Some women say that lashes are the most important part of a beauty regime, especially in Hawaii, where weekends are spent makeup-free at the beach except for the obligatory coat of waterproof mascara. Besides a trusty waterproof mascara, there are a handful of ways to make sure your lashes stand out—eyelash extensions or primers, to name a few.

Whether you’re on the hunt for a new mascara, looking for a growth serum that brings natural lashes to a whole new level or in the mood for an eyelash extension session at one of Hawai‘i’s top lash bars, here’s what you need to know to keep your lashes in tiptop shape.

LASH BAR

Lash bars are the place to go when you want stand-out lashes, whether it’s from eyelash extensions, lash tints or lash lifts. Lash bar regulars usually make an appointment every two to three weeks, depending on how gentle they are with their lashes. But don’t think of these appointments as a chore—they’re far from it. A lash bar appointment is quite luxurious and involves laying down in a bed and closing your eyes for an hour before sitting up to a perfectly fresh set of lashes. Lucky for you, Hawai‘i is filled with its own set of lash experts that master the craft of eyelashes.

Over in McCully, a lengthy list of clients pay a visit to Babe Cave Hawaii (babecavehawaii. com) where owner Candace Cregan performs lash tints, lash lifts and lash extensions that make eyes look more awake instantly.

As for Tiff Kramling, the owner behind Eye Candy Salon (lashesbytiff.com), each lash session begins with a personal assessment of the client’s face and eye shape before recommending the best type of lashes for them. By the end of the session, clients leave with lashes that are best suited for their personal look and lifestyle.

And inside the hip complex of SALT Kaka‘ako is Lash Love (lashlovehawaii.com), a modern, feminine lash studio led by owner Nikki Sanchez that focuses on natural-looking eyelash extensions and eyelash perms.

GROWTH SERUMS

Growth serums are a happy medium for people who want longer lashes but don’t want to commit to extensions or false lashes. The sudden rise in serum popularity is because it requires pretty minimal effort and upkeep, but also because it actually works (serums are packed with conditioning peptides and fatty acids to stimulate lash growth).

EyEnvy Conditioner is one serum that delivers noticeably lengthier lashes every time. For the best results, apply EyEnvy to the skin of the eyelid every morning for three months, then reduce usage to every other day for maintenance. You’ll notice longer, healthier, stronger lashes in four to six weeks.

Another growth serum that’s become wildly popular is LASHFOOD’s Phyto-Medic Eyelash Enhancer. The natural eyelash serum creates longer, thicker lashes with a blend of organic, gluten-free medicinal herb extracts that are scientifically demonstrated to activate lash follicles and support natural lash growth.

For a high-performance serum that promotes lush, durable lashes, LANCER Lash Serum Intense does the trick. The LANCER formula includes pumpkin seed extract—which is rich in essential fatty acids, zinc and antioxidants—to nourish and invigorate the lash base and strengthen brittle and thin lashes.

PRIMERS

Although it may seem like primers just add another unnecessary step in your tried-and-true beauty routine, a quick coat of primer before mascara makes all the difference. Just as foundation sits better with a primer, the same goes for mascara. Primer boosts the length and volume of lashes, helps mascara last longer and adds a layer of protection between lashes and the oftentimes harsh formula of waterproof mascara. Once you find a primer that you love, it’ll be hard to part from it.

One primer that beauty aficionados swear by is Tarte’s Opening Act Lash Primer. The ultra-conditioning primer lengthens, separates and curls lashes with its white-colored formula. Just a few strokes of this powerhouse primer prevent mascara from smudging throughout the day.

Classic beauty brand Estée Lauder puts their own spin on eyelash primers with their Little Black Primer, a primer that’s tinted black instead of the classic white. The formula works alone to add another layer of black to lashes so they stay silky black from A.M. to P.M.

If you want a primer that you can also wear without mascara for a natural look, Benefit Cosmetics’ They’re Real!Tinted Lash Primer delivers a mink brown color. It can be worn as a traditional mascara primer to enhance lash length and separation or alone for a subtle lash boost.

LATEST MASCARAS

Everyone has a favorite mascara that they’re forever loyal to, but there’s always room for experimentation—especially when it comes to the newest mascaras to hit shelves.

Dior brandishes a new, creamy formula with their DiorShow Pump’N’Volume Mascara. This mascara focuses on lash volume by using a special bounce-effect brush and a squeezable tube to fully load the brush with a potent dose of mascara.

For a mascara that focuses on bottom lashes as well as top lashes, MAC’s newest Bold & Bad Lash dual-chamber mascara contains a designated brush for upper lashes and a separate brush for lower lashes with a different formula for each. While the larger brush for upper lashes delivers volume on top, the smaller brush for lower lashes creates smudge-proof definition.

Just one coat of Pretty Vulgar The Feathers Mascara sweeps on a dark black mascara that works to create a curled, feather-like look for lashes. The curved brush hugs and lifts lashes with a formula enriched with pro- vitamin B5 that separates and defines lashes for a feathery feel, which is mirrored in its cheeky bird cage-themed packaging.