First Posted: 3/25/2013

“If you were stranded on a desert island, what is the one item you couldn’t live without?”

I remember asking that question a lot to people, or the more subtle question, “What is the one item you cannot leave your house without?” The answer I always get at one point or another is “Mascara.”

To me; mascara is one of the essentials that really completes a look and helps enhance a person’s final appearance. When it comes to choosing mascara that’s right for you, automatically ignore any drugstore brand unless its Physicians Formula Organic Wear Mascara.

Most mascara can cause your lashes to become dry and brittle, synthetic elements/fibers can cause eye irritation, and most will cause you to lose your lashes over time. This Physicians Formula Mascara is 100 perfect free of harsh chemicals, synthetic preservatives, colors, fragrances, GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms), parabens, fillers, and dyes, but it can still give you a gorgeous no-clump, smudge-free, flake-free lash!

If you are looking for a professional brand mascara on the higher end of the spectrum with similar properties (waterproof, conditioning, non-drying, non-irritating formula), Stila Cosmetics has the Stay All Day Waterproof Volumizing Mascara. The Stila Stay All Day Mascara is a long-wearing mascara that contains special polymers with a strong resistance to water. The super rich formula pumps volumized lashes, is buildable and unlike other waterproof mascaras, leaves lashes soft and shiny with mango butter and coconut oils, and yet will not smudge, budge, or flake while leaving lashes soft, protected, smooth, and shiny, and its paraben free.

When applying mascara, to get the best application, I suggest tipping your head back slightly, lifting your eyebrow, and looking down towards the floor. To start, I like to comb down the lashes with the mascara to get the back side of them (in case you have fallout of lighter shadows). It will clean them up and give you fuller coverage on the lash, giving you a thick, luscious lash.

Once you have your mascara on, I like to take a clean mascara wand and comb through the lashes to really define and separate them. Stay away from eyelash curlers; instead, while mascara is still wet on the lash, hold your pointer finger under the outer corner of your lashes while drying to give them that extra lift you need.

Tip: When testing mascara out at a department store, it’s always safer to test the formula on your arm hair to prevent possible contamination.