Happy Friday!

Since it’s the end of the week (that seemed to speed by!) I thought we’d talk about a lighter topic today. I don’t talk too much about cosmetic stuff on the blog. I’ve shared my skin care routine and DIY vitamin C serum, but I don’t really fuss too much when it comes to make up.

That said, you might already know that for the past couple months, I’ve been getting lash extensions.

excuse the cheesy grin – this picture shows them though, haha

I’ve shared it on Instagram, so I thought I’d write an lash extensions review here on the blog. I’d been toying with the idea of it, but had heard several horror stories about how bad they are for the eyes – some people even going blind! But after some research and talking with several eyelash extension estheticians in the area, I learned that this was typically due to poor application skills.

What are eyelash extensions?

They are little black eyelashes made out of synthetic materials, applied individually to the actual eyelash with surgical glue. After getting a set, lashes will look darker, fuller, longer, and lusher. The first application ranges from $125-$350 with each fill costing anywhere from $50-$150.

After calling a few places that did them in my area, I decided to go with Leslie at Birch Skin Studio in Boulder. She had great reviews on Yelp, and it sounded like she had a good amount of experience.

source

I really wanted eye lash extensions for 2 main reasons:

1) I have blonde hair, and therefore, blonde eyelashes. They’re basically invisible without mascara.

2) I really dislike wearing mascara. It’s annoying to apply and it gets in my eyes.

3) ok, there’s 3. I’m a personal trainer, which is a job that doesn’t require much makeup. During the week, I’d rather not apply makeup at all!

When I met with Leslie, we went over any and all questions I had, including what to expect during the application and how to care for them afterward.

Some questions I had about the lash extensions were:

-will they feel annoying?

-will I be able to rub my eyes?

-will I look like a Vegas show girl?

-what are they applied with?

-how long will it take?

-will I still be able to oil cleanse my skin?

-how often will I have to get a fill?

-can I go swimming?

The Application

Leslie told me the initial application would take about 2 hours…and it did. She started by cleaning my own lashes, and then applying little shields to my bottom lashes/lids. This was the most uncomfortable part of the application, but it only took about a minute per eye. After the shields are in place, she began attaching the synthetic lashes to my own eyelashes one by one, with surgical grade glue. We had discussed that I wanted a more natural look, so she selected lashes that had somewhat of a curl that weren’t excessively thick or long. The process is mildly uncomfortable, but I managed to fall asleep once.

After she was happy with the amount of lashes attached, she placed this cup-shaped hydrolizer thingymagig  (technical term.) I believe she said it’s kin to what’s in an inhaler. Anyway, it’s supposed to set the glue on the lashes and make them stay on longer. Then, she peeled off the shields, and let me have a look.

Before/After

Here’s a before/after lash extension shot.

Pretty dramatic change, right?! There’s some lighting differences between each picture, too, but there’s no denying that it completely transformed my eyes. I was immediately in love. Actually, at first I thought it looked too drastic, but then after looking at them a few times, I loved them.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• They’re so pretty! Even with mascara I wasn’t able to make my lashes this lush.
• I don’t have to wear mascara – at all – anymore.
• I never have to worry about mascara running down my face in case caught in rain – or maybe a sweaty hike or workout
• No make up during the week.
• Not much maintenance – just brushing them with a little brush every other day or so.

Cons:

• The price. I’ve been getting fills at about 3.5 weeks, and it’s about $75 a pop. That adds up!
• The application process. Even fills take an hour to an hour and a half.
• The first few days of each fill, it stings a bit if my eyes water.
• I can’t oil cleanse my face anymore (but I have found a really good substitute face wash that I’m in love with!)
• I can’t really rub my eyes. Sometimes, rubbing my eyes is just the best feeling ever (is that weird?) With the lashes, I have to be careful.

Overall, I’m really happy with them! I’m not sure how much longer I’ll continue them, mainly because of the stinging and the application time. It’s hard for me to lay still for so long, haha. I’m all for self-pampering. I love getting massages and (gel) manicures, but usually I’m super late on scheduling them just because it takes me a while to justify how much time it takes to get them done!

What’s your least favorite make up to apply? I don’t wear much make up, but I just hate applying mascara. I always dislike washing my face, too, but probably because I’m so tired before going to bed.