Mom’s Beauty Tips - Parlour in Delhi, Salon in Lajpat Nagar & Malviya Nagar

Brighten complexion:

Lemon juice has mild bleaching properties. This is the reason lemon is used to lighten the skin. It can be used in beauty applications to make the skin more fair.

Homemade facial scrubs:

Lemon contains natural alpha hydroxide acid that works to remove dead skin cells. You can make a natural scrub at home by mixing it with sugar. Give your face a circular massage with this sugar until the sugar is dissolved. This will remove dead skin cells and prevent blackheads while encouraging new skin cell growth.

Essential oil to revive dull and dry skin:

Lemon essential oil can be used on skin to refresh dull and dry skin. Add one part of lemon oil to ten parts of coconut oil and massage into your face in circular motions for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse off your face with lukewarm water and pat dry. This will benefit your skin in two ways. It will moisturize your dry skin and it will add a glow.

Advice while using face masks:

Remember that if you apply lemon juice to your skin before going out into the sun, it can make the skin more sensitive to light. So, avoid using lemon juice topically before sun exposure.

Facial mask benefits:

When lemon juice is used in a mask, it clears dirt and bacteria from the surface of the skin. This dirt can clog the pores, leading to pimples and breakouts on the face. Lemon juice will give your face a refreshed look.

Lemon juice, rose water, and glycerin lotion:

Mix equal amounts of lemon juice, rose water and glycerin in a jar. Apply daily to your face to benefit any skin type. Whether you have dry or oily skin, this lotion thrice a week will give you radiant and clear skin.

Milk and lemon mask:

Put two tablespoons of raw milk on your palm and add few drops of lemon. Lemon juice will sour the milk, which you will apply to your face. This is an excellent treat for oily skin. Apply on your face overnight, and you will wake up feeling flawless.

Honey and lemon mask:

Honey has natural antibiotics that are easily absorbed by the skin. It works well with the vitamins and astringent properties of lemons. Honey and lemon juice together will lighten the skin tone.

Lemon and egg-white mask:

This combination will tighten the pores, clear dead skin, and assist in preventing wrinkles.

Treatments at beauty clinics are not the only thing you can do for your face skin. Home treatments such as using lemon juice can benefit the skin and are great substitutes to expensive products

Understanding Skin Ageing and Ways to Delay it - Parlour in Delhi, Salon in Lajpat Nagar & Malviya Nagar

According to the study, those who have copies of the 'ageing gene' look at least two years older than their actual biological age. Others who have just one such gene look older by about a year. Surprisingly, there exists a vast majority who may not have the gene altogether; these are the fortunate ones to retain their younger look.

It's Much More than a Wrinkle

Ageing doesn't start and stop at wrinkling. One needs to be watchful of many other signs as well. As you age you will see age spots, freckles and deep lines around all major folds on your face. Those lines at the sides of your eyes are known as crow's feet. You also have jowls which show the sagging of the jaw muscles and tissues.

Facial ageing has many forms. There are certain factors that accelerate the pace of this process. Usually it happens over the years owing to gravitational changes and loss of skin elasticity. As we grow older our body witnesses the damage of cartilage, bones and tissues that are beneath the skin (loss of subcutaneous fat). On loss of these elements, the skin tends to lose support and starts sagging."

Repetitive muscle activity, exposure to radiation, UV rays (sun damage or photodamage) and harmful chemicals also add to skin degeneration and ageing.

5 Ways to Slow Down Ageing

As discussed above, ageing cannot be stopped, however, you can ensure better lifestyle and routine practices to delay it or slow it down. Below is a host of features one should keep in mind:

1. Skin Care Regime

Ask yourself, do you have a skin regime? Do you cleanse, exfoliate, message and moisturise? Experts suggest that a standard skin care regime is of the utmost importance to prevent accelerated ageing.
"Do not get facials from anybody and anywhere. Do not change products too often. Chemicals can be extremely damaging to your skin.  Apply products with thin consistency followed by the creamier ones. "Sunblock and moisturisers are very important. Wear an effective sunscreen every day, rain or sun!

