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How to Make Your Eyelashes Look Longer | Text 4 Ways to Get Longer Looking Lashes | Picture of woman with long brown hair putting on mascara
Fashion & Beauty

How To Make Your Eyelashes Look Longer

“They eyes are the window to the soul”, so they saying goes. And if that’s true, the eyelashes are the adornment that helps draw attention to them. We want our eyelashes to be long and thick. The beauty industry has worked hard to provide ways for us to get what we want! So, if this is what you are looking for, here is How to Make Your Eyelashes Look Longer.

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Why Your Lashes Aren’t Long

Your lashes are like all the other hair on your body. They fall off naturally and regrow over time. It typically takes four to eight weeks to replace an eyelash that has fallen out.

But there are other reasons your eyelashes aren’t as long and thick as you would like for them to be.

The Natural Aging Process

Just like your skin and hair deteriorate over time, so do your lashes. The older you get, the more your lashes fall out. GREAT…..

Your Mascara

Mascaras, especially waterproof mascaras are very drying, making your lashes brittle and weak. This causes breakage. And these types of mascaras can be difficult to remove, causing even more breakage.

False Eyelashes, Extensions and Eyelash Curlers

It turns out that a lot of things that we do to make our lashes look longer and fuller can actually hinder that process. Taking off your false eyelashes incorrectly. Picking at the last few of your eyelash extensions. Using an eyelash curler too aggressively.

Not Taking Care of Your Eyelash Extensions

If you have eyelash extensions, aftercare is a must. A good eyelash extension professional will sell you a natural lash enhancer that will strengthen & condition your lashes. DON’T SKIP THIS STEP!

How to Make Your Eyelashes Look Longer

 Lengthening Mascara and an Eyelash Curler

Lengthening mascara contains short synthetic fibers like rayon or nylon that attach themselves to the lashes and extends them. Most lengthening mascaras also having ingredients that volumize and curl your lashes. Curling your lashes after applying the mascara will give a more dramatic effect.

Pros:
  • Least expensive method to enhance the appearance of your lashes, making them look longer and fuller.
Cons:
  • Mascara, especially waterproof mascara, can be extremely drying to your eyelashes.
Tips:
    • Use waterproof mascara sparingly.
    • Remove all your eye makeup, including mascara every night with an eye makeup remover that will dissolve and quickly remove your mascara without tugging at your eyes.  My favorites: Rodan + Fields Essentials Complete Eye Makeup Remover.
    • Use a conditioning primer before applying mascara like Jane Iredale PureLash Extender and Conditioner.

    • Choose a good quality eyelash curler and don’t be too aggressive when using it. Here are some that are highly recommended by makeup professionals: Kevyn Aucoin The Eyelash Curler,  Shiseido Eyelash Curler or Surratt Beauty Relevee Lash Curler.

 

  • Favorite Lengthening Mascaras: Fringe Benefits. I started using this a few years ago after I had an allergic reaction to every bit of eye makeup I had been using. This lengthens my lashes and is non-irritating to the sensitive skin around my eyes. My Side of 50 Reader Favorites: Benefit They’re Real Lengthening and 
    Volumizing Mascara, Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara and 3D Fiber Mascara.

Make Your Eyelashes Longer With Lash Serums

Lash Serums, such as Rodan + Fields Lash Boost contain active ingredients that actually make your lashes grow. In the case of Lash Boost, that ingredient is isopropyl cloprostenate. Other serums have bimatoprost that also stimulates lash growth.  Not only do these active ingredients cause your existing lashes to grow, they also stimulate growth in hair follicles not currently growing lashes.

How to Make Your Eyelashes Look Longer | Picture of Rodan + Fields Lash Boost with text "It'll save you the stress of applying falsies every single day." as seen on InStyle.com

Serums without these active ingredients are usually just lash conditioners which might make your lashes look fuller or longer by hydrating and softening them, but they won’t stimulate growth.

I have used Lash Boost for 6 months and even stopped using it for a while because my lashes got too long! This stuff is that good!

Pros:
  • Lash Serums with the correct active ingredients actually cause lashes to grow.
  • Easy to apply – only once in the evening.
  • No need for lengthening mascara.
Cons:
  • Price. Some think the price of $150 is high. However, when compared to the price and time involved in getting eyelash extensions, this is a bargain! A tube of Lash Boost lasts 2-3 months when used nightly. After your lashes grow to the desired length, you can use it every 2 or 3 nights.
  • In some cases, lash serums can cause minor irritation to the eyelid. This can be avoided by only applying to the lash line of the top lid and wiping off any excess that gets on your eyelid.

