Phyl Clarke on maintaining lovely lashes
Boys always seem to have the longest ones. Elizabeth Taylor reputedly has a double row. As for the rest of us, they fall out all the time and take four to eight weeks to grow back. They protect our eyes from dust and sweat. The life of an eyelash is very mundane, but after 150 days it's all over, and the cycle starts again. During that short life, however, they get quite a lot of coaxing, tweaking and curling, and if, after all that, we are still not happy with them, we stick on some fake ones for good measure.
This week, I am not going to talk about the "falsies" - that is an entire column in itself - but rather the superheroes of the lash world, without resorting to add-ons.
I am loath to admit that my eyelash curler had been sitting in my drawer, unused, since I received it as a gift, last Christmas. Worse, I actually asked my sister to buy it for me, as she was stuck for ideas. But things never lie in that drawer for long. I happened to spot it in my daughter's make-up bag last week, and she raved about the "fantastic" effect of lifting lashes and opening up the eyes, etc, etc. So, ladies, I will if you will. And Shu Uemura is the one to buy, available from www.spacenk.com. I know it looks like something out of a torture chamber, but apparently, once you get the hang of it, it's a pinch . . . sorry, cinch. After all, we are so used to applying mascara that the idea of placing a brush loaded with colour so close to our delicate eye does not cause us a second's thought, so persevere.
Now to colour, length and thickening. The story of modern mascara starts in 1913, when a chemist experimented at the request of his sister, Mabel. The main ingredients were - yuck - coal dust mixed with Vaseline. But good ol' Mabel gave it a go, and was rewarded with having her brother's company named after her. Maybelline, a combination of his sister's name and Vaseline, became the name of the company that is still one of the world's top brands, and manufacturer of the runaway bestseller Great Lash mascara (of which Kate Moss is a fan).
Don't discount different colours when you are choosing. The new navy/blacks and aubergine/browns give a subtle zing to eyes. Some suggestions are offered below to try. Now excuse me, I've got to go look for those eyelash curlers.
THE GOODS
YSL Mascara Volume Infini Curl €25.50 Editor's favourite. Won't flake or smudge and stays put all day.
Lancôme Hypnôse €23 This one constantly comes up in the list of favourites. Gives the volume and length of false eyelashes without the effort.
Boots No 7 Waterproof €10.99 This was the mascara Kate Winslet wore during the filming of Titanic. Cuts the mustard, obviously.
Max Factor Masterpiece This new kid on the block is causing quite a stir, and at €12.49 it's great value, too.
Benefit Bad Girl lash €22 Sultry and sexy, and only available in bad-girl black.