Everyone wants lovely long lashes and sometimes, a swipe of mascara simply won’t cut it. Enter: falsies. From the ultra-long to the more understated, there are plenty of styles to choose from. The Good Housekeeping Institute has put together a panel of testers to help the search. The aim? To find lashes that tick the most important boxes: simple-to-apply, comfortable to wear, long-lasting and most crucially, eye-enhancing.
What types of false lashes are there?
Strip lashes
The easiest option for beginners. Flexible bands of lashes are secured to your upper lash line with a temporary adhesive. Some have black bands for added definition while others are invisible for a more natural finish.
Individual flare lashes
These are clusters of strands joined together at one end. Apply them to fill in sparse areas, add more length or customise your look.
Eyelash extensions
Unlike strip and individual flare options, these can only be applied by a salon professional. Individual strands are applied to the lash line and secured with semi-permanent adhesive.
In this test, we looked specifically at false strip lashes.
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2
Best false eyelashes for a natural look
The Eyelash Emporium Act Natural Studio Strip Lashes
Read more
3
Best false eyelashes for volume
Tarteist Pro Vegan Lashes in 'Wifey'
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4
5
6
George Definition Lashes
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What are false lashes made from?
The most popular types are human hair, mink fur and synthetic. Human hair and mink lashes are generally pricier but give a softer, more natural appearance. They feel lightweight but can lose their shape when wet, such as when you’re cleaning them, so may need handling with care.
Synthetic lashes are normally cheaper. They give a shinier, artificial appearance but work well for dramatic, voluminous styles as they keep their curl when exposed to water (so you can get them wet without having to worry).
What should you consider when choosing false strip lashes?
• The style you’re after – e.g. dramatic, voluminous, natural, lengthening
• Your eye shape and size
• Your eyelids – e.g. monolids and hooded eyelids may not suit all styles
• Any allergies or sensitivities
• Whether you want vegan/cruelty-free lashes
• The size of the lash band – thicker bands tend to peel away from the lash line so may require extra glue
What glue should I use?
Most falsies come with glue but, if not, you should use a strip lash glue from a trusted stockist – we like the Tarte Tarteist PRO Lash Adhesive.
Some brands offer clear and black glue. Clear is better for a natural look while black gives some extra definition and intensity. Some lash glue contains latex so, if you’re allergic, check the ingredients before purchase.
How to apply false eyelashes
It might take you a couple of attempts but, when you get it right, a good pair of falsies can really accentuate your eyes. Follow our quick how-to guide below:
1.Ensure both your real and false lashes are clean.
2.If the falsies look too long for your tastes, trim the ends.
3.Curl your natural lashes with an eyelash curler.
4.Apply a thin line of lash glue to the band, leave to dry for 20-30 seconds (or as advised in the instructions). This makes it tacky and easier to stick.
5.Place the false lash on your lash line and press down gently.
6. If you plan to wear make-up, finish with a coat of mascara and liquid liner (this may also help to hide any gaps between the falsie and your real lash line).
Can you reuse false eyelashes?
Some falsies can be worn again. The number of times varies from brand to brand but should be stated on the pack. If you plan on reusing yours, make sure to clean and care for them properly in between uses.
How long can false eyelashes be left on?
It’s not advisable to wear strip lashes for over 24 hours as they weigh down your natural ones and could trap potentially eye-irritating bacteria.
How do I remove and clean my false strip lashes?
Use clean hands and gently peel the strip away from your lids. If you’re struggling, soak a cotton pad in an oil-based make-up remover and hold it over each eye for 20-30 seconds to loosen the glue.
Next, place the lashes on a clean surface and use tweezers to pull away any dried glue. Apply make-up remover to a cotton wool pad and hold it over the lashes for 30 seconds, then gently swipe to remove any make-up residue, dirt and glue. For a more precise clean, use a cotton swab soaked in make-up remover.
Mink and human-hair options need a bit more care and attention as any liquid may cause them to lose their shape. Try to pull away as much glue as possible and if necessary, clean the lash line with a cotton bud, avoiding the strands.
Do false strip lashes damage your own lashes?
If you wear false lashes only occasionally, use a quality glue and remove them with care, they shouldn’t damage your real ones. If you’re a falsie addict, however, the strain on your lids from removing them and cleaning off glue remnants may cause some mild irritation or lash loss. Don’t panic if your real lashes start looking a little sparse though, as they should grow back in a couple of weeks.
How we test false lashes
We asked 152 women to trial 12 different strip lashes at home over a two-week period. They tested a variety of styles from natural, to lengthening and volumising, assessing how easy they were to apply, how comfortable they felt, how they looked, the consistency of the glue and how well they lasted.
The prices listed are for one pair and, unless stipulated, each pack came with a tube of clear latex-free glue. Reuse times stated assume you are following the care instructions – so if you want them to last the recommended amount of wears, don’t just sling them in your makeup bag once you’re done with them.
