lashes

Sure, you can whip out a set of false lashes for temporary enhancements, but if you want full, lush lashes even when you wake up in the morning, then eyelash extensions may be a semi-permanent option worth exploring. Plus, with the upcoming party season, there's never been a better time to try the treatment. Before you book an appointment for fluttery lashes, consider these tips from Courtney Akai of Courtney Akai Lash Boutique in NYC, after the jump.

Keira Knightley was a vision of classic beauty at the premiere of Anna Karenina late last week. The actress's hair was styled in a sleek side part, which complemented her full brows and bold red lipstick. But it was her full, lush lashes that garnered the most attention, proving that defined bottom eyelashes are still on trend. "We wanted the look to be classic and beautiful," said Chanel celebrity makeup artist Katie Lee.

To achieve the eye look, Lee swept on Laura Mercier Caviar Eyeliner in Navy and then blended Chanel Les 4 Ombres Lagons ($98.00) to extend the line. For the long, flirty lashes, Lee applied two coats of Le Volume de Chanel Mascara in Noir (available in 2013) after curling. For the doll-like lower lashes Keira wears so well, hold your mascara wand vertically and apply the pigment in downward strokes. This eye makeup and lipstick pairing is perfect for the upcoming party season and looks classic on everyone.

Chanel stockists: 1300 242 635

Sometimes one mascara isn't enough to get the faux-lash effect. Don't settle for second best, though. Double down on your formulas instead. Combine a lengthening lash-enhancer with a thickening formulation, or top a defining mascara with a curling one. The combinations are endless. For lashes even Kim Kardashian will envy, find a few top mascara pairings when you keep reading.

With her divorce papers filed, Eva Longoria's showing the world that she's a strong and sexy independent woman on the April cover of Allure magazine. The Desperate Housewives star says the last few months have "been hard. Very hard," but that she's trying to handle them as "gracefully as possible" with the help of good girlfriends. Stephane Marais, who did the makeup for the shoot, wanted to give the petite actress a sexy Sophia Loren look so started by filling in her brows and giving her lash-o-rama volume, which suited Eva fine: "She's a lashes freak—the more I added, the happier she was," Stephane said. To get that Italian-movie-star bedroom bounce, hairstylist Serge Normant spritzed Eva's hair with a volumising spray before drying and setting it in pin curls. What do you think of the spread? Do you like the big hair and bold brow?

Hands up if you have short, stubby lashes and are happy with them the way they are. What’s that? No one? Didn’t think so. If you want all that to change then I’ve got an idea: invest in shu uemura’s Lash Builder, a boosting serum for your lashes that makes them visibly longer, thicker and fuller. Women who trialled Lash Builder also found that after four weeks they visibly saw more lashes, lost fewer lashes during makeup removal and felt like their lashes were in better condition. Definitely a winner. This even smoothes the lash surface to ensure you get the most out of your mascara, kinda like what primer does for your face and what a ridge-filler does for your nails. So it gets a big tick from me, and because it comes from shu it was always bound to be your lashes’ BFF.

shu uemura Lash Builder ($46) is available now at David Jones.

According to reports, lashes, false lashes and lash enhancers are the fastest growing sector of the beauty industry. Apparently, sales of false eyelashes have gone up 6.2 percent in the US alone this year, raking in a staggering $44 million.

Eyelash stimulators, simultaneously, have become a $1 billion industry there. While in the UK there's a long waiting list for Lancôme's new Hypnôse Precious Cells mascara, a dual function product that helps grow eyelashes at the same time as being makeup.

So why all the emphasis on lashes? Are stars like Lady Gaga and Katy Perry behind it? Both favour bold makeup looks and are rarely seen without their lashes. How about you, how importan are lashes in your makeup look? Do you were falsies? Have you tried extensions or eyelash perms? Or are you happy with your mascara and more natural-looking lashes?