Ardell Magnetic Lashes Review
If You Suck at Applying False Lashes, Give These Ardell Ones a Try
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When it comes to makeup, I consider myself pretty skilled. I can conceal and perfect my base, contour my cheeks to the gawds, and nail a damn good cat eye. But even though I've been able to master all the beauty basics, I f*cking suck at putting on fake lashes.
No matter how many tips or demonstrations I get from pros, I can never get false lashes right. I've tried holding a mirror beneath my face to carefully place strips along my lash line. I've used a variety of tools like tweezers and lash applicators but nearly poked my eyeballs into the abyss. Not to mention the countless number of cat eyes and shadow bases that I've destroyed with lash glue (RIP). So instead, I stick to lifting my fringe with good ol' mascara.
However, a few months ago, fellow POPSUGAR editor Brinton Parker tested magnetic lash accents, and I was intrigued. The innovative enhancement looked really natural and convincing on Brinton, but the lash novice in me couldn't imagine ever being able to apply magnetic pieces successfully, much less dropping over £50 on a set.
But magnetic lashes just became more accessible for beauty newbies and experts thanks to Ardell. The beloved brand is releasing a range of magnetic, no-glue lashes that you can pick up at the drugstore. The entire collection comes in full strips and accents.
Because of my sticky history with applying faux strips, the lash dummy in me needed to put Ardell's new enhancements to the test. See how they cracked up ahead.
My Eyelashes With Mascara
Here's a shot of what my lashes look like with two coats of Too Faced's Better Than Sex Mascara (£24).
Ardell Magnetic Accents 001
My typical makeup routine consists of two coats of mascara (three if I'm feeling fancy), so it was no surprise that the simple accents (style 001) caught my eye first. Unlike full strips, accent lashes are placed on the outer corners of the lash line to open your fringe and give it a cat-eye effect.
When I saw the top and bottom attachments in the package, I was confident that I would immediately eff it up. But I was wrong: applying the set was actually quite easy.
I placed the top half along my upper lash line and plopped the bottom one right underneath my upper lash line. The magnets clasped together and the outer corners of my lashes were living their best lives. Not only did they look like individual lash extensions, but I didn't spend 15 minutes before a mirror getting glue stuck to my eyelids. I really loved that the accents just gave my lashes subtle flair that wasn't too intense.
My only tip would be giving your natural lash some extra curl and mascara before applying these. I felt like the lengthy pieces at the end didn't seamlessly blend with the rest of my lashes. Next time, I'll definitely use an eyelash curler and apply a few extra coats of lengthening mascara before putting these on.
Ardell Magnetic Lashes in Double 110
Again, I am not ashamed to say that I couldn't put on a pair of glue-on lash strips even if you paid me a million bucks. So the real test really came down to the full magnetic strips. First up was the modest set, which felt like a lengthier, more flirty version of my natural lashes.
I followed the exact steps as the aforementioned accent strips but found that these were a bit harder to put on. I struggled lining up the strip to the shape of my eye, but once I got the top lash on, the bottom one clicked right into place. These didn't feel like dramatic wings, and I loved that they appeared to be fuller versions of what I am already working with.
If you're a lash-dummy (like me), I suggest practicing with the full strips for a bit. If you don't get them on in one try, give 'em a wiggle and try again. You don't have to worry about glue drying or makeup smearing, so there's a lot of room for practising your technique with these.
Ardell Magnetic Lashes Double 110 (£11.50)
Ardell Magnetic Lashes in Double 110
Ardell Magnetic Double Wispies
Now, the Double Wispies were definitely entering expert territory. These are way fuller, longer, and more curled than the natural set. Layering a top and bottom strip made the entire lash a lot more "extra" than what I am used to, but if you're a lash master (or going for a more dramatic look), then these'll be right up your alley. I tried these out at my desk with just regular makeup, and they felt slightly dramatic for the workplace (IMO). But I can definitely see myself latching these on when I go full-on glam for NYE parties.
