How to Get the Best Bottom Lashes of Your Life

I have this theory about bottom lashes—they're kind of an afterthought until you meet someone who happens to have great lower fringe. Then you start paying them the same mind as your upper lashes and it's all where have you been all my life?

This happened to me after making the acquaintance of an Anna Karina doppelgänger recently. Her bottom lashes struck the perfect balance between Twiggy-esque and natural-looking. I could NOT stop staring, and it was then that I set out to learn about all things bottom lashes. Here's how to make your lower lash line the new upper lash line:

1. Use a waterproof mascara. Celebrity makeup artist Michael Anthony (opens in new tab) believes a waterproof formula is the only way to go. Otherwise, you'll pay a dear price by way of raccoon eyes. "Bottom lashes can touch the under eye concealer and the oil in the product can break down your mascara, leaving you with little spots or smudges under the eye," he explains. You can also further shield the area by setting it with loose powder.

His two go-to formulas are Chanel Inimitable Waterproof Mascara (opens in new tab) and L 'Oréal Paris False Lash Archictect 4D (opens in new tab) (which isn't sold in the States, but you can still get because #Amazon) for bulletproof, all-day wear.

2. Use a smaller lash wand. Because you're working with a more congested surface area, having a thinner, more tapered mascara wand will make sweeping from root to tip, and getting those hard-to-reach lashes, easier. A slew of brands have developed mascaras just for this purpose.

3. Change the way you apply it. "Lashes of different shapes and sizes completely change the way your eyes look," explains Anthony. So when you're applying mascara, don't just go up and down, but experiment with the "diagonal (opens in new tab)" method: Pulling the brush through at an angle and spending extra time at the corners. It gives you a more wide-eyed look that might be more flattering to the bottom lash line.

4. Amp things up with false lashes. They can be trickier for bottom lashes, but there's a major payoff. "My approach to bottom lashes depends on the situation," explains Anthony. "For a natural, fuller-looking bottom lash, I tend to use individual lashes or clusters without a band."

However, if you want to get full on J.Lo with it, you can use a natural-looking lower lash set (be sure to try out different lengths, amounts of fullness, and arrangements) with clear bands, cutting them in half, and using tweezers to place them as close to the lash line as possible. "If you want to lock them in, swipe on one coat of waterproof mascara," says Anthony.

5. Try brown mascara. If you're not looking for a statement per se, make like Beyoncé's makeup artist Sir John (opens in new tab), who likes to use a brown-hued mascara on the bottom lashes as he believes it's softer and more flattering up close.

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