Author: donnanailsandlashes

Eyelash extensions are a great option for those wanting to elevate an eye look for more than just a night. They last anywhere from six to eight weeks and make it so that you don’t even really need eye makeup. “The eyes are so opened with lash extensions, the clients find themselves wearing less makeup,” says Blink Brow Bar brow and lash extension expert Sabah Feroz.

Upkeep isn’t too taxing either (thank the beauty gods for that), but there are some general rules to keep in mind. We asked Feroz, celebrity makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes, and celebrity lash expert, salon owner, and Envious Lashes brand founder Clementina Richardson about how to keep your faux flutterers in tip-top shape long after you get them done. Keep scrolling for their expert tips on how to take care of eyelash extensions.

1. Avoid Water for the First 48 Hours

   Once your fresh set of extensions are installed, any moisture around the eyes is a no-go. You want the glue to set in so that your lashes last as long as possible. Feroz tells clients to wash around the eye when cleansing their face and to use an oil-free makeup remover if they have to clean makeup off. To avoid washing the lashes directly within the first 48 hours, keep the eye makeup to a minimum to maximize the extensions.

2. Skip Oil-Based Products

   According to Hughes, oil breaks downs the glue that holds up the lashes, so she encourages clients to avoid oil cleansers and makeup removers. Instead, try a gel-based remover, like the NARS Aqua Infused Makeup Removing Water, to avoid dissolving the glue. Micellar water is also a great option to preserve the adhesion of your extensions and remove debris from them in general.

3. Avoid Waterproof Eye Products

   Waterproof anything won’t come off with just any old face wash—as the name would imply. It usually takes some oil-based cleanser to remove, and we’ve learned that’s a big no-no when it comes to extensions. Both Feroz and Hughes say that you don’t even need mascara or liner when your lash extensions are in; the extensions offer a similar effect to the typical eye-enhancing makeup. (Score one for getting ready faster in the morning). If you still want to wear a typical eye look, it’s better to go the non-waterproof route so that your eye makeup is easier to remove.

4. Steer Clear of Mechanical Lash Curlers

   We know, we know—our eyelash curler is a holy grail tool in our makeup bags but, with lash extensions, it’s best to lay off the mechanical curler. “You might get a bend that won’t go away,” says Hughes.

   If you do end up curling your lashes with an eyelash curler, Richardson recommends the kind that heats your lashes like a miniature curling iron, like the Envious Lashes Heated Lash Curler. “Julia Roberts and Mary J. Blige love it,” she says. It’s hard to argue with that endorsement.

5. Give Them A Good Brush

   To maintain your fluttery new lashes, make sure to brush them out occasionally. “The rule of thumb is only to brush them out when needed,” says Feroz. Packs of clean spoolies can be found at most drugstores and beauty supply shops.

6. Don’t Pick Or Pull Lashes

   As tempting as it may seem, Feroz encourages clients to resist that urge to play with their lashes throughout the day or while cleansing. Not only can fiddling with the extensions pull out the false lashes, but it can also end up damaging your natural lashes. “Touch-ups are required every two to three weeks,” says Richardson. If you don’t have enough extensions left to fill because you were touch-happy, your technician might charge you extra, up to the cost of a brand new set.

7. Switch to a Silk or Satin Pillowcase

   We’ve all heard how a silk pillowcase can help reduce frizzy hair and face wrinkles, and guess what? Now we can add lash extension preservation to the list of benefits. “Cotton [pillowcases] can cause drying and snagging,” says Richardson, which will lead to premature loss of precious lashes.

8. Ease Up on the Eye Cream

   The reason we love ultra-rich eye creams is the same reason using them with lash extensions isn’t the best idea. All those emollients will have a similar effect on the lash glue as the oil cleansers we mentioned earlier, shortening the lifespan of your faux flutter. Investigate some gel alternatives to eye cream while you have extensions.

9. Quit Rubbing Your Eyes

   This is so much easier said than done, but if you’re a chronic eye-rubber, you’ve got to curb your habit if you want to keep on lash extensions. The friction will have them falling like rain, and you’ll likely be out another full set fee way before you planned.

Many people underestimate the power of drinking water and the positive affects it can have on your skin and your overall health. Your skin is the largest organ in your body, protecting you, storing lipids and water, preventing fluid loss and serving as thermoregulation. Drinking more water is the most natural way to get that beaming, glowing and healthy skin we all want.

Let’s take a look at 7 ways drinking water helps improve skin.

1. Sagging Skin

   Rapid shedding of fat or extreme weight loss may cause sagging skin. Many people tighten their skin by water fasting, but this is an unhealthy method and can actually do grave damage to your skin. By drinking ample amounts of water day-in and day-out, you can slowly tighten your skin and maintain a healthy glow.

2. pH Balance

   It is important to maintain a good pH balance in your skin. The pH of any substance ranges from 0-14 with 14 containing the most alkaline and 0 being highly acidic. A pH value of 7 is neutral and is the exact pH value of pure water. The reason you need to drink more water is to ensure that your pH value is balanced, giving you healthy skin. The reason it is important to wash your skin thoroughly with water after using face wash is to maintain the correct pH balance.

3. Flush Toxins

   Drinking water will flush out the toxins in your body, especially the harmful toxins that can take a toll on your overall health. By increasing your water intake, you can flush out the toxins in your body to improve the health of your skin and your body. Many people go on juice diets in order to flush out toxins, but maintaining a healthy diet and drinking water will help flush out toxins just the same.

