As a beauty writer, I'd say I'm pretty well-versed on most things natural hair, creating a skincare routine that works and finding the right makeup for my skin type, but I have to be honest, lashes are not my strong suit.
The reason for my lack of know-how in the realm of these enviable lashes is because of my not-so-great experience wearing lashes. I have had severe allergic reactions to the glue, and for some reason, they tend to make my eyes feel heavy. While I haven't had the best experience with lashes, I enjoy seeing beautiful lashes that add drama and effect and others that give your eyes just enough pop for someone to ask, "Are those real?"
After some research and reading through customer reviews, I found eleven lashes brands that range in style, price, and technology — and they are all cruelty-free. No real mink lashes over here. Whether you're an amateur like me or a pro in the lash game, these brands are easy to find locally and online and will make your eyes the focal point of your next makeup look.
e.l.f Maximum Drama Luxe Lash Kit
Elf Cosmetics
Maximum Drama Luxe Lash Kit
This $4 lash kit is a favorite among reviewers, and the best part is if you're new to lashes or even if you're a vet — you can use give these a try without overthinking about the economic investment.
BEPHOLAN 3 Pairs 5D Multi-layered Faux Mink Lashes
Making a purchase without leaving the comfort of your own home is always a benefit. These faux mink lashes can be shipped with Amazon Prime, and the handmade falsies are "easy to apply" and "lightweight."
Ardell Eyelash Wispies Multipack Black
Amazon
Ardell's line of lashes are a fan favorite because of their pricing and natural look. The multipack comes with five pairs of temporary, reusable lashes, so you'll never be without a little natural glam.
Lilly Lashes Mykonos So Extra 3D Mink False Lashes
Lilly Lashes Mykonos So Extra 3D Mink False Lashes
If you're looking to bring the drama to your next beauty lewk, Lilly's 3D will add volume and depth to your lash line.
MAC Cosmetics 4 Lash False Lashes
MAC
MAC 4 Lash False Lashes
Looking for an everyday lash option? MAC's number 4 lashes will look so natural. "They're virtually undetectable!,'' one reviewer wrote.
Benefit Cosmetics Real False Lashes Debutante Lash
Macys
Benefit Cosmetics Real False Lashes Debutante Lash
I have heard from many beauty gurus that individual lashes tend to feel and look the most natural. Reviewers note that Benefit Cosmetics solo lashes blend well with your natural lashes. One thing to note about individuals is that they can damage your lashes if they aren't taken off correctly. So, be sure to use an oil-based remover to take them off.
Lash Star Visionary Lashes
Lash Star Visionary Lashes | NordstromThese lashes will give you doll-like glam with their fluffy, 3D finish. The other nice thing about these synthetic mink lashes is that they come in a black box that you can restore them in, and you can use them 20-30 times with proper care.
True Glue. Barbie Girl Lashes
true-glue.com
Barbie Girl Luxury Lashes 100% NaturalI was on the hunt for a natural lash glue (which True Glue. is known for) when I came across their Barbie Girl style of lashes. If you're looking for length without volume, these are your pair.
ARVESA 8x False Magnetic Eyelashes
Amazon
If you're looking for a lash option sans the glue at a budget-friendly price point, these falsies are highly-rated on Amazon with many reviewers noting that they take "less than a minute to apply" and that they're so comfortable "you'll forget you have them on."
KISS 'Little Black Dress' Couture Faux Lash
KISS
KISS Lash Couture Singles Little Black Dress
KISS has been in the lash game for as long as I can remember and they have an array for beloved lashes to choose from, but their 'Little Black' dress pair keeps ladies with round or hooded eye shapes in mind and can be worn day or night.
Want more stories like this? Sign up for our newsletter here and check out the related reads below:
The $10 Product That's Missing From Your Everyday Makeup Routine
This Woman Went From Welfare To Creating A Lash Empire
Featured image by Cosmopolitan
RELATED
Skylar sees things differently. At the time, she was shooting content on her iPhone. Temi came into the picture with a new perspective, an understanding of tech, and, eventually, a camera. “He doesn't give himself enough credit,” Skylar says. “He wasn't just my tripod. He wasn't just standing behind the camera and going ‘click.’ He was giving advice. He was giving me insight to how I could look at things from a different perspective. And I was like, 'Oh, he’s an artist.' I think it was maybe a heartbeat of that kind of energy of like, ‘Baby, can you take this picture?’ And it turned so quickly into, we're partners. We can work together in a way where we're advancing each other's creative thinking.”