Tips:

  • Remove makeup and cleanse face before applying lash serums.
  • Apply on the upper lash line only. Wipe off any excess that gets on your lids.
  • Do not apply any other products around the eyes for 90 seconds after applying lash serums.

There’s lots of variety when it comes to false eyelashes. What they are made of. Eyelash strips or individual lashes. How to apply them – glue or magnet. Yes, magnet*.

What False Eyelashes are made of:

  1. Synthetic Materials. Most false eyelashes are made of a flexible, plastic-like material. Pro: Most affordable – as little as $2 a pair.  Con: Heavy and look more obviously fake because they have an extra shiny finish. Begin to degrade after 4 or 5 wearings.
  2. Animal Lashes. Comes from brushed fur that’s been harvested from a variety of animals, including minks and horses. With proper care, you can wear these up to 20 times. Pro: Fine, soft and easy to curl. Con: Loses shape if exposed to water. Price: $25-$50 a set.
  3. Silk. Not actually made of silk. “Silk” lashes are made of a blend of lightweight synthetic materials. Pro: Can get up to 20 wearings with proper care. In terms of price and appearance, put these in the middle between synthetic and animal lashes.

Sizes of False Eyelashes:

  1. Strips. These lashes conform to the length of your eyelids. You can apply short strips to the outer corner of your eyeliners for a “flared” look. Strips adhere to your lids with glue, tape or magnets.
  2. Individual Lashes. These are actually clusters for 5-10 individual lash hairs that have been glued together. A little tricky to apply, but much more natural looking than strips.
  3. Lashify Lashes. Kind of a cross between eyelash extensions and false eyelashes. They are attached at the base of your real lashes instead of on your eyelash. They are the most realistic looking false eyelashes next to professional extensions. But they are pricey – $125 for the starter kit and replacement lashes are $20

*Magnetic lashes have tiny magnets that line the base of the lash strips. You layer one strip on tops of your upper lash line and while holding it in place, layer the second lash strip on top of the first to activate the two strips’ magnetic attraction.

Another type of magnetic lashes has a magnetic powder in the eyeliner to adhere to the magnets on the lashes.

My friend Jodie at Jodie’s Touch of Style has tried both types of magnetic lashes, without much luck. There is definitely a learning curve in getting them on in the first place and then actually having them stay in place. Going the magnetic lash route definitely requires diligence and patience.

Tips:
  • Take off your lashes every night before you go to bed.
  • Clean them. After taking them off, take a Q-tip soaked in makeup remover and gently brush it along the lash strip.
  • You can apply mascara to your false eyelashes, but know that this will shorten their lifespan.

Make Your Lashes Longer With Lash Extensions

Eyelash extensions are semi-permanent lashes that are hand glued to the top of your eyelashes by a technician.  With proper care, they can last 6-8 weeks until they fall out like your natural lashes do.

Pros:
  • They look natural. They don’t look clumpy or feel heavy.
  • You cut way down on your makeup time, because you may not feel the need to apply eye makeup.
Cons:
  • They are high maintenance. You need to clean and brush them daily with a spoolie brush and apply a lash conditioner.
  • You can’t rub your eyes. If you are a person with allergies, this might be hard.
  • If you want to remove your extensions, you’ll have to have it done at the salon. If you try to pull them off yourself, you’ll harm your natural lashes.
  • You can’t sweat, cry, swim or wash your face for 12-24 hours after getting extensions to the glue will dry.
  • Expensive and time consuming. Extensions can run from $100-$400 depending on the experience of your technician. Fill-ins are $50-$165 depending on how many lashes you need. Plus the entire experience can take up to 2 hours.
  • It can be difficult to apply eyeliner.
  • Reactions to extensions such as redness, itching, irritation and swollen eyelids are pretty common.
Tips:
  • Know what you want. There are lots of choices – natural, cat-eye or wispy. What kind of curl? J (straight lash), D (completely curved) or C (between D and J)? This post outlines all the choices you will have when you go to get extensions.
  • Don’t fall for the mink vs. synthetic sales trap. Salons charge premium prices for “mink” lashes, which aren’t necessarily mink. If they are true mink, the lashes will be thin and wispy and you’ll get a “barely there” look, so why bother? You’re best bet is the synthetic lashes.
  • Never tug at your extensions. This damages your natural lashes.
  • Never use and eyelash curler.
  • Don’t used oil-based eye makeup remover.
  • It’s easy to get an eye infection when going to a salon for extensions. To avoid this, make sure your technician washes her hands between clients, wears gloves, uses sanitary pillow covers and sanitizes all utensils.
  • Before you get your extensions, ask where the glue is made. Request glue made in the U.S. even though they may charge more. Glues made in the U. S. are typically made without formaldehyde, which is a major eye irritant.

