How To: Lips & Lashes

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Holiday parties are the perfect opportunity to take risks and add a little drama to your makeup look. My favorite festive look is sophisticated, classic and can be worn at any event. Lips & Lashes. By highlighting both of these features you will look instantly polished at any event this season.

LIPS: Prep your pout for mistletoe kisses. Go with classic red or a bold bordeaux. For those who are not used to wearing a bold lip, it’s time to get confident and try something new for your next holiday event.

For finding the best red for your skintone and how to apply the party-ready lip – check out these posts:

Four Favorites: Red Lipstick

How To: Perfect Red Lip

LASHES: If you have been wanting to experiment with false lashes, let this holiday season be your time to take the leap. Get fiercely flirty eyes in minutes using individual lashes.

Individual lashes are great for beginners. They look extremely natural, are comfortable to wear and easy to apply. Additionally, these lashes can also be placed wherever you need them. Add to the corners of the eyes for a bit of extra interest or to the center of the eye for an instant doe-like effect or all over for extra thickening and lengthening.

Individual false eyelashes come in two options: flares and singles. For a more dramatic look – try flares. I suggest getting them in small or medium (long… is really long). Flared lashes are available in two types: knotted and knot-free. Knotted have a knot at the top of the cluster to join the lashes. They provide extra surface area that make applying a little easier. However, knot-free look more natural.

NEED & RECOMMENDED:

♦ Lashes: Duralash Natural Knot-Free Medium Black

♦ Glue: Duo Eyelash Adhesive

♦ Tweezers: Tweezerman Slant

♦ Eyelash Curler: Kevyn Aucoin Beauty Eyelash Curler

♦ Mascara: Giorgio Armani ‘Eyes to Kill’ Mascara

HOW TO:

1. Use tweezers to grasp the sprig of lashes as close to the base as possible.
2. Place a dot of glue on a flat surface and dip the base of the sprig into the glue using a light touch.
3. KEY TIP: Wait at least 10 seconds for the glue to get tacky before applying.
4. Now, start on the outer corner and lay the lash behind your natural lash. Use a “picket-fence” approach when applying.
5. Once the glue is dry, curl the lashes close to the base of your lashes, being careful not to press too hard. The faux lashes will curl much more than your natural lashes.
6. Then, finish by applying mascara to “marry” the faux with your natural lashes.

Tried & Tested: Bare Escentuals Magic Wand Brushless Mascara

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Magic Wand Brushless Mascara

Curiosity was the culprit to testing Bare Escentuals Magic Wand Brushless Mascara.

According to Bare Escentuals, their mascara claims to coat the lashes, one by one, to achieve the look of false lashes. The unique design of the brushless wand has tiny ridges etched-in to capture each individual lash. The formula is pitch black with a satin finish, long-wearing and no flakes.

Application is where there is a learning curve. Technique and patience are strongly advised. Clumpy spider lashes will be the outcome of the preliminary trials. Revert back to directions which specifically state to use soft and slow strokes. Lashes will still clump together but notice the ridiculous length. Using a lash comb (Favorite: Tweezerman Metal Lash Comb) separate the lashes and finally you have applied one coat of mascara. Add second coat if needed.

To be honest, this is a great mascara. To be frank, do you really want to spend twenty minutes applying mascara?