How to handle your face has a great impact on the creation of fine lines on your face. Always dab your face; never rub with hands, tissue, cotton or towel. Do not sleep on your stomach with your face down, it damages your skin and results sleep creases. Keep a check on dry skin. Do not neglect your hands, feet and neck. Always remove your makeup before going to bed. Yes, that kajal too!

2. Hydrate

Water, water, water! How many times will you turn away from the fact that drinking - at least - 2-3 litres of water is a must for healthy functioning of your body. It is great for skin as well. Just as your skin requires external moisturization and hydration, our body needs enough water to work properly. If drinking plain water bores you, opt for other fluids like coconut water, fresh fruit juices, buttermilk, sherbets, etc.

3. Learn to Say No

Say no to excessive smoking and drinking, prolonged sitting, late working hours, processed foods, excess of caffeine, stress, sedentary lifestyle and obesity.

4. You Are What You Eat

The importance of an ideal, balanced diet is known to all but practiced by a few. Dr. Deepali suggests including lots of seasonal produce in the diet for a healthy and glowing skin. "Yellow and purple coloured fruits and veggies especially. These are great for your skin," she notes. "Avoid red meat and fattening foods, instead, have fresh fruits and vegetables, beans, legumes, nuts, whole grains, seeds and dairy products on a daily basis. Olive oil can safely be added to your daily diet. Sweets, eggs, poultry and fish should be eaten in intervals during the week. All these should always be teamed with at least 30 minutes of physical exercise.

Foods to avoid:

- High glycemic load carbohydrates - anything made of refined sugar
- Refined starch - maida-based breads and pastas
- Refined grains - white rice
- High starch - potatoes
- Commercially processed vegetable oils, fruit juices, beverages and packaged food material

5. Compromise anything but sleep

Needless to say, eight hours of sound sleep is essential for everybody and should never be compromised.

Home Remedies for Pimples, Glowing Skin & Dryness - Parlour in Delhi, Salon in Lajpat Nagar & Malviya Nagar

Every year we instigate new set of resolutions to follow diligently till the end. While many fail in their attempt, there are a selective few who do succeed. It's all about dedication after all, and the determination to meet the goal. These resolutions could be anything, which serve you the sense of achievement, bringing about your well-being. But as always, we forget to pay heed to beauty, and the importance of nurturing yourself.

So let this year be about starting your wellness journey. And if you are worried about the extent of effort you may have to put in, then you will be amazed with our quick beauty recipes. Yes, these beauty recipes take only about five minutes of your time, and uses natural ingredients which are readily available at our homes.

Here are 16 five-minute recipes for all kinds of skin related problems -

1. Pimples Due to Dryness

For those of you who sprout pimples in the middle of the cold season and have the driest of skins, stop thinking there's something wrong with you and blaming your luck. Pimples can happen even due to dryness of skin. So make this wonderful nourishing oil and massage two drops into wet skin for good results -
50 gm neemhoney
50ml olive oil
50ml sesame seed oil
10 drops geranium oil
Method: Mix all the ingredients and massage two drops of it into wet skin.

2. Stabilising Mask for Premature Wrinkles and Acne in Sensitive Skin
If you feel that you are beginning to see those fine lines around the lips and eyes, stop them right away with this super stabilising natural pack that you can conjure up in minutes. This recipe is ideal for people who have extremely sensitive skin.
2 Tbsp gram flour
1 tsp fresh cream
2 tsp water
A pinch of salt
Method: Mix all the ingredients well together and apply on the skin for 10 minutes and wash off with tepid water.

