You rock false lashes when you want to feel fancy on a girls’ night out, at holiday parties and on first dates. But what about when you need that extra boost for your 9 to 5? With the right natural-looking falsies and basic know-how, adding fake eyelashes to your pre-work beauty routine is totally doable. Here we’ve picked three flattering, lightweight and easy-to-apply lashes that will help command attention at the office in all the right ways, whether you’re heading into an interview, presenting to the team or shaking hands with the bigwigs. Scroll down to learn the lash tricks that will seal the deal on your new everyday beauty staple.
Prepare Your Lashes
Follow these two easy steps before you apply false lashes.
1. Curl your lashes at the base of the roots. This tool can be super intimidating if you’re not used to it, so if this is a new thing for you, take your time. If it feels uncomfortable, try gently pushing the tool towards your eye rather than pulling it away — believe it or not, it’s more comfortable this way.
2. Apply a coat of your favorite mascara.
Now bring on the falsies!
Sephora Collection Flutter False Eyelashes ($10): These are some of the simplest-looking falsies we could find. Because they’re made with natural hair, its lashes are fine and lightweight, which helps them blend with your natural lashes and makes them easier to put on.
Extra Flutter False Lashes
1. Using a pair of tweezers to hold onto the lashes, gently apply a thin layer of eyelash glue along the base of your first falsie. This Kiss Strip Eyelash Adhesive ($8) is one of the best glues I have tried so far: the texture is super fine but not watery, the color dries invisible (= truly blendable!) and the wand makes it easy to apply. Once the glue is on, the trick is to let it become tacky. If you try to apply the lash when the glue is still wet, the lash will slide around and make a mess. When it’s tacky, it will stick in place a lot easier.
2. Once the glue is slightly tacky (this usually takes around two minutes), gently bend the lash to help shape it for your eye.
3. Use a pair of tweezers to gently place it onto your lash line. It’s easiest to do this while looking down into a mirror. This lash does not cover your whole lash line, so place it on the outer corner of your eye for the most natural look.
4. Apply a thin coat of mascara to blend the falsie into your natural lashes.
5. Repeat with the second lash on your other eye.
Just the gentle boost we were looking for.
($10): These lashes are longer without being thick and still very lightweight. Because they’re slightly more dramatic, you don’t need to apply mascara at the end… that is unless you
Long + Light False Lashes
1. Hold the lash up to your eye to see if you need to trim any of the length off (chances are you will). Use beauty scissors to trim off the excess so that the edges line up with the inner and outer corners of your eye.
2. Using a pair of tweezers to hold onto the lashes, gently apply a thin layer of eyelash glue along the base of your first falsie. Remember to let the glue get tacky before placing it onto your eye.
3. Place the lash onto your lash line. With a full lash, I personally find it easier to apply it with my fingers — I feel like I have a little more control that way. Use tweezers if that works better for you.
4. Because this lash goes a lot further in, it is best to blend it into the inner corners of your eyes by applying a black or brown eyeliner to the inside of your upper waterline.
5. Since this lash is fuller, you may want to add a coat or two of mascara to your bottom lashes as well.
6. Repeat with the second lash on your other eye.
These really pump up the volume. Keep the rest of your makeup basic to round out the look — just shape those brows and dab some gloss on your cheeks and lips.
($6): In my experience, these little gems are some of the best-received falsies around: I’ve not had a single client complain about the look or feel —
Full False Lashes
1. Because this look focuses more on fullness than length, you want to play that up by adding a smudgy eyeliner to your lash line. Apply any eyeliner you have and love and then smudge it out with a fine angled brush.
2. Add eyelash glue to the glue pocket in the packaging. Then grab a lash with tweezers and gently dip the base into the glue. Same rule applies from before: let the glue become a tacky before placing the falsie onto your lash line.
3. Start placing the lashes along the outer corners of your eyes and build inwards. Remember to start with the longer lashes on the outside of your lash line and use the shorter (and extra short) lashes as you move toward the center and inner lash line.
4. Continue along your lash line, lining up the trios side-by-side or slightly overlapping if you want a really dramatic look.
5. Once you are happy with the placement, add a coat of your favorite mascara.
6. Repeat on your other eye.
This look might be our favorite — it’s so dreamy the way these micro falsies make your lashes fan out but still appear so full.
It’s important to know that no one’s natural lashes are the same, and the same goes with fake lashes — believe it or not, they’re not one size fits all. Here’s how to make them work for you: If you have much shorter lashes, simply trim the falsies a little by point-cutting each individual lash hair on the faux strip. Or, try another type of lash by these two brands — I would say they are the best for the price by a long shot! And bonus: if you carefully peel away the glue from the lashes once they’ve been removed, you could easily get a few uses out of each set. Now that’s something to bat ’em over!
What are your hacks for getting thicker, fuller lashes? Tell us in the comments below.
