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· July 31, 2007 6:32 PM by
Colleen Shirazi
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Posted by Dain, Tuesday, July 31, 2007 12:01 AM (Eastern)
Mascara is a desert-island essential for most. More women are likely to wear mascara than eyeshadow, and if you have pale lashes, it makes a huge difference. And perhaps no other product requires a more exacting ritual. Once my friend Ryan was watching me apply the stuff, and he was startled by how much effort it took: curling lashes, wiping the wand of excess gunk to avoid clumps, the meticulous application borne of long practice (wiggle the wand at the base to concentrate pigment, then sweep up, making sure to get inner and outer lashes), then black eyeliner on the inner rim to emphasize the thickness of the lashes (a better trick for thicker lashes than the best fiber mascara in the world). He was fascinated: "So basically you put all this black gunk on your eye... every day? Why?" "It makes me look better," I sniffed.
There's much debate over which is the best mascara, and new versions are introduced with almost alarming regularity, but frankly, I prefer the classics over irritating fibers and newfangled brushes (Lash Exact was such a disappointment): L'Oréal Voluminous (my personal favorite), Shu Uemura Basic, Lancôme Definicils. I prefer inexpensive versions, as it's a product that requires constant replacement. What makes a mascara really stand out is the brush, it determines how the product is going to apply. The formula, too, makes a difference: a thin one will avoid clumps, a thick one will beef up thin lashes.
When it comes to color, I think pretty much everyone can wear black mascara. When you have black hair like me, the problem is finding one with enough intensity (Asian lashes require the extra definition). But for the very pale who favor a natural look, perhaps brown-black or even brown is better. For the ultimate natural look, clear mascara will do, though it's always struck me as a pointless step unless you want to clean off eyeshadow from the lashes.
Always curl your lashes if you're going to wear mascara. It looks better, by opening up the eye.
For really thick lashes, the best trick I've found has been lining the inner rim of the eye with a creamy (so it doesn't tug) but longlasting (so it smears but minimally) matching eyeliner, in my case, a rich, intense black. It creates an optical illusion that mimics dense lashes, with a lot less effort than false lashes or the expense of lash extensions. For some reason, it also makes my eyes glow... maybe it's because my eyes are so dark. Though any lining technique can create the look of thicker lashes, with a few exceptions, this is the most effective.
PRODUCT COUNT: Two, mascara and eyelash curler.
Labels: beauty notes, eyes, l'oreal, lancome, minimalism, shu uemura
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July 31, 2007 6:32 PM,
I have been extremely lazy about mascara. Partly because my lashes were always dark relative to my hair (even before I started bleaching the latter), partly because when I was experimenting with mascara, the formulas weren't as good...at least I don't think they were, since I haven't tried newer ones.
Plus I have those lame Asian lashes, they're perfectly straight, short, eh... I would have to curl them, which only compounds the lazybones factor.
I usually wear eyeliner though, I agree with the technique of using liner to make lashes look better with less overhead.
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