3. Patchy Pigmentation Problem
This annoying discolouration of skin is basically an internal problem which can cause havoc with your appearance. Fret not, this wonderful exfoliator will help reduce dark patchy pigmentation, thus clarifying the skin. You can easily use it daily as part of your skin care routine -
3 tsp oatmeal
3 tsp almond powder
2 tsp honey
The juice of half a lemon
Milk to make a smooth paste
Method: Mix all the ingredients well together and apply on the skin for 5 minutes, dab with milk when semi dry and wash off with water.

4. Forehead Frown Lines
The forehead has nerve endings that make it vulnerable to tension and damage. Worry, stress and tension leads to regular frowning and ultimately causes frown lines. Besides boosting your vitamin intake by including fresh fruits and vegetables in your daily diet, try and consciously relax the forehead muscles by pinching them gently with your fingertips. Also apply the following mask to soothe out lines from this area
2 tsp neem honey
A pinch of turmeric
A pinch of camphor
Method: Mix well all the ingredients and apply on the skin for about 10 minutes. Wash off with cold water.

5. Moisturiser for Very Dry Skin
The skin can often feel leathery and parched and requires nourishment and hydration. Make this wonderful natural moisturiser and be free of all dryness issues. This super skin food promises to make your skin soft in minutes.
3 tsp aloe vera gel
3 tsp rice bran oil
1 tsp ghee
2 tsp rose water
Method: Whip all the ingredients well together and massage a small quantity of it well into the skin.

6. Burning of Hands and Feet
Many of us experience a burning sensation in our hands and feet, especially with the change of weather. If you are one of those who suffer from this issue, here's a simple natural way to ease your suffering in minutes -
2 tsp rose petal paste
1 tsp sandalwood powder
1 tsp aloe vera gel
Method: Mix all these ingredients and apply on the red irritable areas for 5-7minutes and wash off and pat dry.

7. Fairness Mask
Fairness and skin whitening is ever so much in demand, however, I personally feel that the quality of skin is more important than the colour. But, if you are one of those who crave for a fairer skin then this mask will definitely help you -
Half a potato, grated
The juice of half a lemon
1 tsp cucumber, grated
1 tsp neem paste
1 tsp rose petal paste
2 tsp sandalwood powder
Method: Mix the ingredients well together and apply onto the skin for about
10minutes. Wash off with water. You can very safely use this on alternate days.

8. Bleeding Gums
Bleeding gums can be painful and embarrassing. Follow this simple recipe and get quick relief -
1 tsp rock salt
1 tsp triphala powder
1 tsp neem powder
Method: Mix well and use a pinch at a time to massage the gums. Rinse with water.

9. Dead Skin Accumulation
If you have skin anywhere in the body that looks lifeless then this five-minute recipe will heal and clear your skin -
3 Tbsp gram flour
2 tsp sesame oil
2 tsp lemon peel powder
The juice of half a lemon
Milk to make a smooth paste
Method: Mix well and apply to the skin, scrubbing gently in a rotating manner. Wash off with water.

10. Nail ridges
Many a times you cannot apply nail polish due to the unevenness in your nails, which are known as ridges. To smoothen these out, use the following -
2 lemon halves
1 tsp olive oil
A rough hand towel
Method: Dip the lemon halves into the oil and rub on the nails, massaging gently while doing so. Now take the towel and rub your nails vigorously. This should be done 2-3 minutes daily for a week.  It will even out the nails and make them shiny and smooth.

11. Painful Cuticles
Painful cuticles can cause havoc and I suggest that if you do regular manicures and pedicures, avoid getting them cut and use a cuticle pusher instead.
3-4 tsp mashed papaya
2 tsp mashed pineapple
Method: Mix the ingredients and dip your nails into it. Massage gently for 5 minutes. Wash off and dab dry. Not only will your cuticles feel softer but painless too.

