BellaSugar

How Much Would You Pay For Longer Lashes?

BellaSugar — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:00:04 -0800

The desire to draw attention to the eyelashes has been going strong since around 4000 BC, when ancient Egyptians used kohl to darken lashes and eye areas. Fast-forward thousands of years later, and the mascara industry brings in over an astonishing one billion dollars a year. That's not even including other eyelash-enhancing products such as extensions, false eyelashes, and now Latisse, an eyelash-growth drug approved by the FDA last December. Take a look at my chart below to compare products available on the market now. How much would you pay for long and full lashes?

PRODUCT	PROS	CONS
Mascara	Easy to find and come in a wide variety of styles from vibrating, scented, colored, thickening, and lengthening. Cheap - ranging in price from $5 to $10 at the drugstore. Assuming you keep your mascara around three months, it's mere pennies per use.	Can run and smudge, doesn't always look natural, and very temporary.
False Eyelashes	Very accessible, easy to apply (see my attempt here), and relatively cheap, ranging in price from inexpensive like E.L.F. False Eyelashes ($1 to $3) to moderate/slightly expensive such as Shu Uemura ($16 for accent lashes to $95 for fantasy lashes). Also, they're just plain fun - bedazzled lashes, anyone?	Can fall off easily, don't last very long, can't always be reused, and can look, well, fake!
Eyelash Extensions	Natural looking, long lasting (around two to three months), and doesn't take very long to apply by a spa professional (around 80 minutes or so). Check out my experience with eyelash extensions here.	Expensive, averaging around $200 to $600.
Latisse	Effective, easy to apply - similar to putting on eyeliner, treats hypotrichosis (sparse eyelashes), long-lasting (several weeks to months), and looks very natural because it's your own hair growing out.	Available by prescription only, expensive ($120 for 30-day supply), needs to be applied daily, and side effects can include skin darkening, irritation, dryness, and redness of the eyelids.

Source

Would You Get Eyelash Extensions?

BellaSugar — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 05:08:53 -0700

Last week I met a high-powered executive who told me that she can’t be bothered with creams, potions, and all the hype of makeup. She claims that her only indulgence is a weekly deep-conditioning treatment and that her total primping time is 15 minutes (shower included).

I almost believed her until she took off her sunnies and revealed a set of shiny, long lashes. I asked her if they were extensions, and she said, "Yes, $300 and two hours will get you this low-maintenance look." We both laughed, but clearly she was embarrassed.

I see nothing wrong with getting eyelash extensions - especially not after my experience with them. They last long, they look beautiful, and you never ever have to worry about applying or taking of your mascara. If you can afford it, I say why not? What's your take on eyelash extensions?

Source

Beauty Blooper: A Brash Lash Decision

BellaSugar — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 09:01:48 -0800

A reader shared this beauty blooper with me, and I just had to pass it along. So in case you're thinking of getting eyelash extensions, read this first!

My now-husband and I decided to elope. I still wanted to get all gussied up for the event, so I decided to treat myself to eyelash extensions. I was excited about them because I thought they would look really natural and fabulous in all of our wedding and honeymoon photographs. I took my time and did extensive research on spas and salons, and decided on a new salon in my area that offered the treatment.

What happened was a complete disaster! I ended up with lashes that were all the same length. I call them doll lashes since they happened to also be ridiculously long. In a feeble attempt to improve the look of my lashes, I cut them with manicure scissors. It helped a little bit (or so I thought), but when I took an objective look at them in the mirror the next day, I realized they were still too long, and now they were also uneven.

I did the unthinkable and began to pry them off with tweezers. When that didn't work, I tried using an oil to remove the glue, but the salon had used so much adhesive that I wound up pulling out many of my own lashes as well. The burning and the pain was intense but once I started I couldn't dare stop! For the next two months, I had to live with sparse eyelashes until they began to regrow. Why did I allow this to happen right before my wedding?

