False eyelashes have become a huge business in the U.S., with drugstore brands alone selling over $50 million in false eyelashes in 2014 (Statista). And why not? Long, thick, and full eyelashes are a symbol of beauty and femininity in many cultures, whereas the loss of eyelashes has been associated with a loss of attractiveness and psychosocial distress (Dermatologic Surgery, 2010). With eyelash growth serums from prescription Latisse to department store formulations climbing the sales ranks as well, it seems this is one trend that is not going anywhere anytime soon.
Of all the ways to achieve long, full eyelashes, false eyelashes are certainly the fastest, as well as the easiest once you learn the techniques. Yet, as many of us know, not all brands of false eyelashes are created equal. Here are ten criteria I have found that are beneficial to look for:
1.) The best false eyelashes use real hair.
Celebrities choose eyelashes made from animals for a reason! For instance, mink hair provides more length and thickness than human hair, but simultaneously weighs less, for a more beautiful and comfortable experience (Journal of Mammalogy). Mink hair also will withstand more uses than synthetic eyelashes, with mink eyelashes reported to last up to 25 uses from a single set. At the same time, mink eyelashes are also fine and lightweight enough to include multiple strands (hairs) per lash.
Synthetic eyelashes simply look worse and are less durable. Synthetic eyelashes tend to fall apart because they actually look a little shiny and are stiffer.  On the other hand, natural hair lashes have the same luster and look just like real eyelashes – they’re usually made from treated, sanitary hair and blend flawlessly into your real lashes.
2.) With that said, the brand mentions its products are not harmful to animals.
One of the things I love about working at FutureDerm is that our readers tend to be very socially-conscious. With that said, manufacturers of false eyelashes using real hair should explicitly state that no animals were harmed in the making of the eyelashes.
One of my favorite brands, The Lashe, states that their false mink eyelashes are made from naturally shed hairs from delicately brushed animals. The company explicitly states that no animals are harmed in the making of the lashes.
3.) A mascara from the same brand is available. Or use a mascara without fibers.
I always recommend using a mascara with false eyelashes. For one, wearing mascara will darken and thicken the lash roots, camouflaging the spaces along the lash band better. For another, if you look at your natural eyelashes, they are rarely perfect. Nearly everyone has wonky eyelash here or there! By using mascara, even with perfect technique, it helps to make your lashes appear slightly more natural and inconsistent.
For the best results, use the mascara that is designed to go with the false eyelashes. Most of the time, the cosmetic chemists at the eyelash manufacturers will be able to create a formula that is lightweight enough so it does not break the eyelash band, and simultaneously gentle enough so that it does not deteriorate the eyelash adhesive.
If the brand of false eyelashes you use does not come with its own mascara, be sure that you avoid “fiber mascaras”. Fiber mascara is a type of mascara that has tiny or micro-fibers (thread like fibers) made from rayon, silk or nylon, which attach to your eyelashes to make them look much longer and much fuller. They have a tendency of clinging to the eyelashes and stick together. While these types of mascaras are great for bare lashes, they can create an undesirable weight on false lashes, causing them to break.
4.) Strong adhesive with cyanoacrylate and rubber polymers.
The key to having lashes last is using fresh adhesive with the right ingredients. Using old glue not only will cause more reactions, but the bond will not last as long. Keep your glue fresh. Sanitize it after each and every use, and keep it stored in a cool, dark place.
Cyanoacrylate is the main ingredient in nearly all of my favorite effective adhesives. Once opened, you want to use cyanoacrylate in its entirety within a few weeks, and keep it stored in a cool, dark place. This is to ensure that the level of adhesion is the same over time.
Rubber polymers are also excellent to look for in eyelash adhesives. These polymers help to increase the flexibility of the eyelashes while they are on your eyes, so they look and feel more natural.
5.) The eyelashes are the proper size and shape for your eyes.
False eyelashes come in a variety of lengths and shapes. The best way is to choose false eyelashes with a shape and length similar to your natural eye shape and the “edge” your desire. When in doubt, choose a medium length set of lashes with the most length in the middle of the eyelash strip, and a rounded shape.
6.) You know whether you want a strip or individual lashes.
Strip eyelashes are by far the more popular type of falsies, because they’re quicker to apply.  They are a full eye’s worth of lashes pre-attached to one another, making them easy to just glue on and go!
Individual lashes are ideal for occasions where you want extra drama, but a more natural look. Each individual lash is a small clump of several lashes stuck together, meant to be applied one by one to the lash line. It’s easy to blend individual lashes together with your real lashes, so they look much more natural. Unfortunately, it is also a lot more time-consuming; anticipate an hour to complete both eyes, and up to an hour and a half for your first time around.
Many salons will also apply false individual eyelashes for you for a $15-20 fee; call ahead and ask. This is what I do!
7.) They are reusable.
The best false eyelashes state on the package that they can be sanitized and reused. You can get a lot of life out of your falsies, especially synthetic ones, if you know how to properly care for them.
When you remove your lashes, clean the makeup off them with an eye makeup remover. If you wish, you may want to further sanitize them with a quick swipe of a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol!
It’s very important to clean false eyelashes, as it helps to increase their lifespan.
8.) Know what look you are going for.
In my opinion, the best eyelashes are non-synthetic, individual, and varietal. That is, the variety of lengths in each lash cluster mimics the natural variation in real eyelashes, so they don’t look fake. You end up with a little extra volume and a little extra length, rather than having to pick one or the other. Here are some looks I recently tried.
Bottom Line
I look for the following in false eyelashes:
- Real animal hair fibers;
- The brand does not harm animals in the making of their products, and states so;
- The brand has a complementary mascara to make the lashes appear less even and more natural;
- The adhesive contains cyanoacrylate and rubber polymers;
- AÂ medium length set of lashes with the most length in the middle of the eyelash strip, and a rounded shape;
- They are individual lashes, rather than a strip;
- They are reusable, and states so on the package;
- The look is natural.
My favorite false eyelashes are The Lashe. I discovered them for the first time a few months ago, at the recommendation of a friend who is a makeup artist.