12. Dark Lips
Smoking, drinking and inadequate water intake can lead to dark lips, besides the fact that they can be due to internal issues or hereditary problems as well. Make the following lip mask and use it daily for 5 minutes to nourish and lighten the lip area.
1 tsp almond powder
1 tsp fresh cream
1 tsp raw grated potato
Method: Mix well and apply.

13. Scanty Eyebrows
A lot of women suffer from this problem. Here's a quick recipe with the most amazing result -
Method: Use 2 drops of castor oil and massaged into the eyebrows daily for 2-3weeks.

14. Dark Circles
Dark circles can make you look older, ill and haggard. A quick recipe to reduce dark circles is to massage almond oil and papaya mash around the eyes and apply the following mask -
2 tsp almond paste
1 tsp grated cucumber
A few drops of lemon
Method: Put a thin bandage gauge on the eye area and put this mask on while lying down to relax. Leave on for 10 minutes and wash off.

15. Instant Face Lift
If you have to go out for a party and need your skin to look rejuvenated in minutes, use this tried and tested recipe -
1tsp vodka
1egg white, whipped until it forms peaks, then freeze
The juice of half a lemon
Method: Once the frozen egg white is out of the freezer, mix the rest of the
ingredients. Brush over the skin and let it dry. Avoid talking. Wash your face with ice cold water and pat dry.

16. Open Pores
This problem plagues many and the best solution for this is -
Method: Freeze raw tomato halves and rub them on clean skin daily. When done for a week, you will see a remarkable change in the way your open pores shrink and the skin looks porcelain.

Dos and Don'ts for Naturally Beautiful Skin - Parlour in Delhi, Salon in Lajpat Nagar & Malviya Nagar

1. The Golden Rule

Do: Make sure you always (and we mean always) remove your makeup before hitting the sheets. The skin needs to breathe overnight. And makeup prevents that, as leaving it on overnight clogs the pores which may cause blemishes and/or blackheads. Don’t possess a makeup remover? Just put some olive oil on a cotton pad and gently massage the oil onto your face to get rid of the makeup and dirt.

Don’t: Forget that exfoliation is indispensable. At least once or twice a week, exfoliate your skin to remove the layers of dead skin, sure to leave you with a more healthy glow and brighter skin. You can also apply a paste of walnut in powder form with yogurt to exfoliate your skin, as the antioxidants present in walnuts help remove dirt and promote radiant skin.
 

2. Sun and Skin

Do: Apply sunscreen with SPF of at least 15 that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Since a lifetime of sun exposure can cause wrinkles, age spots and other skin problems, you have to protect your skin from the sun. Make sure the label reads ‘noncomedogenic’ or ‘nonacnegenic’ so that the product does not tend to block pores.  

Don’t: Skip the sunscreen, whether it's cloudy or cold outside (no excuses). If you’re heading to a beach or around reflective surfaces like snow or ice, lather your skin up with some more sunscreen with SPF of at least 30.
 

3. You are What You Eat

Do: Keep a note of what you put on your plate. Eat fresh fruits, greens, sufficient protein and vitamins. A diet rich in vitamin C and low in fats and sugar promotes radiant skin. Consider a low-sugar diet, which can keep insulin levels down, allowing cells to maintain a healthy balance.

"Don’t: Eat spicy and fermented foods, salt, citrus fruits, fried food. Instead favour blander foods such as rice, oatmeal and applesauce”.
 

4. Sweat It Out!

Do: Exercise regularly. Running, jogging and yoga will give your body the necessary blood circulation, and also accelerate the cleansing process of your entire body. You will notice a glow on your face after working out. Racing against time? Just take a brisk walk around the block.

Don’t: Skip skincare before and after a workout. Apply a toner to help minimize oil production before heading out. Exfoliate after, and then apply shea butter or olive oil to moisturize the skin.
 

5. Beauty Sleep

Do: Try to sleep at least 8 hours every night. If you don’t get enough shut eye, your skin gets tired just like you - it sags and you get bags. So don’t risk it. You can also apply honey on your face twice or thrice a week to naturally soothe and heal your skin.

