| Mascaras
At The Millennium
Get More Lash For Your Cash. Here's A Roundup Of The Latest And Greatest.
 What's
the latest flutter in the crowded world of mascaras? With so many formulas
out there, there seems little left to improve on. But, never underestimate
beauty industry ingenuity. The newest formulas promise treatment benefits
as well as eye-appeal, to boost healthier lashes, better growth and less
breakage. Most feature ingredients you'll find in good hair products -Vitamin
E and A, Panthenol, nutrients and conditioners, even herbs. One brand
promotes a special 'soft wax" formula - for smooth coverage without weighing
lashes down and easier comb-through, less wear and tear. Another innovator
puts creme conditioner on one end of a dual-ended wand, with mascara at
the other, for a double whammy. And for total decadence, a French mascara
maker weaves real cashmere into its formula.
Feathery, fan-like lashes, (think Joan Crawford) are the trend
for fall, as the Forties make a fashion comeback. In response, "feathery"
new mascaras have suddenly bloomed on the market with silky, gentle applicators
that prevent mascara overload and smooth the formula lightly from tips
to ends. A benefit from the thin-layer technique is that color dries faster
and adheres better for less smudging, over all. One Japanese company is
selling a new fan-shaped mascara brush, sold separately, to let you create
the effect with your regular mascara formula.
Another promising development is mascara that is wash-off-able
with soap and water. Whether women ever use soap, or even cleanser, to
remove their mascara is debatable, but it's an intriguing idea. Certainly,
it might end the raccoon look, when you wash your face without using eye
makeup remover first, and find mascara smudged in rings under your eyes.
A little confusingly, the same mascara also claims to be waterproof. Presumably,
water alone won't budge it, but add some cleanser and it's adios.
Cake mascara - believe it or not, is alive and well. Blocks of
solid mascara, applied with a dampened brush, was the grandmother of the
liquid formulas that took over in the 50's and 60's. But, not only has
the cake idea never completely gone away, it's suddenly been embraced
by some of the chi-chi little Euro brands you'll find on beauty dot coms
or in specialty cosmetic catalogues. Advantages: very soft, natural color
(and less irritation since there are fewer additives) with no clumps and
clogs. Some of the mass brands still make cake mascaras, too, so check
them out, too.
The trend to wilder colors has hit the mascara market big time
in the last few years. Create some Summer fireworks by flirting with at
least one wild new color from the fun, young brands: gold, silver and
copper glitter, or surprise shades like yellow, red, pink, sky blue and
white.
Curling Irons for Lashes? - You bet. Forget the scissor-style manual
eyelash curler. Go high-tech with a new battery-operated, heat-up lash
curling wand that warms up just enough to put a crimp in your lashes.
Cost: about $30.00.
Gone in 60 Seconds.
Always smudge a little when you're putting on mascara, shadow or liner?
Just reach for one of the new Eye Makeup Remover pencils that work like
an eraser to pick up stray bits without smearing under eye concealer or
foundation, in the process. Great for touchups away from home. More fast
takes - one company we found sells 10-packs of eye remover lotion in lightweight,
plastic mini flasks - clearly, Have One, Will Travel. $14 for 10.
When the Lashcolor Comes Off...Cool Comforts
Cold packs are great for soothing muscles. Now, your eyes can be comforted
similarly with new eye-treatment gel-discs in bright colors that you keep
refrigerated between uses. Each oval is filled with herbs, vitamins C
or K and other ingredients for specific needs - wrinkles, under-eye circles
or de-puffing. Lie down and let them go to work. Pricey at $70, but you'll
use them over and over again.
Hair Mascara vs. Real Mascara
Can you use Hair Mascara on your eyelashes? Don't even go there. What's
great for locks could be irritating to eyes and lashes. Can you use a
bright-colored Mascara on your hair? It's probably not going to show up
much - unless your hair is dead white. Use both products the way they're
intended to be used - that's our lash word.
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Cade Pemberton has worked for leading cosmetic companies including
Revlon, Calvin Klein, Yves St. Laurent, Shiseido and many others. Cade
is a frequent contributor to lamasbeauty.com.
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