The Practical Girl’s Guide to Alternatives for Eyelash Extensions

If you have been thinking about getting lash extensions, but hesitating, wishing there were better alternatives, then this post is for you! I have been getting questions and compliments about my lashes lately, and I wanted to share my routine from a practical girl’s point of view.

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For someone who enjoys clothes and makeup, I can’t deal with maintenance routines. I do not get my nails done regularly or get my hair cut every 6 weeks. I contemplated getting eyelash extensions for the longest time but these reasons always seemed to stop me:
• I am practical. I know I will not have the time for the fill-ins and maintenance
• I know I will absolutely love them but my wallet will not 😉
• I am weary of having a horrific experience. What if something goes terribly wrong with my lashes?

So, I sought out to find alternatives. And after a few months of trying out this routine with these products (with the exception of Vital Proteins – I have only been taking this supplement for several weeks), I noticed a huge improvement in the health and length of my lashes!

1. Diet and Supplements
I can’t speak to the cosmetic products without speaking to diet and supplements first – since a big factor to our outwardly health is attributed to the food we give our bodies. I have been on a healthier diet for a year and a half now and just recently started taking Vital Proteins (collagen peptides) in my morning coffee. I started taking this supplement mainly for bone and joint health, but another benefit is healthier skin and stronger hair and nails.

I am waiting to do a full review on Vital Proteins after taking it for a few more weeks to give you a comprehensive verdict. But if I am seeing improvement in the health and length of my lashes, I can bet that collagen peptides have something to do with it. I recommend you read up on the benefits of collagen peptides and what they can do for your health.

2. Lash Serum
The next product in my lash arsenal, is the Revitalash Advanced Eyelash Conditioner, Size 0.06 oz – No Color. Love, love, love this lash serum! I was skeptical that any serum can work this good. I researched different brands, read many reviews, watched YouTube videos and finally decided to try this one. It is on the pricey side but so worth it. One tube should last you up to 6 months. Compare this to the price of the initial set and maintenance of false lashes, and I would say this is a bargain for practically the same results.

The key with this serum is to use it regularly (each day) and be patient with the results. I apply the serum once at night after washing my face, applying it only to my top lash line (I do not apply it on the bottom lash line).
It took about 3 weeks until I noticed a considerable difference. I can definitely see longer darker lashes even without mascara – where before they were non-existent. I would encourage you to read the reviews. Everyone’s timeframe is different but mostly have seen great results after several weeks.

3. Setting Powder
What does a setting powder have to do with longer lashes? Well, it’s not really a product for longer lashes, but this is an optional step in the makeup routine. When you use mascara on long lashes, you may end up getting some of the mascara product under your eyebrows, causing a black streaky mess. The trick here is to apply a setting powder before you apply any mascara to eliminate the oils that may accumulate in that area.

My go-to setting powder has always been this one from Laura Mercier. It gets rave reviews time and time again and it certainly lives up to all the rave. I use it for setting my foundation and lately been applying it on my eyebrow bone to avoid mascara gunk in that area.

4. Eyelash Curler
For the longest time, an eyelash curler was never part of my makeup routine. But if done right, it is instrumental in how your eyelashes look. The effective way in using an eyelash curler is:
• Use it on your lashes sans mascara and hold for a few seconds
• Apply mascara and wait for it to dry
• Use the curler again with the mascara product on and gently hold for a few more seconds

It’s an extra step in your makeup routine but it adds to the dramatic look of your lashes. You can search on YouTube to find tons of tutorials on how to use eyelash curlers.

I use this eyelash curler from Revlon – fairly cheap and it does the trick. But any eyelash curler would work well.

5. Eyelash Primer
Again, another product I never paid attention to – but just like applying primer to your face before foundation, the same purpose applies here to your lashes. Your mascara has a better grip on your lashes when you apply a primer first.

There are different brands of primers out there, but this is the one I am using and loving at the moment. A bonus is that it comes with its own mascara that I use on casual makeup days.

6. Mascara
No lash routine would be complete without a good mascara and my all-time favorite is Better Than Sex mascara from Too Faced. I love this mascara! It’s the best for thickening and lengthening your lashes in my opinion. And trust me, I tried so many different brands ranging from high-end to drugstore.

The trick with applying mascara is waiting for each coat to dry. Applying coat after coat will only be wasting the product and not doing much for thickening and defining your lashes. So apply one coat, move on to the next eye, and wait in between till your lashes dry before going for the next coat. I alternate between this mascara and the drugstore one that comes with the primer I talked about earlier. Basically on more casual makeup days, I go for a more natural lash look. But when I want the full effect, Better Than Sex mascara is my go-to.

By the way, if you ever get mascara on your face, wait for it to dry completely and then wipe off with a dry Q-tip. Using a wet Q-tip or trying to remove wet mascara will not be fun 🙂

And there you have it – my longer fuller lash routine for the practical ladies like me who want the look of false lashes without the cost and maintenance. If you have tips or product recommendations for fuller longer lashes, please share in the comments below. I would love to hear them!

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