So, what method will you use to get longer fuller lashes? For my money, I’ll take Lash Boost and good lengthening mascara any day.

You might also like:

13 Super Stylish Ways to Wear A Scarf

How To Restore Damaged Nails After Gel Acrylic or Powder Manicures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How To Make Your Eyelashes Look Longer was last modified: November 11th, 2019 by Cathy Lawdanski
February 26, 2019 4 comments
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Teeth Whitening for People With Sensitive Teeth | Picture of woman's smile with beautiful white teeth and red lipstick
Fashion & Beauty

Teeth Whitening for People With Sensitive Teeth

Have you ever wanted to whiten your teeth, but avoided it because of the sensitivity you get when you use teeth whitening products? I did for a long time. But then I saw another blogger post (who happens to be a former cosmetic dentist) on Smile Brilliant– an at home teeth whitening system that even people with sensitive teeth could use without discomfort. Is it possible? Teeth Whitening for People with Sensitive Teeth?  Yes, it is!

This post was sponsored by Smile Brilliant. All opinions are my own. This post also contains some affiliate links for your convenience. If you purchase a product through my link, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

 

When I hit 50, I started noticing that my teeth were getting really yellowed and discolored. I drink coffee all day every day, so it’s no wonder that this has happened.

 

I’ve tried a number of ways to get rid of those stains. Whitening toothpaste (didn’t do a thing). Charcoal (left a black mess in the sink with no results). Those whitening strips you get at the drug store. While I did get some temporary whitening from them, I found them to be messy, hard to use and that they made my teeth and gums feel really sensitive, so I always had to stop using them.

And as much as I wanted whiter teeth, I wasn’t willing to take the time and pay the money required to get them done at the dentist’s office. Plus, I was really afraid of the sensitivity that could occur when using a professional strength whitening gel.

But the Smile Brilliant System is different.  Smile Brilliant’s system uses custom-fitted whitening trays, which are the #1 dentist recommended teeth whitening method. Using these custom fitted trays ensures that every angle of every tooth  (regardless of whether your teeth are straight or not) receives even and consistent coverage of their professional strength whitening gel.

So how does it work? How do you get those professional results at home?  When you order your Smile Brilliant at-home whitening kit, you get everything you need!

  • Plastic trays and material to make your dental impressions that you send back to their lab in a postage-paid envelope. The instructions were easy to follow, and although my gag reflex kicked in a little bit when making the impressions, it was not a big deal.
  • Once the Smile Brilliant Lab receives your dental impressions, you get your custom-fitted trays back in 3-5 business days – that is fast!
  • Then every night for 2-weeks you whiten! I started seeing results in about 5 days.

The whitening process:

Every night before I went to bed, I filled my trays with the teeth whitening gel and put them in for 45 minutes while I watched TV. You can keep them in longer, but I was going for the minimum amount of time.

After you whiten, you brush your teeth and fill those same trays with the de-sensitizing gel and put those in for 20 minutes.

Then you are done! Easy Peasy!

I will say that at about Day 8, I did start feeling some slight sensitivity.  But I just took a night off of whitening and started up again the next day with no problem.

So here are my results that took 16 days (2 nights off for a little sensitivity):

 

 

I love my results. In the before picture, you will see some dark stains on my top front teeth. They are almost all the way gone. I love how my smile is so much whiter and brighter these days.

I found the whole process super easy to do. The instructions that came with the kit are very thorough, so I had complete confidence in making my own molds and following the whitening process.

I love the custom-fitted trays. They stayed in place (didn’t slip around like those strips do) and were comfortable to wear.

And it takes a lot less time to whiten at home and a lot less money than going to the dentist.

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Teeth Whitening for People With Sensitive Teeth | Picture of woman's smile with beautiful white teen and red lipstick

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Teeth Whitening for People With Sensitive Teeth was last modified: March 17th, 2019 by Cathy Lawdanski
April 30, 2018 6 comments
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Picture of Cosmetics with Overlay that Says Over 50 Skincare | Products I Use | Skincare Products | Skincare Routine | Skincare Regimen | Anti Aging
Fashion & Beauty

Over 50 Skincare | Products I Use

Over 50 Skincare. It’s a lot different than when you are in your 20’s – am I right? And boy do the skincare and cosmetic companies market to us with all this anti-aging stuff.   Y’all – there’s no such thing as anti-aging. We are all aging.

