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Mascara is one of those cosmetic items that makes you look different from what you are. It is applied for longer-looking, darker and more luxuriant lashes, giving your eyes a dark expressive look.
The fluttering of one's lashes for instance, has long been regarded as a coquettish act of seductress and the recognition of this fact has made mascara an indispensable item in a perfect makeup kit.
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Colours, Colours, Colours
Mascaras come in a wide range of colours, from shades of light to dark brown, black, grey, blue, green and even purple and red. Some cosmetics companies recommend blondes to wear brown while blue-eyed women to wear blue mascara. But dark brown and black work well for most women. If you want that intense look, black would be the ultimate choice. Light brown is suitable only for the fairest of the fair, but to add impact and to give a more flattering look, a darker shade is recommended.
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Pick Your Choice
There is a variety of mascaras to choose from. To get the best buy, pick one that enables smooth application and does not leave flakes on your lashes or make them clump together. They should not go 'gallivanting' to other parts of the eye area and should be easily removed.
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Your Magic Wand: Wand mascaras are very popular and are in great demand for their ease of application. The liquid mascara, when applied with a wand is less messy and generally comes in a variety of colours apart from the basic black and brown. Usually oil-based, wand mascaras normally smudge within an hour of application.
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Lash-lengthening Mascara: This type of mascara contains tiny specks of fibres. They are pretty effective provided you are careful in your application. The fibre clings to your lashes and makes them look longer. Avoid using them if you have sensitive eyes or are wearing contact lenses. Go for mascaras that are hypoallergenic and water-based.
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Water-proof Formulas: They are perfect for those living in hot, humid weather and are particularly good if you want to still look fabulous even after a dive in the swimming pool as they have more holding power.
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Putting On
The last step for the perfect eye makeup is the mascara. It may seem easy, yet many girls end up with cakey mascara, unsightly undereye smudges, flakes and clumps. The secret of it all lies in its application.
Spare as much time as you can for this beauty ritual and begin with curling your eyelashes. Try doing it after applying your mascara and you risk getting broken or squashed lashes and dark flakes all over the place.
Lift your chin slightly and look downwards. Hold your brush horizontally and apply a thin coat of mascara on your upper lashes in a downward stroke, working from the base to the tip. Use a wiggly, circular movement and curl your lashes as you cover them. To separate the lashes, use the corner of your eyebrow brush.
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Now with your eyes open, brush mascara on the underside of your upper lashes, again working from the roots to the tips. Don't “dump” your wand into the applicator for your second coat, it may get overloaded with gobs of mascara or an uneven distribution of mascara on the brush.
While waiting for the upper lashes to dry, mascara your bottom lashes. Bend your head forward and roll your eyes upward to look into the mirror. Hold your brush vertically this time and use firm, even, downward strokes to coat several lashes at a time either from the inside corner or from the outside in. Again, separate the lashes with the eyebrow brush when they begin to dry.
By now, your upper lashes should be dry and ready for a second coat. Lightly pat on loose powder or apply lash builder and simply repeat the whole process. You may apply as many as three to four coats of mascara for your top lashes.
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Taking it Off
Select a suitable eye makeup remover specifically designed for your type of mascara. If you are using waterproof mascara, a special oil-based waterproof-mascara remover should be able to dissolve the mascara gently while it conditions. Make sure that it is not too highly perfumed as it may sting.
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Sunita Motwani-Makhija
is an Internationally qualified Beautician and Hair
Consultant and is the Director of the Schnell Hans chain
of Beauty Schools & Salons in Mumbai, that conducts
Basic and Advanced courses and also the City &
Guilds International Hairdressing Qualification. Sunita
is the first Indian to have been conferred the
prestigious Licentiateship in Hairdressing by City &
Guilds, U.K.
For any hair & beauty queries E-mail: schnellhans@rbcsgroup.com
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