The pair often says they’re two sides of the same coin. Skylar is an Aquarius. She attended art school, paints, and loves poetry. She’s more than happy to let the couple’s management firm and agency, Kensington Grey, handle their admin work. And, she loves to sleep in. Temi, on the other hand, wakes up early. He’s a Virgo. He loves a to-do list and regularly checks in on the couple’s brand partnerships spreadsheet to make sure everything is on track.
Because his storytelling was steeped in his love of technology, he didn’t always think of himself as a creative person. “Where I [am] the dreamer who wants to pluck things out of the sky and spend all day with my head in the clouds, Temi [is] so good at grounding me and helping me figure out how to make things make sense on paper. We just work together in such a complimentary way,” Skylar says.
It’s been more than six years since Brooklyn-based couple Temi and Skylar started dating, and nearly four since they cemented their working relationship. On TikTok and Instagram, the couple’s travel, fashion, and home content regularly rack up hundreds of thousands of views. They’ve worked with brands such as Coach, Aesop, Away, and Liquid IV, bringing their vibrant perspectives to every campaign they execute. Still, nearly two years since both Temi and Skylar committed to full-time content creation and creative directing, the couple says their romantic connection remains their priority.
“We told each other we would much rather go back to full-time jobs and preserve our relationship than to be full-time freelancers, barely getting a night's rest [and] barely kissing each other because we're so busy shooting,” Skylar says.
Working from home can make it hard to separate work from personal life for any entrepreneur. It can be even more challenging when your business partner is also your lover. Temi and Skylar had already used couples therapy as a tool to help them effectively communicate with one another. When they ran into challenges while working together, their therapist helped them set physical boundaries to help combat the issues.
"We told each other we would much rather go back to full-time jobs and preserve our relationship than to be full-time freelancers, barely getting a night's rest [and] barely kissing each other because we're so busy shooting."
“It actually took us doing very specific physical things to create boundaries between work and play in our relationship,” Skylar says. “So, for instance, we will only have conversations about work when we're out of bed or we're at the table or in the office. Initially, when we started, we had to light a candle to say that, 'Okay, this is a space where we're connecting, we’re not talking about work.' We needed really hard boundaries at the top. And then it became a little bit more organic.”
The boundaries have been crucial to implement, especially because the couple began working together so naturally. When the pair first met, Skylar was NY-based a social strategist for BuzzFeed and was using content creation to drive business to her lingerie company. She was shooting her own content. Temi was working for Microsoft in D.C. He’d recently traded in his DJing equipment for a camera. “I've always loved taking pictures,” he says. “Even when I was a kid, my African mother would wake me up at 3:00 a.m. [during a] party, and be like, 'Come take the family picture.'”
Growing up, Temi says he watched his parents support each other and be the true definition of partners. He knew he wanted the same for his own relationship. But, the couple also wanted to make sure they were being financially responsible. The pair didn’t quit their traditional jobs until they’d saved up two years' worth of their cost of living. And, Temi received his Master of Business Administration from New York University with the knowledge that it could either help him advance in his corporate career or be applicable to his business with Skylar.
Temi and Skylar
Cj Hart @hartbreak
Today, they say their working relationship is more of a “quiet dance.” They still implement some of the boundaries they learned in therapy, but they also lean into their natural strengths and deep love for one another. When we speak, Temi has planned a date for the couple to see Princess Mononoke in 4K IMAX and added it to their Notion so they can factor it into their busy schedules. “I fully plan to date for the rest of my life,” he says.
Skylar says the couple doesn’t just wait for date nights to check in with one another, though. This often happens in the mornings, after Temi has made her peppermint tea and poured himself a cup of coffee. When they ask each other how they slept, she says, it’s not just a “nicety.” It’s a genuine question meant to foster connection.
“A lot of it happens during the day in the midst of work. We'll stop and we'll hug. Or we’ll slow dance in the kitchen,” she says. “Sometimes it's hard to set a whole date night when you have 7,000 things going on. So, we must grasp these moments and check in when we can. And I think it's become so organic to us that I actually didn't even realize how often we do it. But all day long, we're like, 'Are you good? I felt like your energy shifted,' because we're best friends, we just know. We just feel it happen.”
What’s better than being in love? Building wealth while doing it. Watch Making Cents here for real stories of couples who make money moves together.
Featured image by Cj Hart @hartbreak