4. Reduces Wrinkles

   Water keeps your body hydrated and refreshed and helps maintain your skin’s elasticity. People who drink large amounts of water are less likely to suffer from scars, wrinkles, and soft lines and they won’t show as many signs of aging as those who drink little amounts of water. As you grow older, it is tougher for your body to retain water, so by inputting more water into your system, you are helping your body and your skin stay hydrated.

5. Prevents Pimples and Acne

   Certain kinds of toxins will clog your small pores on your epidermis and can cause issues like acne and pimples. By drinking more water, you ensure that you won’t suffer from severe pimples and acne. The more hydrated your skin, the less your pores will clog.

6. Moisturize

   Not only should you drink a lot of water, eight glasses a day to be exact, but you should also use it to clean your skin thoroughly. It may not seem ideal to take a bath or shower every day, especially during the colder months, but it is great for your skin to cleanse your body with water to clear our and unclog pores to keep your skin moist and healthy.

7. Elasticity

   If you have a lack of elasticity in your skin, it may be that you are dehydrated. To check your skin’s elasticity, gently pinch your skin and see if it bounces back. If it doesn’t bounce back, you need to drink more water to hydrate yourself and to plump up your cells. Areas such as the skin under your eyes can become dark if you lost elasticity and are not hydrated.

How much water should you be drinking a day?
The amount of water you should drink in a day depends on metabolism, weight, height and your daily routine. Generally, adults should drink between 5 and 8 glasses of water everyday, and even more if needed. Always make sure you are drinking at least six glasses a day to stay hydrated and healthy.

Fingernails can be a point of pride (nail art, anyone?) or a source of shame (please ignore the chips and ridges). Gels, acrylics, shellacs and powders, particularly when applied and removed incorrectly by a technician, may wreak particular havoc on our nails. Choosing your manicurist carefully and keeping nails hydrated with cuticle oil is important, but you can also control your nail health outside of the salon. Nail experts say the foods we eat can help help your hands look beautiful or make them look worse.

“People ask me all the time how they can keep their nails strong and beautiful, and I always say the same thing: It starts with diet,” says Mazz Hanna, celebrity manicurist and founder and CEO of Mazz Hanna High-Vibration Luxury Skincare, whose A-list clients include Julia Roberts, Amber Heard, Emma Roberts, Selma Blair and Greta Gerwig.

Nutrition is a “key factor” in maintaining good nail health, agrees Dave Crisalli, founder and CEO of PROSE nail boutiques. “Like any body part, the appearance of the natural nail is an indicator of your overall health and can be affected by our eating and drinking habits.”

Because there is “a direct correlation between your diet and the health of your nails,” eating the right foods is the best first step for optimal nail health, says Australian hair and skin expert Jocelyn Petroni, who heads her own company and is the official manicurist for CHANEL.

Here are a few expert-recommended foods to help you grow nails that are long, strong and healthy.

• Meat and Eggs: “Because nails are made of the protein keratin, a diet that includes plenty of protein like red meat can help your nails repair, grow and maintain their strength,” Crisalli says. New York-based celebrity manicurist Jackie Saulsbery, who counts Adele and Queen Latifah among her clients, recommends eating eggs, which are also chock-full of protein and can boost nail strength and speed growth.
• Non-Meat Sources of Protein, Like Nuts: If you avoid animal protein, no worries: “Quinoa and nuts are also great options for getting protein in your diet,” Crisalli adds. For vegans, Hanna recommends hemp seed protein, which is rich in protein and iron, as well as a good source of fiber. “Iron deficiency can lead to brittle nails, and protein deficiency leads to ridges,” says Hanna.
• Dark, Leafy Greens: The calcium, iron and antioxidants in dark, leafy greens, like spinach, broccoli, kale and collard greens, can boost nail health. Hanna is a big fan of spinach, especially, because it contains Vitamin A, as well as folate (one of numerous B-vitamins), iron, Vitamin E and calcium. “I love adding a few scoops of this into my daily green smoothie for an added boost,” says Hanna. Saulsbery cautions that leafy greens are best consumed raw or lightly cooked: “Don’t cook them down. Leave them kind of crunchy,” she says, “or you will cook all the vitamins out of them.”
• Orange and Yellow Veggies: Carrots, pumpkins and sweet potatoes are packed with vitamin A, which can help keep your nails shiny and avoid dryness. They also contain beta-carotene, the precursor of vitamin A that helps promote healthy skin. “Beta-carotene is an important ingredient for nail growth,” Crisalli emphasizes, noting that a diet balanced with these foods can benefit your overall health as well.
• Healthy Oils: Petroni recommends consuming one and a half tablespoons of your oil of choice each day, which, she says, “will start to come through and nourish your skin and nails from the inside out” after a few weeks. Her oil of choice is a liquid-oil supplement called Udo’s Oil, which is high in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. “Drizzle it on your breakfast or include it in a drink,” Petroni suggests.
• Bone Broth: “I am a big believer in the internal hydrating benefits of collagen and you can give your body what it needs in what you consume day-to-day,” Petroni says. “I personally love both beef and chicken bone broth, which are high in natural collagen, contributing to strong and healthy nails.”
• Water: “Hydration is also a contributing factor to your overall nail health,” Crisalli advises. “Normal, healthy nails will turn white when pressed and then ‘refill’ when the capillaries underneath regain their natural blood flow. Nails that take longer than half a second to refill may indicate dehydration. An easy fix? Drink more water.”