When I was growing up, I had the shortest most sparse lashes ever. As a teenager I cried at my barely there lashes, and coated them with loads of mascara to try to make them show up. But the look I got was just clumpy. It was also the norm back then to use an eyelash curler. Every woman knows this instrument. It is a hinged metallic or plastic clamp that crimps lashes and forces them to go “upwards” in direction, so they give the impression of being more full and long. The problem with using this is that it never looked natural…lashes don’t all of a sudden push in an upward direction. And my tiny young eyes were too small to fill in the contours of a lash curler, meaning only the tips/ends of my lashes were being curled. So all the make-up experts that said lash curling was a “mandatory” step in make-up application probably never had my eyes or my lashes. The other problem: they pulled out lashes. Seriously. I had few and short lashes to begin with, so pulling them out by crimping them with a clamp was definitely not a good idea for me.
Fast forward fifteen years into the future: I have thrown away all lash curlers. No I don’t believe they make my eyes bigger, or my lashes appear longer. I have a feeling they actually damage my lashes and cause them to fall out! Think about it. Everytime you clamp down on that tool, your lashes are bent and pulled. So with long term use, wouldn’t your lashes get even more thin and sparse with time and using a curler?
The new trend today is making lashes grow. Have any of you seen the new growth and conditioning eyelash treatments available out there recently? So now instead to buying tools to crimp up our lashes, us women are supposed to embrace expensive serums that “grow” lashes. But honestly, we can’t grow lashes. The most we can do is take care of those lashes we do have. My simple solution is this: stick to a good non-clumping mascara and get some nice false eye lashes. No relying on serums, or pulling lashes with a clamp lash curler.
Make the Most of your Lashes:
1. Two coats or more of non-clumping mascara. Push up on the lashes with a clean finger after application to encourage the drying of mascara into an upward natural curl of lashes. No need to clamp down with a curler. Fingers can gently guide lashes to the shape and position you want!
2. Use falsies: There was and probably still is this Asian make-up trend of super doe-like lashes, full and long to mesmerize the onlooker at how gorgeously lush your eyes can be. Nobody is born with it, but with the help of false eyelashes, girls that were deficient in the eyelash gene were suddenly and amply blessed!!! Use a thin layer of eyelash glue and stick falsies as close as possible to the lash line. Instant babe-a-licious glam! I use accent halfies–fake eyelashes that are half in length, used just at the ends of the eye for drama. I like them because they appear more natural than full lashes on my petite eyes, but still deliver on giving intensity to the eye.
Tips for applying fake lashes:
*Use a small amount of glue…too much glue actually hinders the look and feel of wearing falsies. They make them super uncomfortable because of overly strong bonds, and is potentially messy, getting everywhere on your lid as you are placing them on.
*After applying the glue to the lashes, wait about 1 minute. Most people say to wait about 20 seconds, but I find the longer your glue sets, the more easier it is to place them close to the lash line because the glue is more set and will not cling to the lid until they are in the right place and you intentionally push them onto the skin to adhere.
*Just have fun! Nobody really cares if you have thick, long or thin lashes. But I do admit, long lashes frame the eyes wonderfully and make them sparkle!
Dreamy Reveries: a journal of make-up and fashion 