Mascara
What happens when you are getting ready for a big night out? Reach for the prosecco, turn the music up, prop yourself in front of the mirror? We have all been there, and providing you have all the right things next to you, it can be a relaxing time to get your hair and make-up on point and selfie-ready! Last time we explored the perfect eyebrows and now it's time to talk lashes.
You reach for the mascara and hope that it gives you the look of luscious, long lashes, perfectly framing the eyes, to give you that final boost of confidence before grabbing your clutch and leaving the house.
For most of us, we wish our eyelashes would play ball in that perfect scenario. We would love to wake up and have effortlessly long, dark eyelashes. But what about when they don't want to play along, or when we feel like we only have five eyelashes left through years of neglecting them? Just HOW do we get better eyelashes?
Mascara is always the number one and most affordable fix for the everyday person. But there are so many on the market these days, half the battle can be finding which one works for your eyelashes. Lash extensions, while they look amazing, are a time-consuming and somewhat costly way to gain longer and fuller lashes. False lashes have the bonus of being cheaper than extensions but run the risk of looking too false, and if not looked after are mostly one-use only. A lash lift is less common and is similar to a perm for your eyelashes, but it is a great way for straight lashes to gain a curl in one short process. Growth serum is widely becoming a favourite for any kind of lash shape or length — it encourages growth in even the smallest hair follicle and can help make eyelashes look darker and fuller.
So, the options are there! And each may suit a different lifestyle or maybe even a special occasion. I decided to delve a little deeper into each recommended eyelash routine, to find out just which one would work best in different scenarios.
Ahh, trusty mascara! So many of us wouldn't leave home without it. But with such a variety of different types available, it is easy to see why so many women are opting for other treatments to make their eyelashes look longer. Mascara (or its long-distant relative, kohl) first made its way onto eyelashes back in 3000 BC when ancient Egyptians used to colour their eyelashes to accentuate their eyes using the kohl they also lined them with. Men and women alike used mascara to shield their eyes from the bright, hot sun as well as to accentuate their features. Well, if it is good enough for Cleopatra then it is good enough for me!
Mascara has that temporary appeal that works for a modern-day approach to life. With the ability to apply and remove it each morning and night, it can be more convenient than, say, applying false lashes every day, and it works for those in a hurry. You can even throw it into your bag to apply at any point of the day as long as there is a mirror handy!
So, what are the negatives of mascara? Well, for starters, it can be a double-edged sword. The convenience of application and removal every day may prove monotonous and you may not be able to achieve the exact same look as the day before. And believe me, nightly mascara removal is an absolute must for everyone who wears it. By leaving it on overnight, it will cause your lashes to dry out and fall out, thus rendering the effects almost pointless over the long-term.
Waterproof mascara and non-waterproof mascara — as the range of both is so varied, it is almost impossible to guarantee the outcome before trying them, no matter what the label says. It could end up looking clumpy or uneven, or be on your lashes so well that even your nightly make-up removal routine doesn't take off the majority of residue, and with more use your eyelashes end up looking dull and thin. Water-resistant mascara, although it has a less harsh chemical make-up, is still going to have a negative effect on your eyelashes over time. It is convenient for everyday use and can resist water effects such as light rain or moisture, so it can be perfect for the active person — it won't move a muscle at the gym while you do. Mascara is not going anywhere any time soon, so it needs to be used correctly to ensure the best results possible.
Eyelash Serum vs. Mascara
We live in a world where we have to think about things like animal testing when buying our make-up products. Unfortunately there are still many brands on the market that claim to be free from animal testing but may still have partner companies for a section of their products that still involve laboratory testing. Xlash Eyelash Serum stands by its own testimonial and does not support or use animal testing in any of its products. Using only natural ingredients, it promotes healthy growth of eyelashes and can be used in conjunction with mascara daily.
While mascara is great, it can't add actual length to your eyelashes, and although it creates a thicker appearance, imagine if adding real volume was an option. Xlash Eyelash Serum can be applied every night to encourage the growth and thickness of eyelashes, with results visible after 4–6 weeks of regular use — and with no harm done by applying mascara each day (as long as it is removed again!).
So, if you are wondering whether it is eyelash serum or mascara for you, the answer can be BOTH. Keep up with those applications, remember to take progress pictures, and you will soon be impressed with those beautiful lashes!
