Lash-Lifting Magic from Mascara to Faux Lashes

Whether you prefer natural definition or an all-out glamorous look, fluttery, voluminous lashes can make you feel (and look) decidedly flirtier. The reasons to choose a clean mascara are many, but first among them is the fact that the formulas are every bit as effective—defining, thickening, curling, lengthening, glossing, and inkifying, all without smudging, flaking, or fading. At the same time, false lashes have gotten a major upgrade and can be tailored to suit pretty much any look you like.

This new, totally clean, naturally derived mascara from Too Faced can make just about anyone stand back from the mirror and say, “Wow.” It curls, volumizes, lengthens, and conditions, and its pigment-boosting technology delivers the inkiest-black lashes with just one swipe. Its remarkable hourglass-shaped brush catches, coats, and lifts each lash, so you can apply a single swipe for a natural look or layer for really amazing drama. And the formula neither smudges nor flakes.

Why try false lashes? They never smudge, don’t cause redness (as some growth serums can), and don’t take lashes with them when you remove them (which is common with lash lifts or extensions). They also last for multiple uses.

The key, according to LoveSeen cofounders Jenna Lyons and Troi Ollivierre, is finding the right shape. “We customized our lashes to different eye shapes,” says Ollivierre, a top makeup artist. “We designed each one with different eye shapes, ages, ethnicities, and beauty goals in mind to get the most natural look and feel. The bonus is that the right shape is easier to apply, too.” Whether you have sparse lashes that need fullness, long lashes that need more definition, or something in between, here’s how to choose which lash is best for you.

FIND YOUR BEST LASHES

Option 1: Cate

Vibe: You-but-better naturalness.
Best for: Hooded eyes, short lashes.

“Cate is our shortest, most delicate lash,” says Ollivierre. “It adds fullness and length, so it looks great on anyone, but especially those with short, sparser lashes or hooded eyes.”

Option 2: Iris

Vibe: Flirty lift.
Best for: Smaller, narrow eyes.

“Iris has longer lashes on the outside corners to give a gorgeous upward curl that opens up the eyes,” Ollivierre says.

Option 3: Troi

Vibe: Cat-eye.
Best for: Almond-shaped eyes.

“Troi is a fuller lash with a mix of black and brown lashes,” says Ollivierre. “It works well on almond-shaped eyes because it elongates the eye and gives a bit of a cat-eye feeling.”

When you’ve got lush, fluttery lashes, you don’t need much else. Keep your skin clean, fresh, and dewy; brush up your brows; and add a touch of blush for a beautiful daytime glow.

DAY

Step 1: Prep Your Skin

Cleanse, tone, add skin-loving vitamin C serum, and moisturize for glowing skin that carries the day.

Step 2: Blur Imperfections

Don’t go hard on foundation: You want your skin front and center. Or just touch up spots with concealer.

Step 3: Define Your Brows

Use a tinted gel to set and lift your brows and fill in sparse areas with a pencil.

Step 4: Warm Up Your Skin

Place blush on the apples of the cheeks and across the bridge of the nose for an instant healthy-looking flush—and blend upward for a diffused, sculpted effect.

Step 5: Gorgeous Lashes

Swipe on this rich, inky-black mascara for instant length and volume. Or try the Levi lash, which is essentially a half lash that’s both incredibly easy to apply and really sexy. The lashes can be reused up to 10 times; keep them in this unlacquered brass case.

ADD-ONS FOR NIGHT

Lips

Add a great lip or—if you’re feeling it—a smoky eye.

Ollivierre says to start with a light-colored shadow and smooth it from your top lash line to the crease of your lid. “Then apply a medium shade over the lighter shade,” he says. “Place the third, darkest shade close to the lash line and smoke it out toward the crease.” At the lower lash line, add the medium shadow and smudge it in between the lashes, then apply your mascara or false lashes afterward. If you’re using lashes, Ollivierre says to avoid creamy eye shadow because the oils in it can cause lash glue to unstick; that said, powder or cream-to-powder is perfect. “Apply lashes after eye makeup—it’s just less of a hassle,” he says. Which lashes? Go for drama. “A fuller-style lash like Troi gives more depth to the smoky eye.”