How to Get a Lash Lift Effect

Nowadays your lashes necessitate a routine all their own—and it doesn’t end with priming, conditioning, and swiping on a little mascara. Women are tinting their lashes, getting extensions, and even having their lashes permed (aka getting lash lifts). A lash lift or perm gives your fringe a semi-permanent curl, allowing you to put down your lash curler. Of course, if semi-permanent solutions aren’t your thing, there’s another, even more temporary, option for lifting your lashes—a lifting mascara. Here, we’re telling you all about our best lifting mascara, so you can boost your lashes and upgrade your beauty look with the best of them.

How to Achieve a Lash Lift Effect with Mascara

Ready to give at-home lash lifting a try? You won’t need much more than mascara.

1. Apply a Lifting Mascara

Getting a lifted lash look is all about using the right mascara. As you know, there are formulas for all different types of looks—lengthening, thickening, volumizing, etc. etc. Another type of mascara is known as a lifting mascara. These mascaras do just what you’d expect them to; they take your lashes to new heights and offer a long-lasting, lifted effect. Our favorite lifting mascara? The L’Oréal Paris Unlimited Lash Lifting and Lengthening Washable Mascara. Featuring a bendable wand, when kept straight the mascara wand helps stretch and lengthen lashes. Bend it, and the wand will lift lashes and allow you to access those hard-to-reach lashes. Start by brushing your mascara on as you normally would—from root to tip—then bend the wand and watch your lashes get an instant lift.

Editor’s note: Are you a waterproof mascara fan, through and through? In that case, grab the L’Oréal Paris Unlimited Lash Lifting and Lengthening Waterproof Mascara and your lashes can be lifted and H2O-proof.

2. Tightline

A lash lift look may not be all about pumping up the volume, but volume and lift go beautifully together. So, once you’re satisfied with the lift of your lashes, tightline your eyes. Not familiar with this eyeliner technique? Tightlining involves carefully lining your upper waterline, right against the base of your lashes. This quick step immediately results in fuller-looking lashes. Give it a try with a black pencil eyeliner, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof, Up to 24HR Pencil Eyeliner in Black.

How to Take Your Lifted Lashes to the Next Level

Think your lashes could be even more out of this world? Pick up the lash curler we mentioned setting aside earlier. You can’t beat the effect of doubling up and using a lash curler with a lifting mascara. Just remember to use your lash curler first! For an even better curl, run your lash curler under hot water (then dry it off) or give it a quick blast of hot air with your blow dryer before curling. Then, while your lashes are completely bare, crimp them with the curler, working from the base of your lashes out toward the ends for a complete curl. Once you’ve accomplished this step, apply your mascara as detailed above and prepare to be wowed by your very own fringe.

3 Other Tips for Showstopping Lashes

Lifting your lashes isn’t the only way to obtain enviable eyelashes. Try adding the following tips to your beauty routine from time to time and you’ll see what we mean.

1. Try Lash Contouring

One of our favorite mascara trends? Lash contouring! Just as contouring your eyebrows, cheeks, and everything else you can think of is all the rage, the same goes for lashes. To make sure you’re up on your beauty trends, click through to our article, How to Contour Your Lashes.

2. Don’t forget lower lashes

Your lower lashes may not need to be curled (or lifted), but they will look amazing with a little mascara on them. If you’re afraid of ending up with overly dramatic eye makeup, try a brown mascara!

3. Use a lash top coat

Top coats aren't reserved for your nails. There are mascara top coats too! If you want to spruce up your lashes for a night out, swipe on a shimmer-packed mascara topper and you’ll have yourself a light-catching fringe.

Are you all about the lashes? Next, learn How to Layer Your Mascara.