We asked experts for their tips and tricks on prolonging the life of your falsies.
Beauty editor status aside, I'm probably the last person you want to take false eyelash advice from. I'm really not good at applying them. Don't get me wrong, I love a good dramatic lash, but the application process is something I've had a hard time mastering. That said, I only really wear falsies when a friend or makeup artist is generously applying them or when I have hours upon hours to get ready for an event and can really focus.
That doesn't mean I don't appreciate a good hack to help extend the life of my falsies. The number of times I've come home after one too many drinks and just ripped them off only to find them in the trash in the morning is too many to count. Now that the at-home order is in full effect, I'm using this time to not only learn how to apply eyelashes but to also to give the ones I own a good cleaning.
I reached out to two New York City-based makeup artists Meghan Nguy and Tommy Makeup for tips on how to prolong the life of false lashes, and after chatting with them, I realized the three-step process is pretty simple.
- Remove the glue.
Always start off by removing any excess glue that is still on the lash band. "An easy way to do this is by grabbing a tweezer and gently picking off any of the glue that may still be on the band," Nguy tells Allure. When I did this, I grabbed my trusty Tweezerman Slant Tweezer and meticulously pulled off dried lash glue from the lashes. It was so satisfying.
- Clean the lashes.
"If you've applied a little mascara to your lashes while you had your false lashes on, I like to use a clean spooley dipped in micellar water and slowly comb the lashes out. Micellar water will help break down the mascara, ensuring every last bit of it is removed from your falsies," says Nguy.
Tommy also suggests coating a cotton swab with micellar water and gently rubbing it against the lashes, making sure you see all the mascara and glue as it comes off.
For both these methods, I used Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water All-in-1 because, according to New York City-based dermatologist, Mona Gohara, it's a great option for sensitive skin, so in that case — it's gentle enough for my lashes — plus, it's only $8 and you get a lot of it.
- Dry them off.
When drying off your lashes, Nguy stresses making sure you're using the right towel. Always use a lintless towel or, in my case, I like to use a paper towel. When you're drying, gently press down onto the lashes, but not too hard — you don't want to mess up the shape of the lash. (Personally, I would not use cotton rounds because the material can pill off onto the lash, which can be super annoying to pick out.)
Tommy also suggests keeping the box that your lashes were originally purchased in if you are planning to re-wear them. This ensures their cleanliness and allows them to keep their shape. Once you follow these three tips, just like that, you'll have two good-as-new false lashes ready to go for the next time you wear them.
Source: allure.com
