FASHION Magazine

Every week our Beauty Fix columnist takes on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more. Have a beauty question we haven’t answered? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com or ask away in the comments below. Can exfoliating improve the appearance of cellulite? As we all likely know by now, either through arduous effort or simple acceptance of facts, […]

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There’s no question that mascara had a major moment on the Spring 2014 runways. From doll-like fashion à la Mulberry to a natural look at Ralph Lauren to clumpy like-effect at Preen, makeup artists freely waved the wand creating a range of different effects at a variety of shows.

As one of the fundamental tools to make eyes stand out, one may argue that mascaras are one of the easiest makeup products to use. However, with celebrities and models rocking enviable bold lashes on the red carpets and runways, mimicking the A-list look may not be as easy to achieve. So this week, we asked our Beauty Panel members to show us their fav look and share their beauty insider tips on how to get perfect lush lashes.

Challenge 65: How do you like to style your lashes? See the answers now! »

See our expert eyelash product picks »

Katy Perry is something of a beauty chameleon. She’s sampled almost every hair colour, can rock a statement lip just as well as a neutral shade and her big blue eyes are completely captivating. While her makeup routine is no doubt always changing, one thing remains consistent: Perry’s bombshell eyelashes. Full of volume, the secret to her iconic lashes is more than an excellent mascara—it’s the work of lash extensions.

We spoke to Good Gosh Beauty extension expert Lauren Kurtz about our quest to get the Katy Perry look. Whether you want to try a set of lash extensions or aspire to DIY it at home with false lashes, Kurtz has you covered. If you have small or brittle lashes, extensions are a great way to naturally enhance your eyes. One-by-one, a lash artist will adhere individual synthetic lashes onto your own, making them longer, thicker and curvier—and they can last up to a month. If it’s just a one-night fix you seek, Kurtz shares her foolproof tips for false eyelash application. Read on and see just how easy is it to get Katy Perry’s bombshell eyelash look.

Every week our Beauty Fix columnist takes on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more. Have a beauty question we haven’t answered? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.

What kind of mascara formula leads to more volume? I’m not in love with my current tube and am looking for a replacement.
As we’ve discussed before, finding the right mascara is a personal thing that involves many factors, such as your own lashes, mascara formula, mascara brush, application and the effect you’re looking to achieve. Generally, you’ll find that mascaras that aim to lengthen lashes have a wetter formula, while more voluminizing formulas are drier in consistency. A just-launched mascara with a drier consistency formula (which also means it will set faster and be less resistant to smudges) is Cover Girl Flamed Out Mascara ($10, at drugstores). The hollow bristles of this hourglass-shaped brush pick up way more product, meaning you’ll get healthy coverage with every stroke. The dryer formula also makes layering ideal—you can keep “pumping up” each lash with product until you have the desired amount of volume. The end result will certainly be impressive enough to keep this tube in your rotation!

See these Cannes red carpet beauty looks up close »

FASHION’s beauty editor Rani Sheen is currently at the Cannes Film Festival getting the red carpet scoop on all things beauty. Here’s what she witnessed over the weekend.

The inclement weather at the beginning of the world’s glitziest film festival did nothing for the beauty looks on the red carpet—Carey Mulligan bravely battled sheets of rain trying to derail her pale-pink Dior Couture gown and sleek centre-parted hair at the Great Gatsby’s premiere. However, the sun started to shine on Sunday and the stars took full advantage. Aishwarya Rai (commonly referred to as the most beautiful woman in the world) let her long, brown hair flow in natural waves at both the premiere of Blood Ties and the Cohen brother’s latest, Inside Llewyn Davis. But at Sunday’s gala for 100 Years of Bollywood, the Indian film and actual princess tried a style that quite befitting for the occasion.

Every week our Beauty Fix columnist takes on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more. Have a beauty question we haven’t answered? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.

I have stretch marks that I’m really self-conscious about, particularly in the summer. Can I do anything to hide them?
You’re hardly alone in feeling painfully aware of stretch marks on your body! Stretch marks are the result of the rapid stretching of the dermis. Men and women alike can develop stretch marks, often from puberty or weight gain. Approximately 50-90 per cent of women develop stretch marks during pregnancy, which makes stretch marks a fairly common concern that ought to be addressed! Try a topical treatment such as Stratamark ($40, Shoppers Drug Mart). This gel forms a thin but essential occlusive barrier on the skin to create an optimized environment to normalize and hydrate the collagen synthesis process, which will lead to repaired skin. The gel is non-sticky, dries quickly and is transparent, so it can be applied any time. Reduced appearance of stretch marks is apparent in as little as a month, which is all the more reason to grab a tube and start applying now!

