Louise McSharry: Lash on these seamless sweepers and look eye-mazing

Fortunately, this festive season, there’s another lash format in town and it’s changing the game for me. The newest style of lash kit includes lashes designed to be applied under your own lashes. Along with the lashes themselves, most kits include an application tool (a specially shaped tweezer), adhesive and remover. The adhesive is usually designed to be brushed onto the lash like mascara, before the false lashes are applied underneath so they can stick to the natural lashes. At this point, a sealant is applied which stops the adhesive from being sticky and means the lashes stay in place without discomfort. The result is false lashes that, when well applied, are virtually undetectable. Gone are the days of lashing on black liquid liner to conceal the gap between your falsies and your actual lashline. Now you can achieve full, long lashes with a minimal makeup look.

The first time I used one of these lash systems, I couldn’t get over how quick and easy it was. As with anything, the more you do it the easier it gets, but literally from the first instance, I found them to be straightforward and speedy. There are lots of women on the internet who are choosing to apply normal lashes under the lash line with regular lash glue, but I would not advise that. Regular lash adhesive was not designed to be super close to the eye, while the adhesive which come with kits made specifically to be applied under the lashes is. Your eyes are not something you want to gamble with, so please be careful.

With that in mind, let me tell you about some underlash kits I happily recommend. Kiss’ Falscara Starter Kit (€29.99 via boots.ie) was the first set to get me into this trend, and I still turn to this range when I want a lash boost.

If you want your lashes to last longer than one night, try their Overnighter product (€17.99 via boots.ie) which promises to make your lashes last up to 10 days.

Ardell have long been a favoured brand of mine when it comes to lashes so I was delighted to try their Seamless Underlash Extensions kit (€28.49 via feelunique.com). They did not let me down! These are soft and comfortable and last up to 10 days without an additional product.

Irish brand Wink with Mink’s Speedy Lash Starter Kit (€34 via winkwithminklashes.com) contains everything you need for natural looking and beautifully boosted lashes. These were designed to be worn for seven days, and were developed by lash tech Shona Mahon who has years of experience with lashes.

Whichever you choose, be sure to remove the lashes carefully using a designated remover and following the kit’s instructions. No false lash is worth losing a chunk of your own — I say that from experience!

Lost in translation

If you haven’t heard the word ‘underpainting’ then you’re not spending as much time on TikTok as I am (you’re definitely not, and if you are then I’m worried about you because I have an actual problem.)

Underpainting is the makeup technique employed by celebrity makeup artist Mary Phillips, who recently made a video showing just how she does it. Essentially, it means applying products like blush, bronzer and highlighter before any foundation or concealer, meaning you can blend more easily and cut back on product. The results are a more natural look — I’m a big fan.

Something old...

Tom Ford’s beauty products are absolutely beautiful but they are also very expensive. There aren’t many of them which I feel truly justify the price, but I have always been a huge fan of Shade and Illuminate (€98 via brownthomas.com).

This compact includes a cream bronzer and ‘radiance enhancer’, both of which apply and blend easily and leave you looking glossy and fabulous. If you’re not a fan of shimmery highlighters, or anything glittery, you’ll love the radiance enhancer as it doesn’t have a speck of sparkle.

Instead, it slides over the skin, leaving it looking supple and healthy – shining in the best way.

It comes in four colourways, each genuinely different (unfortunately, far too many bronzing products come in a range of similar shades, offering very little actual diversity) and is a beautiful product to have in your collection.

The price, however, is difficult to swallow, which brings me to our Something new…

... Something new

Makeup artist turned influencer Bonnie Ryan was involved in every decision when it came to her new collaboration with Sosu Cosmetics.

She knew exactly what she wanted to do, having worked on countless faces while preparing women for weddings over the years.

She knows what works no matter a person’s age, she knows what will last through a long, emotional day, and she knew that was what she wanted in her range.

This shows in the products, which deliver across the board with formulas on a par with many luxury products, in my opinion. One standout, though, is Contour and Glow (€19.95 via sosucosmetics.com), a compact including a cream bronzer and cream champagne shade which apply easily and blend beautifully.

I adore a glossy sheen on the high points of my face, and this delivers that in spades.

My only request is that Sosu x Bonnie Ryan expands to include more shade options as the current shade may be too warm for very fair complexions and too light for very dark ones.

A product like this deserves to be enjoyed by everyone!