All I need is a lash lift

And my go-to East Village and Shoreditch spots to get one.

Contrary to the image I initially portrayed when I began writing about beauty, I actually find great joy in a simple, five-minute, morning beauty routine. Because frankly, I’m the kind of person who will always prioritize the extra ten (or fifteen..or twenty..) minutes in bed over having ample time to get ready. With that in mind, over the years, I’ve accumulated a couple of beauty tricks that help me get the most in the morning with pretty much no time and very little effort.

Under-eye concealer and a good lip-and-cheek stick that I can quickly blend with my fingers are massively helpful (I’ve long been partial to Milk Makeup’s “Quickie”), but I gotta say, I don’t think anything enhances the speed and effectiveness of my morning beauty routine quite like a good lash lift.

The blueprint and my forever eyelash inspiration.

If you don’t know what a lash lift is, it’s a treatment that involves putting your lashes in little rollers and brushing them with a series of solutions that help maintain a lifted and curled appearance. You know how your eyelashes always look amazing right after you curl them, but the results fade in what seems like seconds? A lash lift basically makes it so they stay in that freshly-curled position, but even more defined and fluttery. Unlike lash extensions, which involve attaching individual synthetic lashes to the natural ones, a lash lift works with your existing lashes, enhancing their curl and length without the need for additional materials. Another thing that’s great about lash lifts is that they typically last for several weeks without the need for touch-ups or any sort of maintenance appointments.