The product
Hourglass Film Noir Lash Lacquer
The promise
A glossy, inky top coat (for lashes!), Lash Lacquer can be worn alone or, more effectively, over mascara to deliver the coveted effect of false lashes without the tricky application they're known for.
How it works
The unique brush applicator and latex formula fan out lashes, while vitamin E keeps them soft and supple. Due to its elastic formula, it wraps, when worn over mascara, around individual lashes, extending them out while coating them in a wet-look gloss. It's paraben-, phthalate- and sulphate-free.
How to use it
Before applying, swipe off any excess product. Hold the wand at a horizontal angle and, using the tip of the brush, apply product to lashes in short strokes, avoiding the inner corners of the eyes.
It can be used on both top and bottom lashes. For a more natural look, focus product on the tips of the outer top lashes; for a more dramatic effect, sweep from the base of lashes to the tips, going all along the lash line. Reapply if desired. It works best with lengthening and defining mascaras and should not be used with tubing or thickening mascaras or anything that is heavy in formulation.
Remove using makeup remover or mild soap and water.
The bottom line
Where was this product when I dressed up as Edie Sedgwick for Halloween three years ago?
It has the ability to deliver those clumpy spider lashes that she was so fond of and which Gucci and Lanvin said are all the rage this winter. So, I guess it is timely (just not timely for me). I was skeptical when this product landed on my desk; I mean, a top coat for lashes? But then, considering that people have been bedazzling their lashes and tricking them out with feathers lately, I guess a top coat was inevitable. It definitely delivers drama, which, admittedly, you could probably achieve with a few extra coats of mascara anyway. But it also doesn't weigh lashes down or make them sticky.
It's certainly not a product that I would use everyday, but it has a place in my special makeup stash reserved for evenings of drama – and/or dress-up.
$33 at Sephora ( www.sephora.com).