For all us make up loving BOABs (bosses on a budget) fake lashes have become the crown jewel in our collection. However, $9 for a pair of lashes before shipping is just ridiculous (@House of Lashes) considering there is a cheaper alternative at your local beauty supply store or off Amazon. A girl shouldn't have to break the bank for some pieces of stray hair that she can only wear a max of 10 times (15 if you're really good at cleaning them with make up remover like I am). This article sets out to evaluate two extremely popular beauty supply lashes (IEnvy by Kiss and Ardell) and their glue counterparts (Duo and Ardell glues). I personally own and use both brands as part of my three-year journey with false lashes; I don't wear them every day but I do like to spice up my look with a pair every weekend. False lashes are a great way to enhance your natural beauty just like other beauty products; they are there to help their users feel beautiful. But if you overdo it with the lashes, I'm required by law to strip you of your lashes and ban you from ever buying them again. You've been warned!

Glue:

Ardell Brush-On Strip (in clear)

This is the glue I have most recently started to use and I really like the formula. It goes on and dries clear so you need to make sure you coat the entire lash with glue. This formula is also latex free which is a great bonus for those of us that have that allergy. it also makes it a lot easier to clean off your natural and false lashes. The process of using this glue is pretty standard: apply to the lash band then wait 30 seconds before putting the lashes on.

Ardell Lash Grip Glue (in dark)

This is probably my favorite glue by far. I apply a glob on the back of my hand or on my lash tray so it will be the right amount of tacky when I need to apply my lashes. I can do any touch ups or apply mascara while the glue dries a bit. This version is from the squeeze tube and is super waterproof. I wore lashes to the pool on accident and they did not budge one bit. Though the only downside is that this particular glue has a really weird glue smell that the other Ardell Brush-On glue does not have, but if you can bare it, use it!

Duo (in dark)

This is my least favorite of the lash glues I own. The brush tip doesn't apply enough glue so you have to go back and add more glue over and over. Though it is waterproof, it dries slow than the Ardell Water Proof. There's no awful smell but I'd rather have smell and great staying power any day.

Side note: I prefer to buy the glue that dries black because it often dries faster and blends into my own black liquid eyeliner. It's a trick that many make up artists use on themselves and their clients. The white glues I have previously tried would not dry completely in the middle, so my lashes would just float above the glue. Not cool. I didn't even feel like including them because its such a waste of money. If you are wearing a lighter eyeliner with your lashes, I recommend getting lash glue that is already clear so you won't see white spots.

Lashes

Ardell Lashes

Demi Wispies: Studio Effects

These lashes are great for night wear! They have extra lashes stacked on the ends for a cat-eye effect.

Natural Demi 120

With a little bit of eyeliner and mascara on the bottom lashes, you will be able to tell people these are your natural lashes and they will believe it too.

Demi Wispies: Color Impact in Wine

In the right lighting my eyes do look more hazel then poopy-brown, but I can't say I would wear them to work by themselves...

Demi Wispies: Self-Adehesive

I hate self-adhesive lashes. But they're okay for beginners... I'm just going to rip the lashes off the self-stick band and use them as the make up gods intended, with waterproof lash glue!

Double Wispies

Help me, RuPaul. This sounded like a good idea, but it wasn't for normal people with average eyes like myself.

IEnvy by Kiss Lashes

Beyond Naturale 01 (KPE33)

Pretty much a knock off demi wispie with a little more flair. I'm not mad, though.

Au Naturale 01/08 (KPEM08)

These are my favorite lashes of all time because they just add to your natural beauty. I buy them in the big multipacks which you can get for a great deal on Amazon. I highly recommend these to people who are just starting to wear false lashes; they also come in a light brown for people with lighter hair.

Accent 01 (KPE40)

Diva 01 (KPE21)

The Diva lash fits the best on your natural lash line. I would recommend this lash for beginners as well!

Side note: I buy a lot of wispy style lashes because they are the most flattering for any eye shape and really brighten up the face. Yes, I also realize the lashes look different on each of my eyes, they're naturally off center to each other. When you have full eye makeup on however it will blend the lashes better into your face, thus giving you a much more natural look. I didn't want to subject my eyes to a ton of eyeliner because I was already beating them up with the repeated glueing. You really should only be trying three or four pairs of lashes on in one sitting (not nine like I did).

I mainly buy the natural lashes from Ardell because I do not need to cut them down to fit my eye shape and they are easy to clean. However, Ardell does offer lashes that are a little more dramatic but I find that lashes that touch my eyebrows are plain dumb. If I want a more flashy lash I pick IEnvy by Kiss since they are a little less expensive and hold up after a good number of uses.

In the end, wear what you love and apply make up that makes you feel beautiful. The only person who can make you feel great is yourself!