Makeup Trend: Lush Lashes
How to take your lashes from brittle to bold
By Emily Hebert
From the runway to the red carpet, one thing is clear: Lush, Kim Kardashian-esque lashes are in. Pat McGrath, who framed eyes with bold bursts of fringe at multiple fall 2009 and spring 2010 fashion shows, created "lots of lashes" by coating follicles with not one, but two, mascaras (one for volume, one for length). Celebrity makeup artist Matin-clients include Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Connelly-does the same, using Neutrogena Healthy Volume and Neutrogena Healthy Length (on shelves in January) to enhance lashes without making them brittle.
"Healthy Volume has olive oil in it, which helps fatten and condition the lashes. And Healthy Length has rice protein, which helps lengthen and condition," says Matin, who helped formulate each product. "I wanted to make mascaras that benefited the lashes because I have six sisters-I've seen what mascara can do," he laughs. "Girls are born with the same lashes as boys but by the time they're 20, their lashes are half as much as they were because they wear mascara and don't always take it off before bedtime." For gentle mascara removal, Matin recommends oil-based eye makeup cleanser, and says to steer clear of any products with soap or alkaline.
If you dare to move beyond mascaras and lash conditioners, Matin says falsies can also amp-up anemic lashes. To get natural-looking lashes minus the mess, Matin says to customize the band to your eye shape by trimming the outer edge. Next, he says to "take the two ends of the band and soften so that it's not straight and the corners are bent" and when applying glue "wait a few seconds for it to dry a little." Rule of thumb: When glue goes from white to translucent (or gray to black, depending on the glue) lashes are ready to apply.
When crafting an "everyday glamorous look," however, Matin prefers to use knot-free individual lashes in short to medium lengths. "Use tweezers and drop two or three of them on the edges of the eye or wherever lashes are lacking," he says, adding, "It all depends on what you're going for, though, because the lashes can change the shape of the eye." To make eyes appear rounder, Matin says to place more lashes at the center; to make eyes more almond-shaped, place lashes on the outside corners.
Makeup Trend: Lush Lashes
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