Bat for Lashes!

Larmes de verre, 1932. Man Ray

Mascara is one of my favourite products, an absolute must have in my make up bag! Maybe my second most favourite product (after concealer). I am obsessed with Bambi eyes! A few weeks ago my friend, super-stylist and makeup artist Owen Allison put some eyelash extensions on me - and my goodness, I am hooked! I immediately felt very glam and ready to go out on the town. It was simply a matter of laying down and closing my eyes while each synthetic lash is glued on individually. You can also get mink, feather or silk lashes (J.Lo often gets mink or feather), but synthetic is the usual - they look just like natural ones, but stiffer. You can choose different lengths, and naturally, the more lashes - the thicker the look! It is a very fiddly process for the practitioner,  so make sure you go to a certified lash-extension beautician - I have had friends who have experienced glue in the eye and dodgy ashes! I found my experience not at all uncomfortable or painful, but that comes with going to a professional who knows what they are doing. I was chatting away and before I knew it, I had 17 lashes on each eye and the most amazing long luxurious lashes - no need for mascara!  Check out this website for more info on my lash extensions & care - www.lashperfect.co.nz.

 

I have also found myself able to spy a lash-extension from 100 paces. When you see celebs like Kim Kardsah and J.Lo, you KNOW they have fakies on!

Watching my latest new fave Homeland, Clare Danes extensions stick out like beacons, and look amazing against her character's minimal make-up, natural look. Indeed, Claire joked at the Television Critics Association's Summer press tour that starring in those ads for the eyelash-enhancement product Latisse have given her new character an edge in fighting terrorism. "I'm going to trap those terrorists in my very long lashes," she said.

My extensions stayed on for 2 weeks and after a bit of regrowth I got them removed, which is a quick process of dabbing them off with a glue solvent - quick and easy. But now I feel like I have the shortest, stubbiest lashes ever! So am back to dousing them in as much mascara as possible, always in blackest black! In my teens, I was all about Max Factor 2000 Calorie. Then in my 20's & 30's, I splashed out on Lancôme (Definicils) and Estee Lauder. I have never subscribed to the iconic pink & green Maybelline Great Lash mascara - it's just not thick & gutsy enough for me! I want LONG, FAT lashes. To be honest my latest faves are still tubes available from the supermarket - Covergirl's Lash Blast and Maybelline's The Colossal are my latest favorites. I'm also keen to try the Maybelline's Falsies and the new Rimmel one, Scandal’Eyes. If I'm Duty Free - I reach for Estee Lauder's MagnaScopic. A makeup artist once told me only a handful of factories in the world produce mascara cream, so it is all about the brush. 

I used to prefer a big fat brush but my friend makeup artist Fox taught me that a smaller brush with thin tip in order to manipulate and separate the lashes more. But whatever mascara you like, Fox recommends to take the time to get it right. She also recommends add more layers for a lusher, thicker look, especially if you have an event. Fox'es faves are Maybelline's Falsies and Lancôme mascaras such as Hyponose. Lancôme mascaras aint cheap - but they do give 'good lash'!

 

Lash-licious! by louloublue. Click HERE for product details.

I am currently making my way through this fabulous book from my sister, Amazing Face written by former Cosmopolitan and Harper's BAZAAR beauty director Zoë Foster

 

Zoë recommends Scandal’Eyes, saying that this product "has been created to give you plumper, sculpted lashes thanks to its collagen and keratin enriched formula and MaxDensity brush that’s 50% larger and thicker than most ‘regular’ mascara wands. To completely coat every lash (which is half the battle for getting them noticed) start at the base of the lashes and wiggle your way to the very tips." This is a good tip that I use - wiggle the wand, and I also tip it on it's side to grab the little stray lashes at the ends of my eyes, and almost 'mould' them upwards.  Zoë also has a fab beauty website called Primped. Here Zoë talks you through how to get luscious Kim Kardashian style sweeping lashes, beginning with combing and curling your lashes, and aiming to coat lashes by working in 2 or 3sections, rather than trying to coat all lashes at once. 

Zoë also adds that you can look more youthful by dropping your mascara altogether! This gem comes from supermodel Christy Turlington (above & below), who suggests curling the lashes. (BTW Christy also hawks Maybelline products, so it is safe to say she is also a mascara enthusiast when not going au natural. Besides, great Lash IS a good option for a more natural lash.) 

Speaking of eyelash curling, I just today received this brilliant pressie from my Mum, who swears by it!I used an eyelash curler religiously for years, but when I lost it on one of my many moves, I dropped the habit. So now, I will curling up with THIS nifty wand! However, I will be sweeping my lashes with my obligatory 20+ coats as well. 

And lastly, great lashes start with your natural ones, so make sure you take your mascara off each night with a good makeup remover like Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover. I like this one because it is oily, so feels slippery and comfortable on my eye. Also renew your mascara every 3-4 months to avoid germy buildup and other nasties. 

Also, Owen gave me this great little product - Lash Food. He swears by it! Lash Food is a non-chemical natural conditioner that contains Nano-Peptide technology & is clinically proven to provide longer, thicker lashes and transforms frail and brittle lashes making them healthy & strong. Results should be visibly in 4-8 weeks. I will let you know! See more on this product here.