For the love of lashes

Life is short - but your lashes needn't be! Here are some tips and tricks to treat them right and add some zing to your eye looks

All women want an expressive gaze and nothing accentuates a woman's look quite like long, dense eyelashes. Whether it's on television or even in cartoons, beautiful eyes framed with thick, voluminous lashes always add a feminine look. In reality, however, it is quite a challenge to present your eyes in the best possible way. Eyelashes can be brittle and short and many women complain that the men in their lives have longer lashes than they do!
If you feel like your lashes are in less-than-perfect condition, it may be because they are not getting the care they really need. Other than making us look good, eyelashes play an important role in protecting our eyes and they need to be treated with care for this reason. After all, if the eyes are the windows to the soul - we should be taking care of their 'curtains' (aka eyelashes)!
Here are some natural remedies to protect them and help them grow longer:

1. Castor Oil: Ricinoleic acid is a major component of castor oil and makes up about 90 per cent of it. This acid helps with hair loss and may also prove an excellent option to help your eyelashes grow longer.
2. Coconut Oil: Coconut oil has been used for centuries in haircare treatments due to its penetrating effect, which helps prevent the loss of hair proteins.
3. Vitamin E: Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant. It can help reduce oxidative damage that could be causing an increase in hair loss.
4. Green Tea: Green tea is a rich source of a polyphenol called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). This green tea polyphenol is well-noted for its hair growth-promoting effect. Hence, it may also help in promoting the growth of your lashes.
5. Massage: Massaging has long been known for its array of beauty and health benefits. It helps improve circulation. For example, massaging your scalp regularly, be it with or without oil, can improve hair length as well as thickness. Massaging your eyelids gently may help you get similar results.

If you're looking for something outside natural remedies, here are some amazing eyelash enhancers that also help:
1. Hello Hair Natural Lash + Brow Enhancer
2. LashFood Organic Phyto-Medic Natural Eyelash Enhancer Serum
3. RevitaLash Advanced Eyelash Conditioner
4. Vichy LiftActiv Serum 10 Eyes & Lashes

Last, but not the least, false lashes have the potential to make your eyes pop and create a stunning, dramatic look. If you have a special occasion coming up,  you can try choosing between natural, synthetic or mink fur lashes. Some of the best brands that I have tried for this - and not cried from the heaviness - are:
1. Huda Beauty Giselle #1
2. Masters Professional Strip Lashes - 213
3. Ardell Natural Lashes Demi Wispies
4. Red Cherry Lashes #415 - IVY
5. KoKo Lashes - Madame Wispy
wknd@khaleejtimes.com