“Don’t: Forget to wash and moisturize your face before going to bed”, recommends Dr. Rahul Nagar, Dermatologist, Max Hospitals. “For dry skin, use milder cleansers that are free from alcohol. Apply lots of moisturizer, and avoid hot water as it dries out the skin excessively.”
 

6. H2O to The Rescue

Do: Hydrate yourself. Drink lots of water daily, at least 8 glasses if not more. Also, eats fruits and vegetables that have a high water content such as watermelon, cucumber, orange, strawberry, grapefruit and cantaloupe. 

Don’t: Ignore rose water. It helps prevent and reduce eye puffiness in the morning, maintains pH balance and naturally hydrates your skin if you spritz it on during the day.
 

7. Goodbye Acne

“Do: Wash your face with warm water, three times a day, and gently massage your face in circular motions, ensuring that the cleanser contains alpha hydroxyl acid or beta hydroxyl acid. Face packs that contain multani mitti (fuller’s earth) work really well too. After cleansing, pat dry and apply a lotion which contains benzoyl peroxide”.

Don’t: Pop pimples because it can lead to more swelling, redness, and even scarring. Feel a pimple is on its way? Just clean the area with rose water, and place a chilled green tea bag for 10 minutes. Also, if you wear glasses or sunglasses, make sure you clean them frequently to keep oil from clogging the pores around your eyes and nose.
 

8. Go Back to Your Roots

Do: Use Ayurvedic scrubs to nourish the skin, and help it breathe better. Luckily for you, everything you need is already in your kitchen. 2 tbsp chickpea flour, ½ tsp turmeric powder, a pinch of camphor and sandalwood with some rose water/milk/water is your perfect skincare pack. Yes, the secrets of beauty lies in ancient Ayurveda.

Don’t: Neglect the basics. Make Sudarshan Kriya your beauty mantra. Yes, it’s that easy. Just breathing right could rid you of spots and pimples. Sudarshan Kriya is a breathing technique which incorporates specific natural rhythms of the breath that harmonize the body, mind and emotions. This helps releasing accumulated stresses, and each individual’s experience is different.”
 

9. Spa Day Everyday?

Do: Have a regular skin care regimen. “For dry skin, use a fresh cherry mask. Apply the pulp of fresh cherries on your face before going to bed. Leave for 15 minutes and wash with lukewarm water”.

Don’t: Forget to pamper yourself. A gentle facial massage with oils could work wonders. Depending on your skin type, choose oils from mustard, coconut, almond or Kumkadi as they are excellent nourishing agents which help to get glowing skin. Better still – switch on some soothing instrumental music. After 20 minutes, what do you have? Beautiful skin and a relaxed you.
 

10. Healthy Habits

Do: Take out time for yourself, and try to avoid stress as much as possible. Have you ever noticed that when you are stressed, you tend to break out more? This is because stress causes your body to produce cortisol and other hormones, making the skin more oily. Practice stress management techniques like breathing exercises, yoga and meditation. The more you meditate, the more you radiate.

Don’t: Neglect your jawline and facial muscles. For just 5 minutes a day, perform a few facial exercises. You can jut out your lower lip in such a way that wrinkles are created on the chin, then lower your chin to your chest. Another exercise that works wonders is to look up towards the ceiling and pout. It stretches out the muscles making the skin more firm. “18 till I die”, why not?
 

You’re dressed to perfection, yet you need something to complete the look. Your smile! While we spend so much time and energy on honing our bodies and looks, we forget to express our inner joy and happiness. “Keeping a smile on your face will help maintain the tone of your facial muscles and skin. People may say you look 10 years younger than you are!”

