Fake It Til You Make It

Ms. New Beauty can be quite the beauty guinea pig. When it comes to beauty, MNB will try almost anything at least once. Sometimes that means facials so aggressive she's left with bruises for a week. Other times, it means trying procedures with absolutely no scientific support just for the hell of it. Like tomorrow, Ms. New Beauty is getting a detox foot bath even though she's gotten absolute confirmation from The Beauty Brains that it's no more detoxifying than that snake oil people used to buy 100 years ago. But MNB figures a 30 minute foot soak can't hurt, even if it can't heal her either. The one thing Ms. New Beauty hadn't tried in a while was false lashes. She'd found it easier just to put on a few coats of mascara rather than try to affix falsies as close as possible to her lash line. But when she got this call last week, she knew she had to try fake lashes again and give the lowdown to the other New Beauties in the world who have yet to master the technique.

Dear Ms. New Beauty,

I don't really need them, but I want to try false lashes. My friend wears them every time we go out and she always looks fabulous!!!! Meanwhile, I feel like the less-lashed step sister. MNB, I wanna fake it til I make too!

Lashless at the Lounge

Andrea Perma-Lash

There are certain beauty products you invest in, and others where you save. For me, lashes are where you save. Unless you are J-Lo and you're going to get noticed for wearing those mink Shu Uemura, save your money and try your first foray into Falsie-Land with these individual lash clusters. This set comes with 56 lash clusters and is available in two different lengths. The short length is best for filling in sparse lashes while the medium will put a little umph! in lashes. (I totally hate to quote that horrible Ashanti song, but if the shoe fits, eh). The Medium Black shade will work for most New Beauties, but a lighter shade is probably best for the blondies.

I know some people swear by the full strip of lashes. But, I think individual lash clusters are far more versatile. They can either be dramatic or more subtle and natural, depending on how many you use and where you place them.

$3.29, available at drugstores.


Now, picking out the lashes is the easy part. Getting them adhered to your eyes is the challenge, so onto the technique. It's Ms. New Beauty approved!

1. First, wash your face and clean your eyes. You want to remove any dirt or oil that might keep the glue from sticking.
   
2. Apply your eyeliner, this will be your guide so you know where to place your lashes and it will help disguise the plugs at the tip. And, if you don't put it on now, you won't be able to later without disturbing the falsies. If lashes are a little flat, curl them now with an eyelash curler.
   
3. Dispense a dollop of lash glue on a clean surface. You can use a piece of tine foil, but I just put it on the back of my hand. A dark glue like this also helps the lashes blend into your lashline.
   
4. Dip the lash cluster into the glue getting it on the plug and the base of the actual lash. Wait 30 seconds for the glue to get tacky.
   
5. Close your eye or look down and then starting at the outer corner, lay the base of the lash right on top of your actual lashes with the plug just barely touching your eyelid. This makes sure that the individual cluster blends with your lashes. Repeat with about 4 - 6 clusters.
   
6. Finish with a coat of mascara to blend the real and the fake and you're ready to go.
   

A few final tips - focusing the individual clusters at the outer corners of your eyes will give you a sexier, cat-eyed look while focusing on the center will make your eyes look alert and bright. To remove, just press a cotton ball soaked in eye makeup remover on lashes until lashes fall off. Don't pull or you'll pull your own lashes out with them.


Don't be jealous of your friends, lash out with them, and just don't forget that Ms. New Beauty told you!