Our take on 3d fiber lash mascara — does it really work?
If you weren’t blessed with long, gorgeous lashes, you know the drill. Eyelash curler, followed by a double coat of lengthening mascara, maybe even a triple for nighttime. But instead of building length, the mascara just thickens more with every swipe, and by the time you’re through, you’re left with the dreaded tarantula eye. While long, pretty lashes open up the eye, thick, clumpy lashes do the exact opposite. For all of us who didn’t win the genetic lash lottery, what’s a girl to do?
The History of False Eyelashes
Women’s desire for long, luscious lashes is nothing new. In fact, a procedure dating back to 1899 was offered by a doctor who promised to make women’s eyes look “irresistible” through a primitive form of plastic surgery dubbed the eyelash transplant. The procedure consisted of numbing the patient's eyelid with cocaine, removing a bit of hair from her head, and, with the help of a needle, sewing the transplanted hair onto her lash line, with the ultimate goal of providing thick, luscious eyelashes. Fortunately, by 1911, women (hopefully!) caught on that this wasn’t a smart idea, and the first set of false lashes was patented by Anna Taylor.
Though false lashes still exist today, many of us remain unimpressed by this method of fakery, as we’re hesitant to glue something resembling fuzzy spiders to our lash line with the hope that it won’t end up swimming in our soup bowl by day’s end.
Within the last decade, an alternative to dangerous, painful “lash transplant” surgery, eyelash extensions popped onto the scene, and paved the way for the newest long lashes craze. Eyelash extensions are a great option for many, and provide a beautiful “I woke up like this” look without the need for makeup. The downside to eyelash extensions is they’re tedious, expensive, and to maintain the look, call for the user to constantly return for “refills” since, like natural lashes, they tend to shed. Basically, if you’re an “idle rich” girl, eyelash extensions are perfect for you. For the rest of us, there’s got to be another way!
Alternative to Eyelash Extensions
Enter 3D fiber mascara - typically a two-part system that utilizes a “transplant gel” as glue, followed by the addition of fiber tubes made of nylon, silk, or rayon that build on to your lashes with each swipe. But do these 3D fiber mascaras actually deliver long lashes or are they just another blink and you’ll miss it trend?
Check out any 3D fiber mascara on Amazon and you’ll be hit with a bunch of mixed reviews. You could literally devote an entire day searching for a perfect 3D fiber mascara, and you wouldn’t be any closer. Why? Because like so many things, with 3D fiber mascara users either seem to love them or hate them.
3D Mascara Pros
If your main goal is to achieve length at all costs, you will love 3D fiber mascara. The fibers attach themselves to your natural lashes, and act like tiny arms, reaching out and providing length while opening up your eyes. And 3D mascara is versatile too based on your preferences – you can either select multi-step or all-in-one formulas.
If you prefer a multi-step system, the process involves first applying transfer gels to your lashes to hold everything on, followed by the application of the fibers to your lashes. Once these preparations are complete, you’ll follow up by applying your normal mascara on top of it all.
If simplicity is important to you, you’ll want to select an all-in-one formula, such as L'oreal X Fiber Mascara, where the fibers are essentially built in, and you simply apply as you would a normal mascara.
Whichever process you select, you can expect to build increased length to your lashes, which gives off that wide-eyed look that everyone is going for.
3D Mascara Cons
If you prefer a more natural look, 3D mascara is not for you. And even if you don’t care to look natural, 3D mascara is not without its problems. If you're a makeup newbie or just apply it improperly, the fibers can look messy and make your lashes appear overly thick instead of lengthened, like you have on too much mascara. 3D fiber mascara can also flake or run during the day, and trust us, raccoon eyes are every bit as unattractive as the spider look.
Our Takeaway
If you’re intrigued by 3D fiber mascara, our recommendation is to give it a try. Just be aware of the cons associated with this type of mascara, and be reasonable in your expectations. Your best bet may be to start off with the all-in-one mascaras or a simple lengthening formula, as they are more goof-proof, and, if you find you’re happy with the results, you can then venture on to the multi-step formulas.
Resources — Racked, Marie Claire
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