The Eyes Have It

Have you ever heard of the lipstick index? It’s seen as a marker for recessions. Yes times are tough and sadly they are only going to get tougher so says all the world economists but with every downturn there is a bright horizon, things will get better and will be new and fresh and exciting. Yet there are some things that come rescissions, do well, and this is where the term comes from. Find out more in The Eyes Have It here and learn all about the Lipstick index which is now called the mascara index.

Images Jason Yates

Hard times come and go it is the cyclical way of the world, yet as each tough time comes and goes we learn a little bit more. For example in the 2000 recession Leonard Lauder (of Estee Lauder fame) coined the phrase The Lipstick Index.

In short, what he noted was that in tough times women who may have previously bought expensive designer outfits, bags, sunglasses, and shoes had to drop their spending habits but in order to still feel they had some luxury in their lives these top-end items would be swapped for a luxurious designer high-end lipstick.

It makes total sense. We all love a little bit of glamour especially when the purse strings are tight. So as we are now going to have a tough time (well it’s already started) instead of buying lipstick for that touch of glamour to cheer us up, funnily enough, we are not buying lipsticks, why not? simply because we are all walking around with masks covering our mouths. So for this recession, we are buying perfumes, home scents, and most important within the make-up arena we are buying mascaras. It makes total sense of course because the one thing we can still show off is our eyes. Hence now why the Lipstick Index is called the Mascara Index

So go ahead indulge in a little luxury even if it’s only for working at home on an online meeting or if it’s about going to the supermatket or petrol station. The little things we do at the moment need to help us feel normal and good

So pump up those lashes ladies (and gents) and flutter those luscious raven lids and take a look at a handful of delicious brands to choose from here.

Passioneyes Intense volume Mascara by Dolce Gabbana formula banishes flakes and builds volume for up to twelve hours. Passioneyes, with its ornamental design, resembles a fashion accessory inspired by Dolce&Gabbana collections.

Burberry Cat Lashes – Ultra Black No.01 it is weightless, clump-free and long-lasting formula is infused with carbon black pigments to give the darkest ink-like intensity, with volume from root to tip.

le volume stretch de Chanel A stretch formula combined with a 3D-printed brush, entirely hollow for maximum flexibility, which coats and stretches lashes to infinity.

Mascara L’Obscur by Gucci encompasses the charm and mystery its name suggests. Encased within the House’s covetable signature packaging, it is designed with a uniquely shaped brush and formula that grips the lashes for distinct results.

Ultra Length Mascara by Tom Ford Heighten the impact of the perfect tom ford eye with mascara that gives extra-long extension. This super-black mascara is designed to deliver extreme lengthening with extraordinary long-wear. It is specially formulated to resist the effects of high temperature and humidity.

Eccentrico Mascara by Giorgio Armani is high volume, long-wear mascara that provides precise separation of the lashes with a buildable result depending on the desired makeup look.

YSL Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils Radical is a mascara that delivers instant volume and length for a false-lash effect Enriched with a new saturated carbon black formula for an intense black. As worn by YSL Beauty ambassador Kaia Gerber.

Laura Mercier Caviar Volume Panoramic Mascara This thickening mascara offers intense volume, a full panoramic look and irresistible soft-touch lashes, as it glides on effortlessly to create high-impact volume and glossy intensity in one bold stroke.

Kevyn Aucoin Indecent mascara Infused with lash-enhancing ingredients that promote healthy eyelash growth while improving the appearance of eyelash density. Leave lashes looking defined, voluminous and lusciously full.

No Smudge Mascara by Bobbi brown this long-wearing, waterproof mascara defines, curls, and lengthens lashes without smudging, clumping, or flaking. Wear it alone or layer over any Bobbi Brown mascara formula to make it instantly waterproof.

Unlocked Instant Extensions Mascara by Hourglass This mascara is the ultimate formula for when more is more: more definition, more lift and more length to transform lashes with impossibly real results.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Brag Volumizing Mascara lets you achieve maximum lash volume and fullness you can’t stop bragging about. This voluminous mascara instantly creates the look of dramatic, full-bodied lashes with intense, jet-black color.

MAD EYES Mascara by Guerlain Paris offers lash-by-lash buildable volume: +112%* volume in an instant. Lashes are thicker, longer and with more curl for 24 hours**. The soft fibre brush is calibrated to increase the density of each lash after every stroke, for spectacular volume and 24-hour**, water-resistant wear.

Faux Cils Mascara by Chantecaille Embellish your eyelashes with our best-selling, ultra volumising mascara. Lashes will instantly appear dramatically fuller, thicker, and longer. Rich in mineral salts, Red Seaweed Extract helps define lashes while vegetal polymers promote an effortless application.

Climax mascara by NARS Exclusive ribbed bristles load up with whipped, blackened pigments for hardcore lift and a softcore feel, all with a featherweight touch. Its Lash Moisture Complex goes all the way from roots to tips and back again for buildable intensity without clumping or smudging.

Beauty pie mascara The new and improved Uber Volume Boost Mascara boasts an incredible velvety finish and is available in Super Black for a dramatic lash look and Brownie for a softer and more subtle lash look. Made with Natural Waxes, Organic Shea Butter, Vitamin E, and a Nylon Spiral Fibre Brush for great lash grip as well as quick, controllable application.

Kush High Volume Mascara by Milk Unique heart-shaped fibers lock onto lashes for long-lasting volume. Unlike cylindrical fibers which can appear spidery, the hollow heart-shaped fibers lay in each direction and fill with the formula for maximum volume.

LEGIT Lashes Double-Ended Mascara by Huda Beauty Featuring two full-size mascaras in one dual-ended pack, these ultra-black formulas are clinically proven to volumize, lengthen, lift, and curl lashes. Legit Lashes Mascara glides smoothly onto lashes for an even, buildable, and clump-free application.

Pillow talk mascara by Charlotte Tilbury It’s mascara confidence! Pillow talk push up lashes is your beauty amplifier to make your eyes look bigger, brighter and more awake! Make your eye colour pop and create the perfect pillow talk lash; the glossiest, lifted, defined, stretch-effect, separated, voluminous, beautiful lashes!

KVD Vegan Beauty Go Big or Go Home Mascara is an extreme volume vegan mascara, powered by plant-based fats. This long-wear mascara has a smooth texture that glides onto lashes for big, blown-out volume, delivering an eye-opening effect that lasts all day without smudging. In high-pigment “Trooper Black,” lashes stay saturated and true black until you go home.

Extra length mascara + Lash primer by Honest when it comes to the lash lengthening and definition seen from our 2-in-1 mascara and lash primer. Try out our extra-length mascara for the longer lashes you dream of.

Lastly, Diorshow Pump’n’ Volume HD mascara’ The first squeezable mascara by Dior features an improved formula that offers both instant XXL volume and lash-by-lash definition for lifted lashes that appear multiplied.