I bought magnetic eyelashes. Like a weirdo.
I stand before you, a clear lashed woman, who wants two simple things in life. To be able to do the splits (either direction) and to be able to have luxurious eyelashes. I know. It makes no sense. I don't even stretch on a regular basis. I'll never be able to do the splits.
But eyelashes? That one's doable. Magazine pages, CNN commentators, grocery store cashiers ... everyone has some sort of fake lash apparatus on now. You can't walk down the street without almost being knocked to the ground by someone's enormous set of eyelashes.
So I decided. I wanted to try wearing some kind of fake eyelashes. I have friends who have semi-permanent eyelashes that have to be touched up every few weeks. No. NO. I have enough to maintain in my life without having to maintain eyelashes. If anything's going to be maintained around here it's gonna be my roof.
Then I remembered hearing about magnetic eyelashes. I think it was Betty who told me about them. I did a bit of research and discovered that magnetic eyelashes are very expensive. About the same price as a new roof as a matter of fact. For 2 sets of One Two Lash (which is the original inventor of the magnetic eyelashes) the price is $69 American. Once you convert that, add in shipping and duty, the One Two Lashes were going to set me back over $100.
But I was doing this for science so it was worth it.
And yet, there were also cheaper options on Amazon. I could get a set of magnetic eyelashes from China for about the price of a few roofing shingles. $10.
So I ordered both and committed to an eyelash experiment for you. My blogging friends who might want to get into the eyelash market.
Before you get all worked up into a lather, I've done as much research as I could possibly do and have not found any harmful effects about having magnets around your eyes, let alone magnets the size of a grain of rice. So no, magnetic eyelashes aren't bad for your eyes.
The double set of magnetic eyelashes from One Two Lash came in a Chanel inspired box that makes that incredibly satisfying "click" sound when you close it.
The Chinese eyelashes came like this.
Like this. This is how they arrived. I felt like a Princess.
I went with trying the One Two Lashes first.
The premise behind magnetic lashes is you wear two sets of eyelashes on each eye. Each row of lashes has a small magnet in the centre of them. One sits on top of your real lashes and the other one sits below. Once they get near each other, the magnets click together.
I DIDN'T WEAR ANY MASCARA FOR THESE PHOTOS SO YOU COULD BETTER SEE THE FAKE LASHES.
You start by grabbing the top set of lashes and resting it on your own lashes.
You can see the magnet in the centre. The magnet is very, very thin.
You just rest it on there as close to your lash line as you can get it.
Then let it fall off. Repeat this sequence approximately 72 million times. Break to practice the splits then do it another 72 million times.
Finally you'll get the hang of resting the lashes on your own lashes. Then comes the hard part. Bringing the lower set of lashes up underneath until they click into the right place. "Right place" being the operative words here.
You will hate these eyelashes at this point. You will say they're stupid and it's impossible and you hate everyone and everything.
Then you'll have a drink. An alcoholic one. And the process will start all over again over the next few days. Until one day, it'll happen. Just like riding a bike, all of a sudden you'll find your balance and all will be right with the world.
You will be SO thrilled that you finally figured out how to put these stupid things on that you will be willing to overlook some of their idiosyncrasies. At least for the first few minutes. Then you'll start to notice a few problems.
Like the fact that these eyelashes are completely straight for some reason. STRAIGHT. Eyeballs are not straight. They're curved.
I don't know why the makers decided straight was the way to go for eyelashes, but for some reason they did. The concept is genius, and these eyelashes are SO close to being brilliant but they're not.
They're also awfully glamorous for someone who just wants a bit of a lift. They're long and luxurious which is perfect for Dino's girlfriend Sassy, not so perfect for me.
ARE THE CHEAP MAGNETIC LASHES ANY GOOD?
Maybe I'd get lucky and I'd discover that the cheap, Chinese eyelashes were fantastic and I'd be able to recommend these $10 beauties to you.
The packaging was promising. Anything that looked this horrific to begin with surely had nowhere to go on the scale of 1-10 other than up.
I specifically ordered these lashes because they had 2 magnets on each lash which I saw as a bonus. It was a bonus magnet.
I tried to keep that upbeat attitude whilst hefting them out of their Pepto-Bismol pink case.
If I thought attaching one magnet was difficult, attaching two in the right place was harder than doing the splits in both directions at the same time.
The magnets on the cheap Chinese lashes were the elegant size of bricks.
Buy at least they looked good. I found the massive space in between the upper and lower lashes made a perfect spot for holding pens, knives or any other metal object that happened to be attracted to the brick magnets.
