The Eyes Have It
Lift and Curl
Our first eye beauty tip? Fiddly false eyelashes can bring even the steadiest handed of us out in hives, so give your lashes extra-oomph without all the hassle by trying a salon lash lift.
By lifting and curling the lashes, a lash lift can really open up the eye. Results tend to last between four and six weeks, treatments can be done in a lunch hour and do not hurt, though the sensation is quite unusual.
Avoid lash-lift treatments that use perms and ammonia as this can cause brittleness or lash breakage. LVL and YUMILashes are good options; try an LVL Lash Lift, where the lash is tinted at the same time, at Take Time London in Wimbledon Village or at Gina Conway.
High Brow
Eyebrow sculpting, defining and preening has never been more on trend, and whether you want a bold framing of the eye or a subtle tidy up, there’s a brow look for everyone.
A quick wax or threading can tame and frame in 10 minutes and is a hassle-free way of keeping on top of your brow game.
Browhaus, which has funky salons across London including Chelsea, provides a onestop shop for lash and brow work. It has recently introduced Browgraphy – a brow shape and colour tweak for picture-perfect brows, and also offers brow resurrection services to solve over-plucking issues.
Luscious Lengths
A little more involved but a saving grace for those with fine or few lashes, extensions can give you the flutter you’ve always dreamed of. Lash extensions typically take between one and two hours to apply. A reputable salon and specialist will create bespoke lash looks for each client based on the curl, length and appearance desired. If well maintained, extensions should last between four and six weeks, with infills required every four weeks. It is essential to wait at least 24 hours before coming into contact with water – this includes sweat-inducing sessions at the gym.
Clients need to brush their eyelashes daily to ensure they do not clump together and it is essential to use an oil-free makeup remover to clean lashes and around the eye area. Avoid using mascara on top of the lash extensions as this can clump up the lashes.
On-the-Go Tint
As beauty hacks go, tinting your lashes is one of the best time savers in the semipermanent arena. The treatment gives your lashes the freshly applied mascara look, without having to reach for the wand – perfect for jetsetters, gym goers (no panda eyes post-HIIT session!) and party lovers.
It typically lasts up to four weeks and you shouldn’t feel any discomfort. It is advisable to book into your salon for a patch test 24 hours prior to your treatment to ensure you do not have a reaction to the tinted colour.
Rachel Huskinson, beauty therapist and director of Skin Lounge in Richmond, says that once the eyelashes are tinted, you can treat them exactly the same as normal eyelashes. “Brushing the lashes daily will help to make the lashes look fuller and encourage lash separation. The colour will grow out naturally with your lash cycle,” explains Rachel. Pregnant women shouldn’t undergo any lash tinting, especially if they are new to the treatment.
Eye to Eye
This Christmas, your key trends include luxe jewel tones and sweeps of luscious black liner…
Ultra-blendable and sparkling finishes to turn heads: Bobbi Brown Luxe Gem Eye Shadow Palette, £59
Perfect for honing an intense, smokey eye: Bobbi Brown Black Onyx Eyeliner, £26
Banish puffiness and dark circles: Clinique: All About Eyes, £27.50
All available at Elys Wimbledon
Boost your lashes! This serum claims to give 75% fuller-looking lashes in 30 days. RapidLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum, £39.99. boots.com
For more beauty tips check out this post
