It may be the title of Taher Shah’s very corny song, which many of us can confess to singing secretly in the shower, but eyes - or most specifically, eyelashes – really are the focal point of the season. Style has gone totally retro and makeup has taken a trip back to the seventies so aqua, green or gold, permed, enhanced and extended…if it worked back on your mom’s eyes in the 70s then it most definitely work for you now. We’re zooming in on eyelashes here, so make sure you have an eye on the right wands!

Mascaras

There’s a plethora of good, affordable mascaras on the market and experience will prove which one suits you best. But if you’re one for the latest products then Clinique’s cheerfully named Chubby Lash Mascara is what the glossies are advocating this month. The brush has little spikes on it that coat every lash - even those that are so wispy they are practically invisible - and it really does deliver on volume. Two or three coats guarantee show-stopping lashes. Plus, it doesn’t flake and stays put until you need to remove it at night (when, pleasingly, it doesn’t take much effort). The catch: it’s not available in Pakistan (yet) so you’ll need to put it on a wish list.

False Eyelashes

Inglot, made in Poland and popular in Pakistan for their breathable nail colour, is now open at the Ocean Mall in Karachi and the shop is a beauty buff’s delight. We strongly recommend you have fun with the range of fashionable eyelashes. Go for the latest Mamma Mia collection; it couldn’t be more seventies-appropriate. Go blue if you’re in for kitsch or pick black if you want to stick with the glamma. It’s best not to buy the thick, synthetic lashes because the artificial look is OUT. You want lashes that blend in with your own so trim and adjust to your eyelid or else it’ll look like you have an insect resting on your eye.

Inglot lashes do come in both synthetic and natural fibres and easy to apply guidelines. They may cost a bundle (especially since you’ll have to buy your adhesive separately) but it’s worth the drama!

How to maintain your extensions

While most of us will have false eyelashes applied at salons, throwing them away after one use, there are women who prefer to buy their own and use them for special occasions.
There are certain tips and tricks that you can do to prolong their longevity and make them look their best.

1.       If they get wet, you will need to dry them quite quickly because hair holds water and it will swell and stretch the adhesive on the eyelash. Having said that, after 48 hours you should be able to wet your eyelashes as the adhesive cures, sets and encapsulates the eyelash it’s attached to.

2.       Do not use any cotton wool. Clean around the eye with a cotton bud for precision cleaning and try not to get liquid eyeliner in between eyelashes, as that can’t be removed. Don’t use a comb to comb them as some might separate. If you catch the extension at the base, you are far more likely to loosen the natural eyelash. Don’t use soap as it is very hard to remove from in between your eyelashes – water is enough.

3.       Don’t use mascara on freshly applied eyelash extensions as they’ve been designed so that you don’t need to wear it. It’s also almost impossible to remove mascara from eyelash extensions, so you end up with a build-up of bacteria and dust. Don’t ever use waterproof mascara on eyelash extensions, because that means everything has to come off for maintenance.

4.       Don’t use oils or creams around the eyes apart from the perimeter area – you can dab it there and it will work its way into the lid and under eye areas throughout the day as there’s not enough muscle tissue to absorb it, (that’s a good tip for with or without eyelash extensions).

5.       Do read up extensively on the risks of extended use of eyelash extensions, which may result in a thinning out of your natural lashes if you’re not careful.

Tools: Using an Eyelash Curler

Chances are that many of you have not been introduced to an eyelash curler; that oddly shaped clamp that you found in your mother’s dressing table drawer but you never really figured out. Well, the eyelash curler is the best thing to get gloriously big curled lashes, if used properly. Begin with warming your curler with the hot air from your blow dryer (don’t overheat!). If your lashes tend to fall straight, clamp your eyelash curler at the base of your lashes as you apply your first coat of mascara. To create big-curled lashes, clamp them at the very base, press the curler together lightly, and hold the lashes in place for a few seconds. Completely release the clamp and move it about halfway up the lash hairs while turning the curler at an angle parallel to the ground. Clamp and hold again. Finally, move the curler to the tip of the lashes, and give one final press, turning the lash curler almost upright.

Eyelash Enhancement Serums

Mascaras and falsies come later; the best thing is to have long, curly lashes to begin with. And while there are a plethora of enhancement serums out there, reviews validate that the Diorshow Maximiser Lash Plumping Serum is the most highly recommended. It’s the first "active serum" mascara primer that contains a unique complex made up of hydrolyzed soy proteins that promote long-term lash growth, strength, and vitality. Swipe a layer on before applying mascara (as a primer), or use at night to let the soy proteins work their magic. Research has shown that this maximiser boosts lash length, volume and curl.