Updated December 5, 2018

Since I was a teenager, I have always taken off my makeup and washed my face morning and night. When I got into my 20’s, I added moisturizer to the routine. What I was terrible about what using sunscreen. In college, I started baking in the sun daily starting in about March (you can do that in Texas) to get that super-tanned look in time for my sorority’s spring formal. And even when I knew better, I didn’t use sunscreen consistently. So I have a lot of sun damage.

And while there is no line of skincare that is going to turn back the clock and make me look 25 again, I do want to take care of the skin I have now. I want it to feel good. I want my makeup to go on smoothly. And I want to minimize any damage that I do have and keep from getting any more.

Over 50 Skincare | Rodan and Fields

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I will make a commission at no extra cost to you.

So I started using Rodan and Fields Reverse Lightening Regimen.   I had no illusions that Rodan and Fields was going to be much different than any other line I had used. But my friend Ginger was selling it and GAVE ME A FREE Reverse Regimen if I would take before and after pictures of my results for her. She did not give me the regimen for FREE so that I would review it on my blog. She just wanted the pictures for her own promotion.

Here are my before and after pictures. I will qualify this by saying that even though my daughter Amy took them, following my direction, I don’t think the pictures give the full story. The lighting is different. One’s smiling and one’s not. I don’t know why – it just worked out that way. But I do see a BIG difference in the visibility of my age spots/sunspots. They have faded dramatically. The one on the right (as you are looking at the picture) has all but disappeared. The one on the left under my eye is almost gone and the big one on the left is a lot lighter. Rodan and Fields Reverse Lightening Regimen has made a huge difference in the appearance and feel of my skin!

Rodan and Fields has 4 Skincare Regimens:

Redefine – For the appearance of lines, pores, and loss of firmness. (I’m trying this one now)

Reverse – For the full range of skin discoloration concerns – dullness, stubborn dark marks, age spots

Unblemish – For acne

Soothe – For sensitive skin

If you want to improve the look and feel of your skin at any age, I highly recommend Rodan + Fields. Since I started using it, I found out that a lot of my friends do too and everyone LOVES it! You can find out what regimen is right for you by using Rodan and Fields Solutions Tool.

I also used Rodan and Fields Active Hydration Serum along with REVERSE. This is not a moisturizer. It’s a serum that goes on your skin before your moisturizer and it feels like silk. I’ve never felt anything like it. It’s non-oily and raises the hydration of your skin 200% after one use. I feel like I am truly nourishing my skin when I use this serum. Even with the dry, cold air we experience in winter, I don’t feel the need to continually re-apply my moisturizer all day when I use the active hydration system.

Here’s the great thing about Rodan and Fields – you can try their products at no risk. They have a 60-Day empty bottle guarantee. If you aren’t completely satisfied with their product, return it – even if the bottles are empty – for a full refund.

 

Over 50 Skincare | Other Products I Use

Links to these two products are affiliate links. If you purchase a product through my link, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

doTerra Spa Moisturizing Bath Bar – I’ve used doTerra Essential Oils for years, but had never used any of their other products. My sister gave me a bar of this soap for Christmas. I will never go back to regular soap or body wash again. This soap is different from anything I have ever used. It’s infused with essential oils and has a light scent that is not overpowering. It leaves my skin feeling so clean, smooth & soft in a natural way – not in an artificial way like so many other moisturizing bars do.

How has your skincare routine changed since your younger days? Tell me in the comments –I’d love to know.

 

You might also like:

How to Restore Damaged Nails After Gel, Acrylic or Powder Manicures

How to Wear Red Over 40, 50 & Beyond

Picture of Cosmetics with Overlay that Says Over 50 Skincare | Products I Use | Skincare Products | Skincare Routine | Skincare Regimen | Anti Aging

 

 

 

 

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Over 50 Skincare | Products I Use was last modified: December 5th, 2018 by Cathy Lawdanski
February 27, 2018 16 comments
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About Me

About Me

Cathy Lawdanski

My name is Cathy. I am an over 50 wife, mother and grandmother who is embracing new challenges and adventures that come from being on "this side" of 50. Join me on the journey!

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