False Lashes
Applying a pair of false lashes according to instructions is nearly always a three-step process: apply eyelash glue, position, and fix into place. But what about the other steps? Measuring the lashes for trimming where needed, having a thin pair of tweezers handy, mirroring the application to the first eye. It is a lot more tricky than you may think if you have never applied falsies before. For the seasoned expert, it is as simple as getting dressed in the morning. But not everyone has the time (or patience) to learn or put it into practice. False lashes may only come out at special occasions — weddings, parties, a big date! But either way, you need to apply them carefully to ensure you end up looking like a queen and not a wannabe.
False lashes blend well into natural lashes that already have a shape close to the desired look. If you have straight eyelashes, applying curved "C"-shaped falsies or winged lashes is going to make it plainly obvious that you are wearing false lashes. You could have a really thin set of lashes that react well to waterproof mascara but are too thin for the glue to grip onto the base of your eyelids enough to get through the day. However, false lashes — again, if applied and removed with care — can also provide the perfect stop-gap between first eyelash serum application and the inevitable growth after about a month of use.
My verdict? Xlash Eyelash Serum vs. False Lashes
I would pick the serum every time and top it up with a bit of mascara each day. You will always achieve a more natural look, and all it requires is a little bit of patience while your eyelashes do the hard work!
Lash Extensions
The average person has between 100 and 200 eyelashes per eye. Lash extensions are applied over a 2–3-hour period and usually last around 2–4 weeks before needing a top-up. Extending your lashes is massively convenient just before a holiday. In the same thought process as getting a spray tan or a leg wax, it means that while you are soaking up the sun or sipping cocktails, your routine for getting ready for a night out is now cut in half, with a lot less to think about. With your eyelashes looking full and long and with little need for mascara, you can dance the night away without worrying about this part of your make-up slipping down your face later on in a hot nightclub!
Lash extensions are also ideal for the big day — whether it is yours or your best friend's, we all know tears are a big part of any wedding day, and mascara vs. lash extensions? It would be hard to solely trust even the most waterproof of mascaras on a day so important.
Of course, you can enhance those newly extended lashes with mascara, but to keep them in great shape you need to make sure you use a water-based or oil-free mascara, otherwise you will cause the glue to break down and lose those extensions well before your next appointment.
Lash Extensions vs. Eyelash Serum
If the eyes are the window to a person's soul, then eyelashes could be the curtains. Get these right and you frame them perfectly, allowing people to see the real you. Lash extensions really do have their positives — the convenience before a big event, how long they last, and how natural-looking they are when applied correctly. They are also not a major expense, all things considered, but the upkeep can get costly, especially if you are prone to weaker lashes that fall out often or are too fine for the glue and chemicals, causing breakages. Eyelash serum can be the fix to all of these problems. As I mentioned before, it just requires a little patience. Cost-wise, Xlash Eyelash Serum will set you back less than half the cost of a one-off lash extension appointment!
Xlash Eyelash Serum uses a combination of natural ingredients and extracts to encourage growth from your hair follicles and actually provides a remedy to lash loss over time. If you started using the serum now, you could have longer, fuller, and darker-looking eyelashes before you even have time to think about booking your next holiday! If you wish, you can still use extensions to keep you covered during the growth stage — however, once you see the results of regular use of the serum, you may not need to keep up those appointments anymore!
So, lash extensions or eyelash serum? I am picking serum on this one. The serum will work its magic nightly with no risk to your eyes or lashes, for long-lasting and low-cost results. Extensions will cause you to dig deeper into your pockets every month and walk away from the salon with no guarantee they will last. And remember, good things come to those who wait — and waiting for longer, darker eyelashes seems like a very good investment of time to me!
Lash Lift
Remember back in the late eighties and early nineties when getting a perm was all the rage? If you were lucky enough to skip this trend, I hope you have never taken your hair for granted! They weren't all bad — they were the height of fashion, and if you wanted to look like your favourite popstar, the perm was the way to go. Not everyone was born with curly hair with volume that only grew outwards a few extra centimetres with a spritz of hairspray, so the perm helped women and men achieve the look they longed for. So, we can be forgiven for wanting to do the same with our lashes.
Albeit a subtler change to our faces than a bouffant hairdo, the lash lift provides exactly what the perm did back then: extra volume and curl where there was none.