See the entire Lancôme Show by Alber Elbaz collection! »

Since hearing about the collaboration between Lanvin’s creative director, Alber Elbaz and leading French cosmetics house, Lancôme, in January, we’ve been batting our lashes prettily and patiently.

Launching at the end of June, the Lancôme Show by Alber Elbaz collection is finally coming to beauty counters—and our vanities. A true believer that luxury triggers joy, Alber Elbaz has created a limited collection that not only features Lancôme’s four worldwide best-selling mascaras and colourful Hypnôse eyeshadow palettes, there’s also a set of false eyelashes that come in a box designed by Elbaz himself.

See our must-have eyelash, eyeliner and mascara picks! »

It’s been 46 years since Yardley of London introduced Twiggy Lashes and Twiggy Eye Paint to help the masses replicate the doll-like stare of the model of that and many more moments, but her gaze lingers on. This is a season of 1960s-inflected eyes, reimagined as a thick strip of fringe and pale blue lids at Giorgio Armani, spiky top-and-bottom falsies at Moschino and smoky shadow with mile-long lashes at Gucci. The difference now is that we have the benefit of 21st-century cosmetic technology: Faux lashes are being made with laser-cut paper, feathers and mink, and mascara wands are so painstakingly sculpted and engineered, they resemble tiny topiaries.

Every week our Beauty Fix columnist takes on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more. Have a beauty question we haven’t answered? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.

I recently cut my hair short and it’s at that point of growth where the ends flip out. What can I do to deal with this?
You’re preaching to the choir! I’ve been battling that old-school Carol Brady coif for a few weeks now, and let me tell you, it is a stubborn scene. Your best bet is to smooth the ends under when hair is still damp. After applying a heat protectant spray, aim the blowdryer nozzle downward on the hair shaft and grab a natural-bristle round brush to help decrease split-ends and breakage. Ideally, the brush should be small enough to use on shorter hair lengths, such as Raincry Professional Small Natural Bristle Brush 45mm ($48, raincry.com), to wrap the hair around the brush to curl the ends under in the opposite direction, working in sections and starting with the bottom layers of your hair. This method takes a bit more time, but ultimately, it’s less damaging to hair than the direct heat of a flatiron every time you wash your hair.

Every week our Beauty Fix columnist takes on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more. Have a beauty question we haven’t answered? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.

What can I use to battle fine lines and wrinkles in my undereye area? They seem to be getting a little bit deeper each year.
A fair question that many people start to ponder as time goes on! It’s important to understand that fine lines can appear due to dehydration, which can be addressed by adding moisture back into the eye area with an eye cream. However, wrinkles and fine lines brought on by aging are bit of a different beast! Consider enlisting a retinoid-based product, such as Philosophy Miracle Worker Retinoid Eye Repair Cream ($65, sephora.com), to help out. Retinoid creams contain vitamin A derivatives that work to smooth fine lines/wrinkles and boost collagen while evening out discoloration and smoothness and this particular one also contains peptides to tackle undereye bags and darkness. Tip: Retinoid creams can make skin particularly sensitive to sun exposure, so don’t forget your SPF and sunglasses when out and about!

Figuring out how to put on eyelashes can be a tricky process. From finding the best false lashes for your face to mastering the application technique, there’s an almost infinite number of variables that can trip you up along the way. But despite all this, there’s no denying the added wow-factor that false lashes can provide. A good tube of mascara can only go so far: false lashes are certainly the best way to add volume, definition and drama to your look.

Whether you’re applying eyelashes for the first time or consider yourself an expert at falsies, tips and tricks to make the process easier are always appreciated. Which is why we asked our Beauty Panel to share how they apply false eyelashes. Even better, their tried-and-true answers include recommendations for some of the best false eyelash brands to try.

Challenge 6: How do you put on eyelashes and what are the best false lashes to try? See the answers now! »

Every week we take on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more and provide all the answers. This week Beauty Fix helps you decide if a highlighter is a necessary addition to your morning makeup routine—considering that it’s a great way to hide a lack of sleep, we’re onboard! We also share a trick for avoiding the cakey look of powder foundation and a new mascara that really, truly provides all the volume you’d ever want with just one coat. Have a question we haven’t answered? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.

Read on for the full fix! »