Lesson learned: Ask to see photos of a salon or spa's work before you have a semi-permanent treatment done. If it doesn't go well, have your eyelash extensions removed by a professional. Furthermore, if you are ever feeling pain from a beauty treatment, please seek out immediate care from a physician or an expert.

Source

Product Review: Xtreme Lashes Eyelash Extensions

BellaSugar — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 07:59:48 -0700

If you think false eyelashes are glamorous, wait until you see eyelash extensions. Just as their name implies, they're a lot like hair extensions-but for the eyes, natch. At first, I thought the concept was a little goofy, and that mascara was doing a perfectly good job of making me look doe-eyed and lovely. But then I was offered the chance to try a set for free, and, well, now I feel naked without them. For a step-by-step account of the in-spa procedure, read more

I headed to The Lashe Spot in Chicago, where estheticians use semi-permanent Xtreme Lashes brand. While I reclined in a comfy spa chair, Ignacia, my esthetician, started by applying an anti-wrinkle pad to isolate my bottom eyelashes. From there, I had to keep my eyes closed, but Ignacia walked me through the process. She swabbed each eyelash with a bonding agent, then used tweezers to affix the extensions individually. As you can imagine, this process takes time. A lot of time. But about 90 minutes later, I could barely believe my eyes.

My lashes were full, thick, and long-and best of all, they looked completely natural, too. Over the next few weeks, strangers commented on what beautiful eyelashes I had (when does that happen?!) and I never got accustomed to waking up and looking bright-eyed. My lovely look lasted about two months (since the extensions are attached to single eyelashes, they fall out when the eyelashes do).

The only thing holding me back from getting extensions again (and again and again) is the price. The Lashe Spot charges $350 for first-time clients, then $100/hour for refills; prices vary from $200 to $600 in spas across the US. So while the end result is genuinely amazing, it's expensive. But for a big occasion such as a wedding, it's worth the splurge.

Beauty Byte: Eyelash Drug May Be on Its Way

BellaSugar — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 09:00:00 -0700

Would you give up mascara? Allergan, the maker of Botox, hopes you will. The company is working on a drug to make eyelashes grow longer. The catch? It's already available for different purposes.

Lumigan, a formulation of bimatoprost, is a glaucoma drug that can be used (off-label, of course) to grow eyelashes. Cosmetics such as RevitaLash and the original formula of Jan Marini Age Intervention Eyelash have used the drug in their formulations, but Allergan is the first to seek FDA approval for its cosmetic use.

But like any drug, bimatoprost has side effects. According to the FDA, it may cause the skin around the eye to darken, or the eyes could change color altogether. Not exactly the cosmetic wonders I'd like to experience. I'll stick with mascara or lash extensions, but if the FDA approval goes through, expect to see people rush to their doctors in search of longer lashes. Will you be one of them?

Source

Tour of Beauty: Sonia Roselli Esthétique

BellaSugar — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:00:23 -0800

Windy City ladies might not feel so lucky right about now, what with the cold weather and governor troubles. But on a lighter note, at least Chicagoans have one of the country's newest and most beautiful beauty boutiques. Sonia Roselli Esthétique is a girly-girl's primping paradise.

Longtime makeup artist Roselli offers airbrush makeup application, facials, eyelash extensions, and other beauty treatments. But the real reason to make a trip is the space's gloss bar. You'll choose from 120 color bases and a multitude of flavorings, then work with Roselli to create a custom lip gloss ($20) or lipstick ($35) - now that's giving urban Midwesterners something to smile about.

View 5 Photos ›

Source

2008 American Music Awards: Jordin Sparks

BellaSugar — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 16:51:36 -0800

Jordin Sparks proves that, in those immortal words of Annie's orphans, you're never fully dressed without a smile. Having long, lush false eyelashes and a bit of shimmery eye shadow doesn't hurt, either.

My guess is that Jordin has extensions to give her hair so much fullness, and as for that red bit? A streak of style brilliance, if you'll pardon the pun.

