Product watch: Coloured mascaras

The garish mascara of the 1980s frightened me, but the trend now is for subtle, conservative colours such as aubergine, plum, violet or moss green, says Edel Coffey.

There’s something about coloured mascara that strikes fear into my heart. Maybe it’s because I remember the gloopy, garish formulations that coated adult eyes in the ’80s.

But coloured mascaras need not instil trepidation. While you can opt for fluorescent, fake lashes, as appeared on the catwalks a few weeks ago, the trend now tends to be worn in a more subtle way.

Even the more understated designers, like Stella McCartney, opted for electric blue eyelashes on their models at their autumn/winter shows and it looked surprisingly good (see picture).

We’ve all made the mistake of attempting to recreate a look that worked so well on a beautiful Amazonian model but, somehow, didn’t quite make the transition to normal human being.

If you have perfect alabaster skin, go right ahead and wear any colour of your choosing. If not, I would suggest erring on the side of conservative, by sticking with aubergines, plums, violets or moss greens.

Most of the brands are offering new ranges of coloured mascaras at the moment, but one that hits the trend on the head, and is just €7, is Marks & Spencer’s limited collection mascara in purple.

The colour is more like aubergine and is very classy and striking, especially if you wear it against completely bare eyelids with no eyeliner.

Lancome’s hypnose doll eyes mascara in violet envoutant (€27.95) is a nice alternative, if you have the cash to splash.

BEAUTY CALENDAR

WAX EXTENSIONS: Fans of Shavata Brow Studio in Harvey Nichols, Dun-drum will be delighted to hear that they are extending to open the first ever Wax Room.

The wax room is separate to the brow room so is completely private and the prices are competitive.

The ‘full wax’ incorporating legs, arms, underarms, basic bikini is €100, although personally I think you’d need to be in the full of your health to face into that kind of extensive waxing.

Brazilians cost €52 and Hollywoods €55, while eyebrows cost €20, and upper lip is €12. Happy waxing! Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin 16, Ireland. T: 01-2910409. www.shavata.co.uk