Mandi's Step By Step Tips and Tricks For Getting That Faux Lash Look Minus the Faux Lashes

I'm linking up with Beth's "Get Your Face On" party! Go check her blog out for so many other great makeup tutorials. I think somewhere inside of me lies a frustrated makeup artist.



I've been wanting to write this post for some time now. I took the photos last year in fact....err...2008 I mean. Still having a hard time adjusting to it being 2010. In the course of my life, I think the number one question I get asked is "Are those your real eyelashes?" Or a variance upon that. All.of.the.time. Once while eating with a friend at a restraunt, the waitress said "Okay wait, I just have to ask you if those are your real eyelashes". Of course, they were. She just couldn't stop staring at me after that. Another time, while getting my hair cut, the stylist got down right next to my face and said "I just need to see if your eyelashes are real". This happens to me so often and I honestly love it. I take it always as a compliment. I've never worn false eyelashes in my life. I tried once. On my wedding day. But I bought the individual lashes and for the life of me couldn't get them to stick on my eyes. So I can honestly say I've never work them.  I'm not blessed with amazingly long lashes, as you'll see in the photos. I've just learned how to work the mascara to make it look like I have faux lashes. I'm here to tell you my tricks. It's never before been done. So here we go...

Mandi's Step By Step Tips and Tricks For Getting That Faux Lash Look Minus the Faux Lashes

First we need to assemble our cast of characters. You will need:

1. Double Extend Mascara or a "Base Mascara" as I like to call it. I like to use either Maybelline Great Lash or Almay One Coat Nourishing Mascara. For true fauxness you want to choose the Blackest Black color. Yes, there is a color blacker than black.

2. If you are not using a double extend mascara (mascara with a white primer/base on one side and a black color on the other side of the tube) then you will need a builder mascara. I like to use Maybelline Volum' Express Mascara. I've used this for years and love it.

3. L' Oreal Voluminous Mascara. An absolute must for true fauxness. It really gives that thick lash look.

4. An eyelash curler

Blogger formatting isn't cooperating with me right now so I apologize for the wonkiness of the above photos. But those are the mascaras I used for this tutorial.

Below...beware of very "Blair Witch" type photos. Lots of eyes.

Oh hello. How scary! Sans mascara and lipgloss. My husband was a little unnerved when he first saw me without my "face" on. :)

 

See...this is what I mean. My lashes aren't particularly long.

 

You'll want to begin by curling your lashes. This opens up your eye and really puts the oomph in your lashes. Don't be afraid of your curler! I've had mine for almost 14 years now. I spent less than $6 on it. You can lightly warm the curler with your blow dryer to get a real lasting crimp. Crimp right at the base of your lashes and hold for about ten seconds. Be careful not to pinch your skin!

 

After curling. A difference, eh?!

 

Next you'll want to apply your primer or base mascara. Here I'm using the Double Extend Mascara. Start at the root of the lash and glide upwards. And again. And again. Do this a couple of times to really coat the lash. This step helps make your lashes thick and gives something for your other mascara coats to cling to.

After your primer or base coat, you'll want to start with your black color. For this tutorial I used the other side of the Double Extend mascara. Currently in my makeup bag you will find Maybelline Volum' Express. Coat, coat, coat those lashes. Again, start at the root and glide up. You can also hold the mascara wand horizontally and wiggle back and forth at the root. This helps give you a thicker base at your lash line. I would say I put on about three to five coats of black mascara. Gently coat the bottom lashes as well. This time start at the base of your lower lash line and glide down. Go slowly. Gently fan out your lashes.

Once you get the black mascara on, take your pointer finger and hold it against the base of your lashes and hold for about five seconds. This helps push the lashes up and really opens up the eye. Don't skip this step if you want really faux lashes.

Here are my lashes after the primer and black mascara. You never would have thought I would get these bad boys from the puny looking lashes in the first photos, eh? But they still aren't thick enough for me. Here is where the last mascara comes in.

Use your Volumize Mascara by L' Oreal and coat your lashes. Follow the same steps as above, start at the base and glide upwards. If you see a clump starting to form, use the tip of your mascara wand and remove it. Sort of play with your lashes. Style them if you will. Fan them out and try to evenly apply mascara over each lash. You don't want thick mascara on your outer lashes and not on your inner lashes (closer to your nose). This may take some practice - I have years under my belt. But you can do this! It's all in the application of each mascara.

After Volumize!

 And here I am, hair done, lip gloss on, and dressed for the day. Funny how I don't look like this anymore - hair is short and flippy now. But lashes are the same. And, I'm not even wearing eyeliner in these photos!  

If I'm honest, it takes me about twenty minutes to do my lashes. You may not want to spend that sort of time but it's my signature. I look so different if I don't have "my lashes". This may be a tutoriol that you use only for special occassions. But give it a try. It really is fun!