The lashes: With a double-layered curl and slightly longer outer corners, these falsies are designed to give your lashes a subtle boost of volume and length.
The verdict: Testers said these lashes were comfy, looked natural and enhanced their eyes. The vast majority (85%) liked the glue’s consistency as it quickly became tacky. They also appreciated how malleable the lashes were as it made them easy to apply.
Wear time: Nine hours – the longest out of all of those tested.
Key specifications:
Includes glue: Yes
Latex Free glue: Yes
False lash style: Natural
Vegan friendly: Yes
Band colour: Clear
Reusable
Ardell Natural 174 Lashes (Score: 85/100)
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Best false eyelashes for a natural look
The Eyelash Emporium Act Natural Studio Strip Lashes
The lashes: These subtle faux mink lashes give a fluffy, curled finish. No glue is included, so we tested them with the brand’s Double Act Strip Lash Adhesive.
The verdict: Eighty percent of testers liked these lashes, praising the natural design that enhanced their real lashes. They retained their shape well after cleaning between wears.
Wear time: Six to eight hours, on average, before they started to peel.
Key specifications:
Includes glue: No
False lash style: Natural
Latex free glue: n/a
Vegan friendly: Yes
Band colour: Black
Reusable (up to 20 wears)
Eyelash Emporium Act Natural Studio Strip Lashes (Score: 81/100)
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3
Best false eyelashes for volume
Tarteist Pro Vegan Lashes in 'Wifey'
Now 20% Off
The lashes: With their 'V' shaped design, these lashes are designed to add volume. No glue is included, so we used the Tartiest Pro Lash adhesive.
The verdict: Testers thought these lashes were dramatic and three-quarters were pleasantly surprised by how comfy they were to wear. They weren’t too heavy and were easy to position.
Wear time: For 78% of our panel, these stayed in place for six to eight hours before peeling away at the edges.
Key specifications:
Includes glue: No
False lash style: Volumising
Latex free glue: n/a
Vegan friendly: Yes
Band colour: Clear
Reusable
Tarte Tarteist Pro Vegan Lashes in 'Wifey' Review (Score: 79/100)
The lashes: These falsies are designed to increase length and volume while being subtle and delicate enough for everyday wear.
The verdict: 81% of our testers liked the way these lashes looked and would happily wear them throughout the day. The glue was easy to apply and 85% of the panel said it dried quickly so they could place the lashes with precision.
Wear time: These lashes comfortably stayed put for 6-8 hours.
Key specifications:
Includes glue: Yes
False lash style: Volumising
Latex free glue: Yes
Vegan friendly: Yes
Band colour: Clear
Reusable
InVogue Volumise lashes #22 Review (Score: 78/100)
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The lashes: The Gabbi lashes aim to create a full, fanned out effect. No glue is included, so we used Sweed’s Clear Adhesive.
The verdict: Three quarters of testers liked the way they looked and said they were comfortable to wear. They were easy to position on the lash line and remained in place with the glue used. The lashes were easy to remove at the end of the day and retained their shape well after cleaning.
Wear time: The majority said they stayed put for six to eight hours before peeling.
Key specifications:
Includes glue: No
False lash style: Lengthening
Latex free glue: n/a
Band colour: Clear
Reusable (up to 10 wears)
Sweed Gabbi Pro Lashes Review (Score: 78/100)
The lashes: These falsies are designed to add definition to your natural lashes.
The verdict: Our testers were in the main (79%) happy with the natural appearance of these lashes, which enhanced and drew attention to their eyes. Most stated they felt lightweight and comfortable, adding that they would be happy to wear them all day. They liked the glue, which dried at an appropriate time, allowing them to position the lashes properly. They were easy to remove too.
Wear time: Six to eight hours, on average.
Key specifications:
Includes glue: Yes
False lash style: Natural definition
Latex free glue: Yes
Vegan friendly: Yes
Band colour: Black
Reusable
George Definition Lashes Review (Score: 77/100)
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The lashes: These human-hair lashes are formed in natural clusters to add subtle length, volume and a slight wing.
The verdict: The majority of testers (76%) were pleased with the natural lengthening look of these, feeling that they enhanced the shape of their eyes. Their delicate appearance was appreciated, but some felt it made them slightly difficult to position. Once in place, however, they felt light and comfortable. Testers reported that the glue was easy to apply, dried in good time and gave enough breathing space to position the lashes precisely.
Wear time: Six to eight hours, on average.
Key specifications:
Contains glue: Yes
False lash style: Natural with wing
Latex free glue: Yes
Vegan friendly: Yes
Band colour: Clear
Reusable (up to 20 wears)
Tatti Lashes in 'TL13' Review (Score: 74/100)
Sunayah Arshad
As a beauty tester and writer at the GHI, Sunayah reviews products and tools to get the low-down on how well they (actually) work. You can go to her for all your beauty questions!