In conclusion I cannot at this point recommend either the One Two magnetic lash or the hilariously ridiculous Chinese lashes.
But it's killing me. The One Two Lashes are SO close to being great. The actual lashes look great. If only they'd curved the strip. If only they weren't $100.
If only I could do the splits.
Something a bit more reasonable than substituting your real lashes with fake ones and expecting great results, is substituting hair conditioner for shaving cream. Honestly. It's the best hack ever, plus there are 4 other things you can use if you run out of shaving cream as well.
Update! I now use Latisse and it works GREAT. You can read my post on it here.
→Follow me on Instagram where I often make a fool of myself←
Could you heat them up and then mold a curve to them?
Reading the comments, I see now that you did try that! :/
I did. :) ~ karen!
I certainly appreciate that you tested the magnetic eyelashes so that we don't waste our hard-earned moola. I think I will pass though. First of all, my eyebrows and lashes are the same colour as yours so I don't think it would look good on me; but mainly, the vision in my right eye is so bad that I would probably have to leave my left eye bare.
I have a question though, two actually:
I thought that magnets attach to metal. What's keeping the magnet in the eyelashes attached to the eyelid?
And second question:
May I swing buy and borrow them for Halloween? LOL
You sandwich your own lashes with an upper lash with a magnet and a lower strip with another magnet. The magnets stick together through your own lashes.
I saw these and was SO DESPERATE to try them but the price threw me off. And I thought maybe someday Karen will try them and my wish came true! I'll just stick with my Latisse which really does work but thank you, Karen for saving me $100.
Have you tried the new air fryer yet?
Instead of flushing, maybe these lashes would make fine lures for fly-fishing. Especially for Steelhead trout.
John
So much for magnetic lashes.....good luck with the splits....either direction!!!
Oh my goodness! So funny. I have the eyelash extensions that you have to get touched up every few weeks and I LOVE them. My lashes are blond so you can't even see them if I don't have mascara on. It saves so much time in the mornings when getting ready and I always have dark lashes no matter what. Thank for the review. I was actually wondering about the magnetic ones. I guess I will stay with the extensions.
Thank you for a huge laugh first thing this morning! I look at the lashes on others in amazement. The Chinese packaging made my coffee go into my nose just a bit. (I've been to China).
I intend to try an oil from MONAT, a company that is known for hair regrowth in U.S. and I have had success with the shampoo. I'll let you know!
This was hilarious!
The brick eye lashes with bonus storage space. They should charge more for that feature!
They were so ridiculous that I couldn't even stop laughing. I've thrown them out but I should have kept them just so I could look at them whenever I needed a laugh. ~ karen!
LOL! I tried the One Two lashes too. You’re right about them being SO close to brilliant. They need to be curved for sure! Maybe they’ll hear us and make the change.
Isn't it frustrating??!! They're soooooo *close* to being fantastic! ~ karen
PS I hate maintenance..I leave my streak girl (I love her) w/ wet hair..hated nails..not for me appts and maintenance.I have enough with other appts;)
GREAT shots..I have looked at these lol..now I won't..I don't really want the Insta Pot either though..
even though a small one is $79 at CDn Tire..
I love your funny honest reviews..
You really are one of a kind in a great way.
Betty must be so proud of her girl.
I adore when my girls make me laugh and I bet you have yours in stitches every day.
I did not know one could buy magnetic lashes. Man, if you can think it up, the product probably exists. On your facebook page, I am going to post a picture of a product that a) you didn't know existed, and that b) I really, really need you to "review" as a product.
I saw the link you shared Melissa but it says it isn't available for sale at the moment, otherwise I would DEFINITELY have reviewed it. ~ karen!
Well you know, you are my favorite blogger, and I could... you know, get you an early Christmas present if it should-- er, become available again... ;-)
Thank you Karen!!! I was going to get myself these for my Christmas present. I did the same research you did - found the originals and the Chinese "fakes" on Amazon and have been holding off for months on either purchase. However, last summer my two daughters and I all went to have eyelash extensions put on. We went for the real mink hair extensions and the lady used a very good type of glue (I am allergic to acrylates and was very nervous that it'd make me blind or itch like crazy - but for want of my gorgeous eyelashes back that I used to own I went for it). At first they were great - but I maybe should have listened to her recommendation and went with a shorter, less full set (but still maybe would have ended up with the same problem). As I (we?) age, I have shorter and less full lashes and since they glue the extensions to each of your own lashes individually, the shorter and sparser your lashes, the more pull down the fakes will have on them. You also can't get them wet or apply mascara to them (not that you'd have to) = fun in the shower NOT. Every morning after the first couple days, I'd wake up and find one hanging into my eye or wandering off to space straight out. The glue is STRONG, so not only would you lose the fake eyelash when you tried to remove it, you lose your own in the process. HOWEVER, both my daughters sets turned out wonderful. They have nice full long-ish lashes to begin with, but like all late teens, they want those hairy long caterpillar things on their faces. Theirs lasted 5-6 weeks before they were in need of a touch-up. My younger one went a couple more times for touch-ups, but my older one couldn't bother to find the time - a new set with a good person who knows what she is doing takes 2.5 - 3 hours to put them on you.