Vote on all of my href="http://bellasugar.com/slides/tags/2008+American+Music+Awards+Poll">American Music Awards polls here!

Source

Look Sexy With the Bat of an Eye

BellaSugar — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 07:14:44 -0800

Bat those lashes and make him swoon baby! Every gal dreams of having thick lush lashes, but we all aren't born that lucky. And although there are tons of lash building mascaras on the market to help plump and volumize, sometimes you've just got to fake it to attain those lush and sexy bedroom eyes. These lash kits are easy to use, virtually mess free and the results are bellissima!

e.l.f. Professional Lash Kit, $1, is a false lash extension kit that can help you create gorgeous lashes any night of the week! Application is a cinch and the comfort grip gel allows you to gain multiple uses from your lashes. You can choose from either a natural kit or a dramatic kit. Have fun!

For more fun and flirty lash kits, read more

Girls Night Out - False Eyelashes Kit by Alcone Beauty, $38, makes getting ready a group effort. This kit is all you need for dead sexy eye makeup for a night out with the gals. The kit comes with: a preo eyelash curler, false eyelashes, duo eyelash adhesive, a sable eyeliner brush, black cake eyeliner, a lash comb and step-by-step instructions for easy application.

You can order the kit based upon the number of peeps in your pre-party that night. A kit for one to four girls is $38.00, a kit for five to 10 girls is $53.00 and a kit for eleven to sixteen girls is $68.00. Let's get this party started!

Deluxe Lash Kit in Black by Sephora, $18, is a solution to limp, lackluster lashes. It's so easy to use, you can even put them on with one hand. The contoured application tool provides a fool proof way to secure the lashes and they are also easily removable using the same tool. The kit includes one set of lashes and glue. Available only in black.

Bellissima! A Perm For Your Eyelashes

BellaSugar — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 15:02:13 -0700

We've heard all about lash extensions for length, but eyelash perms are strictly for curl. The Japanese Eyelash Perm, offered at salons such as Takamichi Head to Toe Hair Salon in New York City, is becoming a popular way to have semi-permanent, flirty lashes.

The procedure can take anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes, it costs around $80 and lasts between three to five weeks. To begin, your lashes get curled over rubber rollers. Then, chemical solutions are applied; and finally, your lashes get a conditioning. This sounds just like a perm! Considering that false eyelashes take at least eight to 10 minutes to apply and another five to take off, I think the investment is time-efficient. Would you ever consider a lash perm?

Product Review: Mirenesse Secret Weapon Mascara

BellaSugar — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 07:00:17 -0800

Last week, I got a sample of Mirenesse Secret Weapon mascara in a goodie bag. Mirenesse is an Australian cosmetics line that can be difficult to track down in the States; like Imju Fiberwig, Secret Weapon coats lashes rather than painting them.

Using Secret Weapon is a little different than working with traditional mascaras. You're supposed to apply it from the outer lash to the inner lash, jiggling the wand from root to tip. Although the formula is tear-proof, it can be removed with warm water alone-which makes this a good product for frequent travelers, since you don't have to pack separate eye makeup remover.

For the full review, plus before-and-after pictures, just read more

The first time I used Secret Weapon, I was blown away. Just one coat made my eyelashes look longer and curled-as though I was wearing false lashes, but without the fakeness. It wasn't quite as dramatic as wearing eyelash extensions, but my eyes looked positively doe-like. And somehow, it made me look as though I'd applied eyeliner, too. The benefits lasted throughout a day of picnicking and chasing a toddler around a park. I didn't have any clumps to deal with, and better yet, it didn't flake or rub off.

Take a look at this before-and-after shot; I used the mascara on top lashes only, with one coat:

At $27 for a tube, Secret Weapon isn't cheap, but you can order a free sample (plus $2 for shipping) to try it out. Plus, I just found this deal, which shaves $10 off the price of the "Super Long" variety. I'm a big fan, and considering you can try this stuff for next to nothing, why not give it a whirl?