ost people’s lashes
need a little help.
In an Instagram
world of fluttery
falsies and
flatters-to-deceive
Facetune, we can take one look
at our own lashes and succumb
to disappointment. But the truth
is that it’s all smoke and mirrors,
and some brilliant lash growth
serums, lash curlers, single-coat
magical mascaras and even
idiot-proof (and, yes, I am the
idiot) falsies truly can transform
your lashes.1
THE TIGHTLINER
IT Cosmetics Tightline
Mascara (£22; spacenk.com)
Tightlining is a professional
make-up artist’s trick of running
an eyeliner just into the very base
of the lashes to create the illusion
of thicker lashes. This mascara
does the hard work for you,
because the superfine brush
is designed to be moved back
and forth in the base of the
lashes to cover the spaces
between your lash roots to
tightline first, before being
dragged through the lashes
to coat them in mascara.2
FOR LONGER LASHES
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow
Talk Push Up Lashes!
(£23; charlottetilbury.com)
There’s not a lot of difference
between the juice of many
mascaras, but there is within
the brush/comb/spoolie designs.
This is a clever flattened lash
comb/brush hybrid that you can
use to curl your lashes as you
coat them. Combine that with
a formula that really adds length
and this is the closest to false
lashes in a tube.3
IDIOT-
PROOF
FALSIES
Eylure
Texture
No 117 (£5;
wilko.com)
I know
what you’re
thinking: you’re kidding me
with the false lashes, right?
But honestly, these relatively
subtle pre-glued lashes are the
easiest to apply and stay put
for up to 15 hours. Perfect for a
special event and they really do
make your eyes pop.4
BEST TUBING MASCARA
Kevyn Aucoin The Volume
Mascara (£23; spacenk.com)
Tubing mascara wraps your
lashes in mini-tubes of polymers
that roll off when they get wet.
This makes them best for anyone
with sensitive eyes, anyone
who suffers from smudging and
raccoon eyes, and anyone whose
eyes water or tear up easily. This
is a cult classic with a clump-free
finish. Which helps to explain
why it is one of the most
highly recommended tubing
mascaras on the market.5
DIY LASH EXTENSIONS
Lashify Control Kit
(£131; lashify.com)
The Lashify system
aims to make at-home
lash extensions simple
and straightforward.
You can choose
between two
colours,
two lengths
and three
styles, and each
kit comes with the
extensions in small
clusters, the applicator wand,
the bond and the “glass” to
seal the extensions to your own
lashes. Once applied, they last up
to five days and can be reused.6
BEST WATERPROOF
Skin In Motion Lift It
Waterproof Mascara
(£20; lookfantastic.com)
You want a waterproof mascara
to really stay in place and be truly
gorgeous at the same time. This
delivers on both counts, has a
great curved brush, adds volume
and length and doesn’t budge
until you want it to.7
DAY TO NIGHT SOLUTION
Benefit Badgal Bang!
Volumising Mascara
(£23.50; boots.com)
I know I mentioned this recently
in my beauty black book, but
that’s because you can somehow
apply it at 7.30am, go to work
and yet still reapply over the top
at 6pm and even 11pm without
clumping or clogging. Brilliant.8
SENSITIVE
EYES OPTION
Blinc Original
Tubing Mascara
(£20; blincinc.com)
Sensitive eyes are bestserved with a fragrance-free
tubing mascara that washes
away with minimum pulling
and rubbing. This is one of the
originals and gives a subtle
everyday look, lasts
without smudging
but, most importantly,
comes off with the
gentlest cleanser or
just plain water and a
face cloth. Fragrance-
free and vegan.9
FOR CONTACT LENS
WEARERS
Revolution Wispy
False Lash Mascara
(£6; superdrug.com)
Contact lens wearers need
to avoid any lengthening
mascara with fibres, waterproof
formulations that can stain
their lenses and anything
that adds volume, because it
can flake. Instead, opt for a
gentle, wispy-effect mascara
like this brilliant bargain
from Revolution.10
BEST LASH
REMOVER
La Roche-
Posay Respectissime
Waterproof
Eye Makeup
Remover (£11;
laroche-posay.co.uk)
You need what’s
known as a bi-phase
make-up remover to get rid of
waterproof make-up and mascara.
Shake to mix and then apply
to a cotton pad or reusable
cloth and hold over your eyes
for a minute, then gently wipe.
The oils go to work to dissolve
everything. Simply rinse your
face well afterwards.11
BRILLIANT BUDGET LASHES
Max Factor Masterpiece
Max High Volume &
Definition Mascara (£11.99;
Boots and Superdrug)M
Length, strength, definition and va-va-volume – Nadine Baggott has it covered
Pout!
58 The Times MagazineTAMARA SPECHT/THE LICENSING PROJECT
MY 20 BEST BUYS FOR EYES