Penny Oldham investigates a new way to create dramatic eyes and takes a look at what some of the big cosmetic houses are offering this SPRING.
Although there are some fabulous mascaras in the marketplace at the moment - Chanel's 'Inimitable', Lancme's 'Fatale', Dior's 'Diorshow', to name but a few - there's nothing to beat the feathery sweep of unadorned lashes resting briefly on a downy cheek. This becomes increasingly important when tears might be on the agenda, such as a wedding day, but lucky noughties brides can now choose to have lash extensions applied to augment their own - from the big day until after the honeymoon. This seemingly intricate business is now routinely offered by expert beauty therapists. One such is beautician Nina Parsons, a make up artist who specialises in wedding makeup who works freelance at Attractions in Stretton, where a Derbyshire Life colleague, soon to be a bride herself, recently went for a trial run. Already blessed with long lashes, she wanted a little more volume and to be able to dispense with smudge-prone mascara.The first step, once she was settled on the couch, was to apply protective shields above and below the lash line. Then the natural eyelashes, devoid of makeup, of course, are combed and separated. The new lashes come in various sizes and thicknesses, silk or synthetic to produce a more or less extreme effect. Individual lashes are picked up with fine tweezers, dipped sparingly into a dark-coloured adhesive and very carefully joined to a single natural lash. After ensuring the new lash blended seamlessly with the others, Nina used the same painstaking procedure with the next and the next, until no-one could tell that Amanda's eyelashes had not all been present an hour before. For her chosen look, Nina had placed longer lashes on the outside with a natural 'C' curl. The effect was natural, but lush, defining the eyes and creating a sensuous flutter across the cheek. The 'falsies' adhere to an individual natural eyelash for the duration of its life, then they fall out together up to six weeks later. There's no ripping off, as with old-style false lash strips, and aftercare is simply to avoid oil-based creams and cotton wool. The whole procedure takes around an hour and as far as cost per wear goes it's excellent value. And, I suspect, strangely addictive!Contact Nina Parsons, flashofcolour@uk2.net or visit www.flashofcolour.co.ukShadow Insurance At last a product that really delivers. A full-coverage insurance policy against all fading, creasing, melting, blurring, oil slicked, and hard-to-blend eyeshadow accidents. This silicone- based eyeshadow primer transforms any eyeshadow into a perfectly blendable, color-drenched, intensified version of itself, then locks it down perfectly until you take it off. This soothing formula evens out the skintone on your lids and smoothes lines while securing a barrier between the oils of your skin and your makeup, so no shadow catastrophes will ever happen again.Truly versatile, Shadow Insurance can be used with powder or cream eyeshadow products, and it's concentrated too: the size of a rain drop covers the entire lid. The neat blue tube fits tidily in your makeup bag so you need never have smudgy eyes again. By Too Faced and available in Boots, Debenhams and House of Fraser at �11, the range includes a stunning palette of six eyeshadows.Clinique New Quick Blush - convenient and beautiful while giving your cheeks a naturally warm colour. The water-resistant blush is cleverly housed in the cap of the container, giving the perfect amount of color on the brush. The blush formula stays on all day, and comes with an anti-bacterial brush. Available in four shades for spring: nudes, tawnies, pinks, and violets.Bourjois BourjoisThe more affordable face of Chanel, introduces a creamy new lip cream, enriched with coconut oil and available in five velvety matt shades...Chanel This season Chanel's color palette brings out the earthy and sultry tones of Bohemian-chic. Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eyeshadow in Mystic Eyes offers subtle and easy to use browns and taupes. The variations of this quad will give you many different looks from one simple compact. Use it wet or dry for a long wearing and smudge-proof look, even when the heat is on.
