Your eyelashes—dress them up right and you can look sexier, more alert, and younger. Dress them up wrong and you can look like New York (how dreadful). So to ensure your lashes are done the right way, let’s go over some tips and ground rules, shall we? Good. Let’s go.

Mascara
This is the quickest and most convenient way to give your lashes a boost. For best results, start with a lash primer like MAC Prep & Prime Lash. This will coat and condition the lashes and give your mascara a foundation. Apply your mascara in a quick back and forth (or zig-zag) manner starting from the root and ending at the tips. Add another coat (or two) while the first coat is still wet. If the mascara is even just a bit dry, adding extra layers will only cause the mascara to clump. For a bright-eyed doe-like look, be sure to add mascara to your bottom lashes. Don’t worry if you smudge the mascara under your eyes—you can use a Q-tip to clean up your mistakes.

Some of my most favorite mascaras: Maybelline Lash Stiletto, Cover Girl Lash Exact, Cover Girl Volume Exact, YSL Luxurious Mascara, Benefit bad Gal Lash, Dior DiorShow Mascara, Dior Diorshow Blackout, and Too Faced Lash Injection Pinpoint

Fake Lashes
Falsies only look hard to apply. With a little bit of glue and steady fingers, you can have beautiful lashes. First apply mascara to your lashes (as described above). Take your lashes out of their box and wrap them around your middle finger–this helps to give the band of the lash a bit of a curve similar to your eyelid. You may need to measure the lashes to make sure they aren’t too long for you and cut them as needed. Apply a thin layer of lash glue (I love Duo Lash Adhesive in Dark for dark lashes, Duo Lash Adhesive in White for blonde and lighter colored lashes). Allow the glue a few seconds to get tacky, but not dry. If your hands are a little shaky, use a pair of tweezers to grip the end of the lashes. You want to make sure the band of the lashes (where you applied the glue) fits in the area where your own lashes meet your eyelid. Smooth the lash down with the flat end of your tweezers and allow the lashes a few minutes to dry. Take an eyelash curler (like Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler), gently press down where your fake lashes meet your real lashes and slowly work your way up. This helps to blend the lashes together.

You can apply fake lashes before or after you apply your eye makeup depending on what’s easier for you.

For individual lashes, get a lash adhesive like Ardell LashTite Eyelash Adhesive. Then:
1. Clean your own lashes with non-oily make-up remover or soap and water.
2. Place a drop of adhesive on a piece of foil. Dip end of lash in adhesive, then place onto your own lashes, close to eyelid. Press gently for a few seconds.
3. Continue same method for each lash used.

Some of my favorite fake lashes:

from left to right, starting at top: MAC 20 Lash; MAC 30 Lash; MAC 4 LashMAC 31 Lash; MAC 36 Lash; Make Up For Ever 156 Genevieve; Make Up For Ever 157 Lori; Make Up For Ever 105 Julia; Make Up For Ever 21 Floriane; Make Up For Ever 132 Julie; Ardell Fashion Lashes, Wispies Black; Ardell DuraLash Naturals Individual Lashes, Medium Black

Latisse®

If you want longer, thicker, and darker lashes without having to use fake lashes, check out Latisse®.

Latisse® solution is a prescription treatment for hypotrichosis used to grow eyelashes, making them longer, thicker and darker. Eyelash hypotrichosis is another name for having inadequate or not enough eyelashes.

Great eyelashes don’t just happen overnight. That’s why it’s important to note that LATISSE® (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03% works gradually and remarkably — with full results after 12 to 16 weeks. Once you begin treatment, you must continue applying the topical solution each night and follow the directions for best results. Remember results are gradual over time.

Your eyelashes will experience real measurable growth.
LATISSE® works from the inside out. As the treatment progresses, you’ll begin to see changes in length, thickness and darkness gradually. After week 16, you’ll see the full effect of LATISSE® — and so will others.

There are possible side effects.
Throughout clinical trials, some users did experience itchy eyes and eye redness. However, some users found that these irritations went away once they became accustomed to the product or began applying it properly. As with any prescription treatment, always consult with your doctor for information and proper usage of LATISSE® solution.

Check out Brooke Shields’ (Latisse® spokeswoman) before and after pics here.

So there you have it—all the tips you need to get luxurious lashes. Just be mindful not to get Obvious Fake Lashes because no matter where you are, I will find you and issue a citation. I’ll be watching…