Rah, rah over mascara

With different colours and varieties hitting the market like a style tsunami, wearing mascara has never been easier, or fun.

Mascaras lend a touch of drama to your eyes and virtually eliminate the need to wear eyeliners (which are pa-ssé, by the way). And with different colours and varieties hitting the market like a style tsunami, wearing mascara has never been easier, or fun.

But first things first. Learn to decipher the labels on the bottles – they can be misleading and you’ll end up paying for something you may not need.

There’s the ‘volumising’ mascara, which hides the fact that you were born minus eyelashes. Now, if you’re lucky to have thick eyelashes, settle for a clear mascara. The water-proof mascara is perfect for swimmers, or if your boyfriend has just dumped you.

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Some of the newer kinds of mascara come with SPF (sun protection factor). But do eyelashes need sun protection? If broken lashes bother you, don’t blame the sun, because it results from the improper removal of mascara. Some mascaras are also allergy-free (try Clinique) and these are great for users of contact lenses.

Like all eye make-up (this hold true for eye shadows and eye pencils, too), mascaras should be replaced every three months. It’s not worth risking an eye infection just because you’re a make-up hoarder.

Bazaar buzz: Jordana, priced at Rs 145, offers an awesome range of colours like blue, maroon and green. It’s perfect when you don’t wish to shell out Rs 1,450 for the Lancome brand name. But the prune and turquoise mascaras of Lancome score high on richness of colour and texture. At Rs 230, Revlon has just one colour (black) in two variations – water-proof and quick thick. Not very exciting!

Three steps to lush lashes Curl your eyelashes (especially the ones on the upper lid) with an eyelash curler. When you’re applying mascara, sweep it in an upward motion. Wait for a few minutes and clean your eyelashes with an eyebrow brush. It prevents clogging.