So, if you figure out the curl, please post asap so I can maybe have beautiful lashes for Christmas! Thanks as always Karen for your research!
Thank you. !!! I have been wondering about these for ages. Asked and answered. Xo
Your nails looked great! My opinion (which I suppose is one obvious use for the comment section) is that your eyes look larger without a lot of color around them. They are sparkling, laughing eyes that make me smile. Adding a dark line of color around them tends to make the whole area appear larger BUT the eyes stay the same and then don't have character shining through. I guess what I'm saying is eyeballs appear larger when unadorned. But eye sockets look larger with all the makeup on. Just look at any guy that you find attractive and his eyes are really attractive on their own - no make-up required much less longer, colorful lashes. I see your eyes in the picture below the article where you are donating blood and they are positively larger - probably from trauma but hey, it works! I love your face without the movie star make-up since I see you - not make-up. Signed, Old and not-with-it, Mary
Well, I don't wear a ton of makeup, lol. But I definitely need mascara and a touch of eyeliner. That's what I would be wearing in the blood donating photo. :) ~ karen!
Omg!! Can you not bend the strip with a little bit of steam to shape it into a curve? At this point what do you have to lose? If not, try either Latisse or Eye Envy. Latisse is ~$120 for a 9 month supply available through spas and doctors. Eye Envy is about half that for about half as much. After 3 months with either used nightly you will have your own lashes — just longer and thicker. Promise. Been using it for years.
$120 for 9 months doesn't seem bad. I seem to remember reading that it's not good to use if you have blue eyes. That it can turn them brown! That may have changed now though. And no, I tried bending the strip over my finger and blowing on it with my hair dryer, letting it cool etc. It just went back to its natural straight state. ~ karen!
Well, I have blue eyes and it hasn’t turned my eyes brown at all after several years of regular use. It did very slightly darken my upper eyelid but no one notices except me. And let me correct another commenter about the eyelash extensions which I also get when I travel. You absolutely CAN get them wet after the first 24 hours. I get them specifically so I can sweat on the golf course and then swim anytime without wearing that awful waterproof mascara or worrying about racoon eyes. The maintenance sucks though which is why I continue with the Latisse. It just enhances what you have and looks completely natural.
hilarious. what were they thinking? have you ever heard of rodan and fields lash boost? i've been using it for several months and have noticed a big difference. it's not cheap, but it works.
I haven't heard of it but I assume it's like Latisse which I know works, but requires the dreaded maintenance. ~ karen!
Hey, Karen ... I was curious about R & F Lashboost and read the reviews. Gulp! There was some VERY scary stuff on there along, of course, with positive reviews. Re you suggesting me going to a dermatologist, I may just do that. Thank you!
from what I understand Latisse has some pretty bad side effects. This you put on like eyeliner every night until you get the lashes you want. Then maintenance is every other night.
I saw these things on an infomercial for the first time the other night. Wondered about them and if they were heavy and how the hell I would ever get them near my eyes to put them on. I have a great flinch reflex much to the dismay of my eye doctor.
Thanks for researching this for the rest of us. I too wondered about them being straight.
Yup. Just like 99% of most things on late night TV. Not worth the investment. But wait! If you act right now....you can get double the product for the same low price!!!! I know these are not $19.99, but research has shown that most people won't return something bought at that price, so these "carny" hawkers keep getting away with selling "stuff" that makes you wonder how much it cost to produce in the first place since you know they are making a nice profit on the "stuff."
Yes, the word "thong" has quite a different meaning in the US than elsewhere. I remember when flip flops became big in the 50's and 60's, they were called thongs. Now that word is for a garment in a very different part of the body (at least in the US).
Oh gosh ... I laughed at that word “thong” too! I thought to myself “well, that won’t hurt” then realized she meant “flip flop”!
You crazy, hysterical nut!!! Loved this! Thanks for a great start to the day!
OMG, words can't express how much I enjoyed reading this this morning!!
Even funnier because I have a pair of "full lashes" with 2 magnets on their way...
Oh, the hilarity that will ensue... but at least I'm prepared? 😁