Are eyes the new lips?

The days when all the focus was on the pout have passed; now, the eyes have it. Gone are the days where we all queued up for plumping gloss and lip filler – now, it’s all about long, long lashes, and full, handsome brows. If eyes are the window to the soul, brows and lashes are the curtains.

• 1 Microblading

  Microblading was the big beauty craze of ‘17, and we're still hooked. Using hair-thin strokes, microblading is a super natural-looking way to tattoo fuller-looking brows. It uses a special, ultra fine needle to mimic the appearance of actual brow hairs, giving you an effortlessly sculpted, but believable, look. Results can last a lifetime, after a couple of top ups.
• 2 Tinting

  An oldie but a goodie, brow tinting is a foolproof way to get fuller brows. Your therapist will apply a special tint (bespoke to your preferences), to your brows to subtly hue them a warmer shade. Use of the dye picks up every tiny baby hair, making your brows seem more luscious, and negating the need for pencil or pomade. You’ll need a monthly top-up.
• 3 Threading

  Threading is a genius technique, originating from India, that guarantees seriously sharp arches. Dating back thousands of years, the use of thread to remove unwanted hair gives your therapist the benefit of precision and speed, as they’ll be able to remove lines of hair at once, rather than the tedium of plucking or the large surface areas of waxing. Perfect for shaping brows that lift everything from your cheekbones, to your smile lines.
• 4 LVL

  We’re not quite sure what we did with ourselves before LVL. This brilliant treatment is the lazy girl’s way to get fabulous lashes – and results can last up to two months. The treatment will see your lashes curled and tinted with a special setting process that maximises every millimeter of your natural lashes. With bookings up by 151% last year (vs. 2016), LVL has truly reached fever pitch. Get ready for lots of ‘Are you sure you’re not wearing mascara?’ comments…
• 5 Lash extensions

  If you want lashes that really make an impact, it has to be extensions. Adding length, volume and definition, the lash extensions your therapist can apply are a world away from strip lashes. They’re super-fine, and often made of exquisite fibres like silk or (cruelty-free) mink. Stacked and glued against your natural lashes, they give a flirty flutter that’s so decadent, you might want to give up eye makeup altogether. To try them is to be hooked…
• 6 Semi-permanent makeup

  Put down the gel liner – you no longer need to spend fifteen minutes every morning agonising over your flicks. Semi-permanent makeup will give you the subtle definition that eyeliner brings, but for up to a year. It’s nowhere near as scary as it sounds, and the results are now so flawless you’ll wonder why you ever bothered to do it yourself in the first place.
• 7 Eyelash curlers

  There’s a reason all makeup artists bang on about eyelash curlers. It’s because the results are quite literally eye-opening. A simple squeeze makes the lashes look longer, and in turn, your eyes more awake. Do invest in a good pair – we like Kevyn Aucoin’s or Troy Surratt’s.
• 8 Eye patches

  No, we’re not talking about channelling your inner Captain Jack Sparrow. We’re talking about those dinky little under-eye sheet masks the A List are always snapped in during their ‘glam time’. Hydrating, de-puffing and firming, under-eye masks are a brilliant way to refresh tired eyes, and are a godsend after a long flight or a sleepless night. Try Dr Maryam Zamani’s or Skyn Iceland’s.
• 9 Eye drops

  More dispatches from beauty shoots we can bring you – any makeup artist worth their salt packs brightening eye drops in their kit. If a model’s had a late one, or suffers from allergies, eye drops are a brilliant way to perk up their peepers and neutralise any redness. Genius.