If you’ve always wondered if the type of mascara wand you use is important, this experiment is for you! I coerced my assistant Carissa to model again and to make sure that the only variable was the wand, we used the same formula mascara (L’Oreal Telescopic) with each wand, did exactly two coats of each and completely took it off in between applications. The results may look subtle but to me are maaajor!
PLASTIC COMB: You can see it really separated the lashes from each other, gave a dark color payoff and lengthened them.
NATURAL BRISTLES: The wand created a soft + light look, which I’m equally a fan of, especially when hanging with your honey and want “pet-able” lashes (revisit our dating makeup post here). And it made them look fuller + more voluminous.
PLASTIC BRISTLES: This wand kind of married the two above by creating dark, long + full lashes! Very interesting! The only downside is they are stiff (not soft + pet-able).
We here at TBD are big supporters of Earth Day on April 22nd and try to do as much as we can to leave this planet as beautiful as we found it. This year we wanted to do something special for our friends around the world who don’t have access to clean water, because every 20 seconds a child dies from a water-related disease. So we collaborated with Tarte, one of our favorite green + eco-friendly cosmetic lines, to create a limited edition collection of our favorite four products and for every kit sold, Tarte will donate 20% of the proceeds to winetowater.org. The organization helps bring clean water to 9 countries that desperately need it through building wells, filters and irrigation systems. We couldn’t be more thrilled! Each Down to Earth Kitcomes in an eco-chic quilted bag and includes:
a full size LipSurgence™ lip tint in enchanted (the prettiest rose shade that Amy Nadine even wore on her wedding day!)
a gifted Amazonian clay smart mascara (will absolutely become your favorite mascara)
an Amazonian clay 12-hour blush in blissful (a warm peach that gives every skin tone a glowing flush)
multiplEYE™ lash-enhancing liquid liner (formulated with a lash-growing serum so every time you trace it along your lash line, you’re helping grow lashes!)
We can’t think of much better than treating your face to synthetic-free gorgeousness while donating to a great charity! Click here to grab your limited-edition Down To Earth Kit while supplies last and have a wonderful Earth Day!
Retails for $49.00 (a $90 value if 4 items purchased separately). 20% of proceeds donated to winetowater.org.
**Tarte has added a contest to give a kit to one lucky reader! Click here by April 15, 2012 at 11:59pm EST and good luck! CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED, and the lucky winner is… Jackie S. from Essex Junction, VT! Congrats Jackie!
We all know that most cosmetic lines offer waterproof versions of their top mascaras. But because they need to be water resistant, the formulas tend to be a little starchy and stiff, not feathery and volumizing like their non-waterproof counterparts. So for most of us, we save the waterproof ones for pool parties and wedding days and stick to the volumizing and lengthening ones for real life, keeping an eye on everything throughout the day/evening to clean up any smears or tears and reapplying when it’s clear that the mascara hasn’t lasted. And we make the effort to do this because switching to the waterproof versions means giving up too much. Well… I’d love to share a secret tip that I use on my clients. It’s nothing brilliant and I’m sure a lot of you makeup mavens have already figured it out, but it is a game changer! Here are the 4 tricks:
Fuller lashes can be really playful, especially when batting your lashes demurely at someone cute! Yet individual faux lashes still seem to intimidate people somehow. Of course with learning anything new, you just need a little patience and practice, and you too can master it. I know I know… easy to say coming from someone who does it for a living! But Lauren is the perfect example because she is so good at it now, she does her own and a lot of her friends’! And if you study our video tutorial, I bet you’ll surprise yourself.
TOOLS
Individual Flare Lashes in Short, Medium or Long, or all three, depending on your own lash size; Lauren is using all Short lengths. You can also buy the Combo Pack that contains all three sizes to determine your length. Lashes can be found at your local drug store, beauty supply or specialty store.
Lash Glue (also can be found at any store listed above and comes in Clear, White or Black; I prefer clear but the white one will become clear when it dries)
Lash Comb or Disposable Mascara Wand
Tweezers
Mascara
STEPS
Apply a coat of mascara on the top and bottom lashes.
Comb through any clumps. You can use a lash comb, a spoolie or a disposable mascara wand.
Dab a small amount of lash glue on the back of your hand.
Wait two full minutes for it to get tacky. This is the most important step NOT TO SKIP! If you don’t wait a couple minutes, the glue will be slippery and the lashes will turn on their sides, facing unnatural directions. Not pretty! I usually apply the dab of glue before applying mascara, so I have something to do while I’m waiting.
With tweezers or your fingers, apply one lash at a time on top of your own lashes. Because the glue is now tacky, you can literally plop each lash into place by merely laying it directly on top of your own lashes. You can play around with spacing, but I like them all side by side in a row, one millimeter apart from each other for fullness.
Secure the lashes by tapping them with your finger. This step ensures that each lash is pressed against your skin and will last for hours.
Wait five minutes for the lashes to dry, then add another coat of mascara. Don’t be worried that the mascara wand will pull/turn the faux lashes… they are glued in at this point and won’t move.