How to Multitask Skin Care, Get Ready & Take Off Makeup Quick - Parlour in Delhi, Salon in Lajpat Nagar & Malviya Nagar

Complexion tuning. Primer, makeup, powder, bronzer and highlighter are often benched in a pinch. The quick fix? BB, CC or DD creams get the job done and then some. Remember they combine skin care and makeup. Any signs of a short night, a long sunbath and other blemishes are concealed in no time and your skin appears even. And the added benefit? You can skip the extra step of a setting powder with these.

Last minute makeup. Sometimes you gotta get creative and remix your beauty tools. Time running out? Use lipstick to accentuate your cheeks after you get through applying it to the lips. This doesn't even have to be can even be done on the go. Use lotion to remove eye makeup, shimmer blush as an eyeshadow, make it work!

Nightly cleaning squad. After an exhausting day of work, facial cleansing should not take up too much of our time, either. Don't complicate things. Pick one cleanser, one moisturizer and hit the hay! Cleansing milk, an eye makeup remover, facial scrub — pick your poison, but avoid a complex skin care cocktail. But we will say that adding a little bit of self-tanning lotion to your night care can work wonders for you in the morning. You'll wake up with radiant skin the next day, which will make it even easier to get ready in the little time you have!

What multitasking beauty tips can you offer up to add to the list? Share the wealth with a note below!

Beauty Tips for Girls to Fight the Summer Heat Wave - Parlour in Delhi, Salon in Lajpat Nagar & Malviya Nagar

This year has been particularly a scorching surprise with the onslaught of the sun, coming on full swing in spring instead of summer, and the temperatures soaring to 45 degrees when we were just about getting to enjoy the season. I have been bombarded with queries of sunburn, open pores, burning of the hands and feet, burning eyes and above all, how to stay cool.

So how does one try and adjust their body to the harsh weather, when the country is facing a heat wave? For starters, let’s work on the diet and exclude the evils – rich gravies, fried snacks, starchy food, alcohol and aerated drinks. What you really need to include in your summer bar are chaas (buttermilk), coconut water, lime water, light squashes of Bael and Rhododendron, which help cool the system. Moreover, include lots of seasonal fruits in your diet like watermelon, musk melons, cucumber, raita and bottle gourd (gheea). Add fresh mint leaves into food, salads and drinks to help you keep cool.

Beauty Remedies to Beat the Heat

Besides maintaining a light diet, here are some easy beauty tips for girls that can help you cure your summer woes. Here’s a list –

1. Burning Hands and Feet
For those of you who experience extreme burning on the hands and feet, I would suggest that you rub bitter gourd slices on the soles of your feet and the palms of your hand and watch how you’re your skin feels.

2. Burning Eyes
For burning eyes, keep used tea bags in the freezer and place them on your eyes for a few minutes and relax. Rose water pads and cucumber slices are also very highly effective.

3. For Fresh Looking Skin
I would like to suggest that you store fresh rosewater in the fridge at all times and spritz your face and neck with this several times in a day. If you are working, you can keep a bottle in your office. For those of you, who have children, make this a daily routine when they come back from school or college. You will notice immediate effect.

Never throw away watermelon peels; in fact just keep them in your freezer and rub them whenever you get back from outdoors. Not only will it help cool the skin but also provide natural AHA’s and make the skin soft and well hydrated.

4. Open Pores
Open pores become a big issue during summers, and to prevent this, just put a couple of slices of raw tomatoes in the freezer and then place them on your skin for it to absorb the juice. Rub gently into the skin and feel the tautness. You will notice the open pores shrink soon.

5. Scalp Problems
I have recently got a lot of queries from people who are experiencing boils on their scalp. This could well be due to the sudden heat wave and the best way to treat this is to rinse the hair with neem water.
The rinse can be made by boiling a handful of neem leaves in one litre of water and letting it cool. After shampooing, rinse the hair with this mix. You could also apply fuller’s earth mixed with cold milk if you have dry hair and leave it on for 15 minutes and then rinse. For those of you who have oily hair, mix the fuller’s earth with yoghurt and apply on the scalp and hair.
 

