I use lash primers for several reasons, and especially if lashes are short, thin,  or sparse in amount.  Fragile or broken off lashes will also greatly benefit from an undercoat of primer.  They do a great job of glazing the lash to the very tips, so you can grab and build the mascara color from the root to over the tips. They also allow you to pre-separate lashes better for a more effective mascara coat. I prefer Natural Born Cosmetics Lash Primer and Conditioner because it won’t dry out lashes, even if you use it every day, as it also contains good lash conditioning ingredients.

Another important reason to use a lash primer is to help encapsulate and bring forward even the tiniest or invisible of lashes due to their thin structure or faint natural color.  Also, lashes that have broken or tapered off tips greatly affect how full and long the lashes look in the final mascara results.

Prepping lashes with a primer, from root to tip is the “underwear” that can dramatically improve volume and length, and act as a lash protector under any formula of mascara. This is especially important if you use waterproof mascara, as a primer will make it a bit easier to remove with far less tugging on lashes.  For the best results in a lash primer application make absolutely certain there is no cream or oil on the lashes, and that they are clean and free of any previous mascara application.

An important tool you will need in the lash priming process is a metal tooth lash comb for separating lashes more effectively.  Forget the plastic toothed comb/ brush combo, as the plastic teeth are too large and clumsy to really reach between the lashes for individual separation, especially with thin and sparse volume lashes. Apply the lash primer in a thin coat, working the brush from root to tip. Allow to almost dry and then separate lashes with metal comb.  If you desire you can apply another very thin coat of lash primer, and work the brush a little bit behind the lashes, especially at the tips.  I do not recommend more than two thin coats, just to where lashes look like they have a light “whitish” coating, for the most natural looking results under mascara.

Stay tuned to Part 5 for mascara application, tools and techniques.

Understanding basic mascara formulas is one of the keys in choosing the right product for your needs.  Mascaras are either water-based (an oil/water emulsion) or waterproof (waxes in a non-solvent emulsion).  Water-based formulas can include thickeners, polymers and microfibers to induce length and volume.  Some of these formulas may also contain latex to make them more smudge and water resistant in wear.  Others can also contain protein binders, which are healthier to lashes, because they provide some small measure of protection if you wear mascara every day.  Water-based mascara is easily dissolved and washed away along with your regular skin care routine.

Waterproof mascara formulas can also contain thickeners, polymers and microfibers to induce length and volume, however it has pros and cons.  If you tend to have oily skin chances are that it will cause a water-based mascara to “shed” a bit in the eye area. The result is flaking under the eyes or a slight overall “raccoon eye” look.  Wearing waterproof mascara virtually eliminates this problem.  Another advantage is that waterproof mascara will hold a stronger curl, and help lashes to remain separated throughout wear. 

Because it is made not to dissolve down easily under moisture, removing waterproof mascara at the end of the day takes more effort.  You must use an eye makeup remover that will gently release the mascara bond on lashes and not pull or tug when wiped or rinsed off.  Wearing waterproof mascara every day can also cause lashes to dry out of natural moisture over time, making them brittle and fragile to breakage.

As I mentioned before, you can achieve beautiful results using just one mascara brand for length and volume.  It’s all in the prep, tools, and techniques that I will share with you in part 4.

In the early 1960’s Maybelline introduced Ultra Lash Mascara, the world’s first automatic brush-in-a-tube mascara, which revolutionized the way mascara is applied.  In 1971 Maybelline released Great Lash Mascara, a water-based formula that was much smoother in application than its original soap based formula.  It remains as one of the company’s top selling mascara products.

Today, it’s not hard to miss the mascara brand wars being played out on TV commercials and in beauty magazines.  Beautiful models with mega lashes fanned out in cartoon-like fashion are portrayed as if their mascara product is the only one that delivers mega-lash results.  In reality this is nothing more than hyper commercialism at its worst, with a lot of help from false eyelashes and photo retouching, to boost your senses into thinking you can achieve the same results.  Some brands even tout their mascara brushes as uniquely designed to deliver extraordinary mascara results. 

The truth is, you can achieve beautiful looking lashes with any brand of mascara, even old fashioned dry cake mascara, which is still my favorite product to use.  The basics for lovely looking lashes is in the preparation, technique, and the right tools for application.   Stay tuned for part 3 where I will share some of my professional application tips that I use to achieve beautiful results with any lash type.

Natural lash thickness and size is genetically pre-determined, but women everywhere always want the look of long, dark and lush-looking flutters.   Mascara can literally open up eyes by making them look large, luminous, and alive to their own special drama.

Over the decades, mascara, along with lipstick, have been the leading favorites a woman will reach for when they want a simple forward look with a little color.  Mascara was so revered during World War 2 that women would not give up the beauty of their dark tinged fringes.  When cosmetic making machines were requisitioned for manufacturing weapons, makeup became very scarce.   Undaunted, these ladies looked to other resources, such as black shoe polish, to stroke on their lashes.

Stay tuned for part 2 on this fascinating 4 part series on mascara and finding the right product and application techniques to creat your own beautiful lashes!