Lash lifts are similar to the effects of lash extensions, although perhaps not as dramatic. They usually last around 2–3 months, but people often make the mistake of thinking they are permanent. As your eyelashes fall out regularly anyway, the newly grown lash will take its original shape when exiting the follicle. A lash lift can cost more than lash extensions, but it does have the positive effect of still being your own eyelashes — they won't feel false or unnatural.
The downside is the amount of chemical use involved with an eyelash lift. It effectively relaxes the hair and manoeuvres it into a new shape by temporarily sticking it to your upper lids. If you have a difficult time with hair dyes or lighteners, you may also experience the same type of irritation or even hair loss with the lash lift.
Lash Lift vs. Eyelash Serum
I look at the lash lift as something similar to getting your nails shaped and gelled. You are simply enhancing the way they look with a little added extra, but nothing of a permanent nature. But if you were to reach for a nail growth serum or nail strengthening cream and let it do its job, wouldn't you have a better result anyway?
As you will know by now, Xlash Eyelash Serum has a positive effect on growth, using all-natural ingredients that prolong hair regrowth cycles, suppress grey hair growth, and stimulate the hair follicle to encourage longer and fuller eyelashes. The lash lift will give you what you want almost immediately, but using harsher chemicals that run the risk of deep skin irritation and coarser eyelash hair. Of course, it is down to the individual to decide which route to take with their lashes, and not everyone is blessed with fast-growing eyelashes, even with a serum to help along, so a lash lift might just be the way forward at certain times. Just be careful and read up on the procedure and the salon before visiting — it is always best to be prepared than to go all in and run the risk of damage later.
So, lash lift vs. growth serum? Natural all the way for me. But if you do choose the lash lift, it is good to know that growth serums are recommended for use before a lash lift for those who really want a more obvious curl — and it is also a pain-free and cost-effective way to look after your eyelashes and make them stand out when it counts!
Eyelash Serum
These days there are so many serums on the market, and they usually have different uses. Some are for sensitive hair or skin, some are for dramatic looks, some contain natural ingredients, and some have added tints to really make lashes stand out when shaped to perfection.
It is also not uncommon for people to reach for castor oil or shea butter and try out some natural home remedies to mix a DIY lash serum when trying to encourage lash growth. While castor oil and shea butter, along with lemon peel and green tea leaves, all have active ingredients that promote hair health and stimulation, there is no proven outcome to say that they alone have caused eyelashes to grow within a short time frame. It is also not often these days that we have all-natural green tea leaves lying around the kitchen or organic shea butter just sitting in the bathroom cabinet. Organic items don't come cheap either, so out of convenience, it is usually easier to try a trusted branded serum, which comes in a small package you can take with you and is easy to apply.
Serums can't guarantee the exact growth rate for every person, but at any one time around 40% of your upper lashes are actively growing, and a serum enhances this. Most serums on the market will see over 50% growth improvement.
All in a trusty little tube and convenient packaging, using this nightly will make it far easier to measure your own success rate than crushing up green tea leaves with no unit for measurement. You can say goodbye to DIY lash serums and reach for something you can trust.
So, are you a believer?
Eyelash Regrowth
Lash loss doesn't just come as part of the natural growth cycle or due to years of damage from applying mascara or adding extensions — there can be underlying medical conditions that cause hair loss, and this may not stop at the hair on your head. Eyelashes have been known to be affected by alopecia, hyper- and hypothyroidism, and lupus, as well as hair loss following chemotherapy. Doctors can provide advice on steps to take to actively help or encourage regrowth either during or after treatment.
People have asked whether Xlash Eyelash Serum will work for people suffering from the above conditions. Generally speaking, as it is designed to encourage growth while also prolonging the hair's natural growth cycle, so long as you have some eyelashes remaining, you will see an improvement from using Xlash — more individual hairs are kept in cycle and do not reach the end and fall out straight away.
The Perfect Eyelashes
I will tell you a little secret: the perfect set of eyelashes doesn't exist. That is because we all have a wonderful pair of lashes that may just need to be nurtured and treated to a little TLC before they are ready to show themselves off to the world. Of all the different remedies for assisting growth, extending, or curling, I much prefer the easier route of applying a nightly serum and seeing the results down the line when I least expect them. I love the Xlash Eyelash Serum as it does all of this for me, making my eyelashes look longer, thicker, and darker, with just a little bit of trusty mascara before a night out to really make them pop! Life is short — why should your eyelashes be?
