Tired of lashes that won’t stay where you want them? We talk to one entrepreneur who has found a solution. Professional Beauty talks to Sarah Baker about her just-released line of self-adheasing false lashes, Sarah Jean Lashes. (Welcome to the new world where lashes stay where they’re meant to.)
Ok so, tell us, what is unique about Sarah Jean false lashes?
“The signature product in the Sarah Jean collection is the eyelash adhesive,” says Sarah Backer, creator of Sarah Jean, a collection of five different false lashes plus an innovative new way of applying them. “It cleverly combines two existing products to make one product. I’ve taken an anti-allergenic, latex free and water soluble adhesive and put it in a bottle with a mascara style nylon brush. This allows the adhesive to be applied to your real lashes like mascara – the brush enables just the right amount of adhesive to be applied without any drips or mess. Because you apply adhesive to your real lashes and the false eyelash strip, the lashes are easier to apply and stay on longer.”
What made you decide to create Sarah Jean lashes?
“I run a boutique creative content agency and [one night] I was applying false eyelashes for an event, unsuccessfully, and I thought ‘there has to be an easier way’,” says Baker. “I started asking people if they found it difficult to apply lashes – the answer was overwhelmingly ‘yes’. People often avoided wearing lashes as they struggled to apply them at home. So I began researching to see what other glue and applicator tools were on the market, and trialling alternative ways to apply the lashes. After months of research and development, questionnaires and further trialling different products, I determined the best method was to simply apply the adhesive on to a mascara brush, and applying the adhesive as I would mascara – it was so natural since I applied mascara just about every day. The product evolved from there.”
How do we apply them?
“Before you apply mascara, apply a light layer of the adhesive to your real lashes,” says Baker. “Apply adhesive to the strip of the false eyelashes, adding a little extra to the tips of the lash strip. Hold the false eyelash with the tweezer on one side and with your fingertips on the other side of the lash. Line up the eyelash to your eye…then use your fingers or the pointy end of the tweezer to place the false eyelash. Using the tweezer clamp, press together your real lashes with the false eyelash. We’ve created a quick ‘how to’ video for easy reference.”
And take them off…?
“To remove, lashes are gently peeled off and the adhesive is removed by massaging your real lashes gently with a foaming face cleanser and water for about 20 seconds. This softens the adhesive, which can be wiped away with a towel,” says Baker.
Are they safe for eyes?
“The eyelashes are lightweight synthetic. They’re also latex free, vegan friendly and cruelty free,” says Baker. “Synthetic and latex free are suitable not only for people who are sensitive to latex, but also for people who are mindful of where and how their products are made.”
Are these lashes suitable for professional makeup artists?
“Professional makeup artists can definitely use the tweezer applicator tool and lashes,” says Sarah Baker. “For hygiene, they can still use the adhesive with a disposable mascara wand. The products will make a great addition for spas and salons as they’re beautifully packaged, the point of sale boxes are compact and lash products are still very much on trend. There is a wholesale section on the website where people can create an account.”