair on your head, naturally fall out and grow back. It can take up to eight weeks for full regrowth, so you’ll need to be patient. The bad news: If your hair follicles have experienced trauma, like any harsh pulling or hot glue, then they may be out of commission. The safer bet is always mascara.
1. Curl first. Take it from the experts — using a traditional clamp eyelash curler after you’ve applied mascara can chop your fringe right off. Ouch. “It’s the biggest lash mistake,” says Lee, who heads Maybelline New York’s artistry team in Canada. “I understand why women like to do this. It really does crank eyelashes up to almost a 90-degree angle and keep them there. But it’s also very dangerous.” Mascara can stick to the pad or metal, and then bam — they’re gone. Curl your lashes first, and then swipe on mascara.
2. Tag-team curlers. “Hands down, I love the Shu Uemura eyelash curler,” says Lee, a sentiment we hear on repeat from makeup artists. But every eye is shaped differently, which means the struggle is real when it comes to curling lashes. If you can’t fit all of your fringe into the frame of a traditional eyelash curler (often the case with small, large, or hooded eyes), call in back up, like a half-lash curler. Try Shu Uemura New Generation Eyelash S Curler. Its small clamp lets you target inner or outer lashes after going in with a traditional curler. And try Lee’s rule: “The longer you hold the curler, the longer your curl will last.” Aim for 10 seconds.
3. Prime with black. Black mascara is a staple, and for those of us who like our lashes to pop, the darker the better. On the other hand, primers (mascara bases created to maximize length, and volume and condition lashes) are almost universally white. “I don’t like them,” says Durasova, who is based in New York City. “No matter how hard you try to cover your prepped lashes with black mascara, at certain angles, you’ll still be able to see a little bit of that white base.” An eyelash primer is by no means a must, but if you’re a fan, use one of the few inky options available, like It Cosmetics Tightline Full Lash Length Black Mascara Primer.
4. Create a full lash line. “It’s very important to apply mascara from the roots to the very end. A lot of girls skip the roots. They just do the ends,” says Durasova. If you fall into that camp, you’re missing out on the big-time impact of a full lash line. Brushing your eyeball with a mascara wand does not feel good, so I totally get that you don’t want to get it too close to your lash line. The easy workaround for extra lush roots: Dip the It Cosmetics Tightliner 10-in-1 Dual-Ended Brush into your mascara, and then gently push it into your lash line. The divots at the end of the brush scoop up and deliver product. Genius. Then use a spoolie to brush it out.
5. Wing it. Fluttery, flared lashes make your eyes look especially large, but nature doesn’t make it all that easy to score this effect. "The lashes at the outer corner of our eyes are naturally not our longest. Usually makeup artists need to use fake lashes to create wings,” explains Durasova. That is, until now: The brush of Maybelline New York The Falsies Push Up Angel Mascara has its longest bristles at its end point, so it gives your outer lashes their maximum extension and creates wings — and saves you the trouble of applying falsies
6. Get ahead of the curve. Ever noticed that most mascara wands are straight but your lash line isn’t? “Our lashes grow according to our eyelid line. If you want to simultaneously cover all of your lashes, you need a curved wand. It’s anatomically correct,” says Durasova, who bends her disposable mascara wands when she’s working at photo shoots. At home, it’s easiest to pick a mascara with a curved wand to begin with. Maybelline Falsies will automatically hug your lash line — no awkward maneuvering required.
7. Give your lashes top honors. Another pro trick to make eyes look open and bigger: Keep your upper fringe darker than your lower set. If you use a black formula on your top lashes, go for a dark brown mascara on your bottom lashes. To prevent a mess on your lower lashes, wipe the mascara wand on a makeup sponge to get rid of excess formula. “Then just use the tip and sway it back and forth vertically, so you’re lightly coating them,” says Lee. If you’re still getting smudges, create a guard by placing a piece of paper or business card between your lashes and skin, so the mascara doesn’t transfer.
8. Beat the heat. Muggy weather makes hair go flat, and that goes for your lashes too. “That’s because mascaras contain a lot of water,” says Durasova. When the humidity hits your water-laden lashes, they droop. Her solution: “Use a water-resistant formula. It contains less water and dries fast.” For even more hold, follow with a heated-lash curler like one from Japonesque. Unlike a traditional clamp curler, the heated version works by gently pressing up against lashes, so there is no risk of tearing or breaking hairs. A full rotation of lash-curlers (full-clamp, heated, and half-clamp) looks like this:
9. Wean off the waterproof. Waterproof mascara gets props for being the most budge-proof, so it definitely has a place in your arsenal. That place, though, is not daily. “The removal [process] of waterproof [mascara] — the rubbing and the amount of product that you’re applying — will wear down your lashes,” says Lee. “Use it wisely. I only wear waterproof when I need to because it’s really annoying to get off.” As in you need a pile of cotton pads and makeup remover specifically designed to break it down, like the cult fave Lancôme Bi-Facil. Not sure if your remover qualifies? Like the Lancôme, most makeup removers that can handle waterproof formulas have an oil or other non-water component and need to be shaken up to mix up the different liquids right before you use them.
10. Ease up on extensions. A set of doll-like lashes sans mascara sound like a dream, but be warned: “I’ve seen the natural lashes of my clients broken by lash extensions," says Lee. Then, she adds, they’ve felt they’ve had to keep getting them to compensate for their skimpy lashes. The good news: Any breakage or thinning should be temporary. Eyelashes, like the hair on your head, naturally fall out and grow back. It can take up to eight weeks for full regrowth, so you’ll need to be patient. The bad news: If your hair follicles have experienced trauma, like any harsh pulling or hot glue, then they may be out of commission. The safer bet is always mascara.
The Wall