6. Body Odour
Body odour can be like a nightmare in summers and it is best to avoid synthetic material and stick to cool cottons and tussars. Linen also works well. Avoid tight fitting clothes and weave your day around loose and airy fits to keep your cool.

Try and bathe twice a day and add a few drops of essential oil such as lime, geranium, bergamot and lemon to your last rinse of bathing water. For those in a tub, add sea salt, lemon slices, mogra or jasmine flowers and soak in their goodness. A cup of milk added to this bath water will be magical for the skin as it will make it softer and hydrated naturally.

Now that you have got these simple tips, just imbibe them into your lifestyle and feel the difference. No sooner than you know, you would have dealt with this burning issue and be feeling as cool as a cucumber! 

The Best Mascaras for your Lash Type - Parlour in Delhi, Salon in Lajpat Nagar & Malviya Nagar

In short, you should become intimately acquainted with your own lashes before spending money on lash products. Factors to consider include the mascara’s formula, its intended effects, and even the color. Ahead, we break it down.

Mascara Effects
Generally speaking, there are three major promises mascaras make: the ability to volumize, the ability to lengthen, and the ability to curl. Many can deliver on these promises if they’re quality products and if they’re paired with the right lashes. 

Lengthening
Lengthening mascaras, like this one from Estée Lauder, work on both short and full lashes, and help to elongate and separate, explains celebrity makeup artist Marni Burton. Mascaras that contain fibers are particularly good at extending lashes, and some even come as a two-part application process (more on that later). Also, many lengthening mascaras are applied with hard rubber applicators with very short, dense bristles.

Volumizing/Thickening
People with sparse lashes should look for mascaras that add volume, like this CoverGirl pick. Volumizing mascaras often contain silicone and/or minerals — which plump and nourish the lashes — and tend to dry faster, allowing you to build multi-layer volume more quickly.

Curling
“If you have straight lashes, then a curling mascara is best,” says Burton. “Curling-mascara formulas use supple waxes to soften the lashes, and shape them to have a curved dimension.” When putting on curling mascara — or any kind of mascara — apply pressure to the lash bed and press upward. You can also hold the wand on the tips of your lashes and gently press up and back while the mascara dries. This allows the curl to set. A good eyelash curler can also help you create a dramatic, curled effect.

Mascara Formulations
We touched a little bit on mascara formulas, but let’s dive in a little deeper.

Oil-&-Wax-Based
Not only are oil-and-wax-based mascaras the easiest to find in stores, but this is also the most traditional type. The cosmetics world has branched out, but wax has become a standard for a reason. “Wax is best known for its volume, separating, and blackest black capabilities,” explains Burton — adding that she finds wax mascaras create the most natural, beautiful lashes. She recommends looking for soft waxes, which help create a soft and flexible feel. Hard waxes — found in low-quality and expired mascaras — can stiffen your lashes and cause breakage.

Tubing
This is a less common type of mascara, but it’s proven to be a good alternative for those who are sensitive to wax, oil, and fiber mascaras that may flake or smudge into the eyes. Tubing mascara works by encapsulating the entire lash in a polymer-based formula. It gently hardens, protecting your lashes and hyper extending them. It’s also water-resistant, which gives it the green light for beach days. “Tubing mascara can be tricky to remove,” notes Burton. “You don’t want to pull at your lashes too much when cleansing. Use a natural oil to slide mascara right off.”

Fiber
We’ve seen an uptick in fiber mascaras in recent years, like this one from Too Faced. Some are single-tube applications that contain small fibers within the black or brown formula. Others are two- or three-part applications that require you to first apply a base layer, and then swipe on fibers, followed with a sealant layer.

The result is full, dramatic lashes. So dramatic, in fact, that it may look like you’re wearing falsies. Fiber mascaras come with a caveat, though: They require a very deft hand. Poor application can result in dramatically clumpylashes.