7 Steps To Make The Most Of Your Eyelashes

I received some really lovely comments on here and on twitter when I posted the full face version of the below photo in a post about mascara and, as my lashes are the part of my face that I tend to spend a lot of time on when doing my make up, I like to think that I know a (vague) thing or two about making them look their best. There's a definite reason why the eyes are called the 'windows to the soul' and why we stare into them when having a conversation with someone instead of being transfixed on their lips, so giving them a little helping hand to make them look their best can really transform even a slightly dull make up look.
I love reading girl-to-girl make up tips, rather than makeupartist-to-girl which can sometimes come off as a bit preachy and judgemental, so I hope my steps give you a bit of advice and inspiration. But if you don't agree with the way I do things then I certainly won't judge!

1. REPLACE YOUR CURLERS- like many make up products, not everything works for everyone, and if your curlers don't seem to do anything then try another brand. Unless you have super thick wiry lashes its unlikely that no curler in creation will make a difference to them. I currently use these Ted Baker Eyelash Curlers and love them, but the previous curlers I tried were god awful and by the time I threw them away they were absolutely useless. Another point to remember is to replace your curlers or at least the little rubber cushions regularly; they can become hard over time which makes it more difficult to get a good curl.

2. PUMP FOR 10, HOLD FOR 10- nope we're not at the gym, I'm still talking about curlers! Sky high lashes really do transform your eyes and the way to get those peepers popping is to bend your lashes and keep them bent. Clamp the hairs about two thirds of the way down and keep pumping for 10 counts, then hold for 10 counts and apply mascara straight away before moving on to the other eye. This really injects a kink into the lashes and helps it stay.

3. LINE YOUR TIGHTLINE- now that your lashes are pointing to the ceiling (well, almost) it's a good time to make them look fuller and hide any fleshy tones that might be peeking through between or underneath them. I have trouble making eyeliner last inside my eye, but two I've tried that really do stay all day are the Zoeva Graphic Eyes Pencil and Avon Supershock Pencils, both of which are gel liner in pencil form that sets down and are available in a range of colours.

4. USE THE RIGHT MASCARA- I've noticed that in addition to personal preference, those with a particular type of lash tend to prefer a particular mascara formula- for example those with short or thick lashes seem to like the Benefit They're Real Mascara, but those of us with longer wispier lashes absolutely flipping hate it. Ensuring you use the right mascara for your lash type is imperative for making them look their best and keeping a hold. The one I always return to for brilliant hold is the Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof (review here), which lengthens, curls and defines brilliantly but needs more than one coat to add volume. Don't be afraid to compromise with mascara- if products that provide both length and volume make your lashes look stuck together and spidery, pick one that does just one job and change how you apply it to make it work best for you.

5. APPLY MORE THAN ONE COAT- Experiment with your mascara to find the optimum number of coats, applying more than one doesn't mean that you'll end up with clumps. My favourite mascaras can take up to four coats to look their best (obviously I only use them when I've got enough time), but taking that extra time really does make the product look amazing. If one layer isn't doing it for you, add another at the base or the tip to see how it looks. Lengthening mascaras in particular really benefit from this, and brushing sideways with a vertical wand over the end of the lashes means the product will really catch on those tips.

6. USE YOUR FAVOURITE WAND TO COMB THROUGH- instead of using a little plastic comb for your lashes, keep the wand of an old tube of your favourite mascara and wash it to use dry on your lashes. Because you like what it does when it's wet, you'll like what it does when it's dry even more- especially if you love a defined 'lots of lashes' look. Combing through is an essential step for me as my lash hairs are a bit unruly and tend to poke in different directions or have parties in random little groups unless they're tamed. 

7. DON'T TREAT THEM MEAN- being gentle and not pulling or rubbing at them too hard when taking off your eye make up means that you won't lose more than nature intended. It sounds like an obvious step, but at the end of the day when you just want to get your face clean quickly it's something really worth remembering.

What's your favourite thing to do to make the most of your eyelashes?