Whether you consider yourself a beauty veteran or a beginner, you’ll definitely appreciate this expert advice for keeping your eyelashes long, healthy, and strong. After all, gorgeous lashes are never out of style. To that end, we tapped Danielle Maldonado, founder of Hello Hello, a Mexico City-based studio specializing in eyelash lifting and eyebrow lamination to share her eyelash tips.
What’s the best way to take care of your eyelashes?
We apply all kinds of products to our hair to make it soft and nourished, but we often forget to give the same care to our eyelashes and eyebrows. “Eyelashes must have their own care routine to look amazing,” explains Maldonado. The first thing is to strengthen them: “I love to apply Lancôme’s Cils Booster Lash Revitalizing Lash Serum that repairs damage, prevents shedding and stimulates their growth,” she says.
Best way to moisturize eyelashes?
Moisturizing is the other step you can’t skip in your routine, as it helps keep lashes healthy. “My recommendation will always be Beary Chococare, which contains antioxidants and amino acids that nourish thoroughly, especially after a lash lift.” Other ways to moisturize? Vaseline, Aquapor, or castor oil, all of which have moisturizing effects. Apply before bed to reap the benefits of silky, stronger lashes.
Does Vaseline help eyelashes grow longer?
In a word, no. But moisturizing your lashes with Vaseline or Aquaphor can help them appear more lush. It can also nourish them, which helps prevent breakage in the long run and, in turn, may contribute to lashes appearing longer. For a non-petroleum alternative, apply Castor oil, grapeseed oil, coconut oil, olive oil, or argon oil to the lashes with a spoolie before bed. Or, try a pro-peptide serum formulated with biotin. Eating diet rich in healthy fats and proteins—like the kind recommended for strong hair—will also help lashes look their best.
How to get longer eyelashes
If you weren’t fortunate enough to be born with naturally long lashes, you don’t have to rely only on extensions. Products, like Latisse—which contains an ingredient called Prostaglandin—were specially formulated to help lashes grow long. “Prostaglandin is the only ingredient that guarantees long-term eyelash growth,” Maldonado explains. “But despite its potential, it can cause allergies or adverse reactions in some people, so I recommend testing the product for a few days to make sure you’re a candidate to use it.”
For this ingredient to be truly effective, consistency is everything. Although its application lengthens the eyelashes and prevents them from falling out, the moment you stop applying it, the effect ends. So, this is not the product for you if you are not willing to make time in your skincare routine for this step.
What’s the best way to curl your lashes?
According to Maldonado, your lashes’ worst enemy is the eyelash curler. Sorry, but she says you may have to give it a rest to keep your lashes from falling out—especially if you’re the type who doesn’t leave the house without using it. “I prefer to apply a waterproof mascara like MAC Cosmetics’ Mac Black Stack, which is strong enough to hold lashes up without the need for a spoon or a curler,” Maldonado says. “However, the best option will always be a lash lift, which is a great way to keep lashes open without having to curl them or use a spoon.”
How does an eyelash lift work?
An eyelash lift is a treatment that lengthens and lifts the curvature of the lashes. Although a good treatment can take up to 2 hours, the end result is well worth it. The technique creates a more open appearance for the eyes and keeps the eyelash curled for up to eight weeks.
Eyelash lifts do require committing to some post-treatment care: You much brush your lashes carefully after showering or washing your face, and avoid the use of daily mascara. “Never use eyeliner even if you feel that the duration of your eyelash lift is about to end,” suggests Maldonado.
