Lashify Control Kit and Gossamer Sampler Pack

Where I got it

I have seen these talked about years and years ago from MannyMUA, a beauty guru on YouTube (it was 3 years ago on this video) and he did not give it an amazing review, mainly because he didn’t really know how to apply it and that he thinks the quality and look of the lashes are not to his preference. Fast-forward to about a year ago, I saw Wayne Goss talk about it, and him being a professional makeup artist, I thought that would be something this would suit more editorial looks or for his work makeup kit. I’m just a normal consumer that likes to put on everyday makeup, so I did not really consider buying it. Overall, he liked the innovative idea and the application, etc. So that’s a good sign!

Then a few months later, Lisa Eldridge, also a professional makeup artist has talked about it in one of her makeup look videos, and then also in a dedicated video on Lashify, I watched what she had to say about it. Her makeup looks are editorial as well as classic and chic. They can be work on a daily basis and not difficult to achieve as well. Her looks can be so down to earth if you know what I mean. I also trust her reviews and recommendations. so I decided to check out the brand to see what they offer now.

After a few years on the market, they have improved their products, increased variety of lash designs, and plenty of well-rounded reviews out there for me to decide whether to try them out or not. Surely enough, I went and got a starter kit – Control Kit for USD$185 (expensive I know). At that time, they were also doing a free Gossamer Sampler Set with everyone Control Kit purchase which was worth $99, and free shipping. I ordered the set on 25/9 and it arrived from the US on 4/10 which is pretty good during the lockdown period.

What I got

I ordered the Lashify Control Kit in Black with the Amplify 10/12 lashes (I will explain what these means below). There are a lot of information on their website including heaps of tutorial videos to help you get going. Basically, this is an at-home lash extension kit that you can also remove at home. The innovative product here is the “Whisper-Light” a bonding agent, similar to glue but adheres and lasts so much longer. Whisper Light™ is the only bond available on the market that was developed and formulated in an ISO approved cosmetics manufacturing facility – Lashify. The rest of the products are pretty much like your usual false lashes.

How long does it last? Is it waterproof? It claims to be able to stay on the lashes for up to 10 days and you can remove them whenever you want to without going to a professional. “It’s all a matter of preference, lifestyle, application method, and proper care.” – Lashify. So as long as you are gentle and looking after the lashes, they should stay on up to 10 days. It is water-resistant, meaning that you can shower in them, swim or do sports without issues. However, long exposure to steam can losen the bonds, but you can “re-bond” them which I will explain below. If you put on lots of eye makeup and need to remove them everyday, chances are the bond will start to go and your lashes will fall off. You can reuse the lashes if you look after them, but they will disintegrate over time and you will need to replace them with new ones.

The kit is designed for beginners of the Lashify System (Level 1) and the tools included must be used together for the full Lashify experience. 

• The patented Fuse Control™ Wand.
• 2 sets of Gossamer® lashes.  
• Dual-sided Whisper-Light. 
• Glass sealer. 
• Wandoms came with the package, but it was not part of the Control Kit and I have heard some people don’t get them. They are not essential to the application, but it is helpful for beginners at the fusing stage which I will mention below as well.

How do I purchase? To purchase the control kit, you need to choose the colour of the kit (this only changes the colour of the wand and case), and I picked black because it turns out I couldn’t get my preferred lash length in the white kit (see below). Then you choose the style of the lashes (they call it Gossamer) from the Core Collection (they do have other collections that you can purchase separately). You choose from A “Amplify” which is your everyday, effortless, natural-looking lashes, B “Bold” which is your mascara-like drama that has the thickest fibre, and lastly C “Curl” which has the strongest curl with the natural lash for that eye-opening look. I picked up A Amplify because I am not a regular with false lashes and I plan to wear these with minimal or even no makeup to give myself a more awaken look. I think I would go for the Bold sets next for when I want a little bit more definition.

That’s not all, you still need to choose the length of your lashes. Lashify gives you a guide to choosing the correct lashes:

To find the most flattering lengths, measure the distance between the highest part of your brow and pupil. 

If you measure more than one inch, you can wear all lengths, mostly over 14mm. Choose the 12mm and 14mm Black or White Control Kit

If you measure less than one inch, you can wear lengths 12mm and below. Choose the 10mm and 12mm Black Control Kit (not available in White)

How I find it

I have already watched a lot of reviews and tutorials on how to apply these lashes and tips, It looks like a simple process, but I hardly use false lashes so I really don’t know how I will go. I want to film my first impression and my first try-on, so check out my Instagram to see my first try-on (fingers crossed). Note: I have sparse and short Asian lashes. They are not straight, but they are soft and curl-able, but will straighten without applying the right mascara.

To start off, I have taken all my makeup off and made sure my lashes are clean and oil-free so that the bond will be able to work properly. I curled my lashes just to lift them out of the way, but it’s not something you need to do. Then I use the dual-sided Whisper-Light (black side) and apply the bond close to the lash-line, focusing at the root and maybe extend to halfway up the lash. You don’t need to coat the entire lash with this as the Gossamer lashes only need to bond close to the lash-line, not the entire lash. Using light, thin coats, I do one eye at a time and leaving ample time for the bond to get tacky.

As part of the Control Kit, the dual-sided Whisper-Light also has the white bond, which pretty much the same bond as the black side, but it has a longer “play-time” and goes on white and dries down clear. You can see where the bond is applied which is beneficial if you are a beginner. It also gives you more time to adjust your Gossamers as it doesn’t dry down as fast. Once you are more confident in the application, you will be able to use just the normal bonder, or even the Bondage which is purchased separately. Wait for about 30 seconds between each layer of the bond and then you can continue with applying the Gossamers.

Once my bond is tacky, I select the A10 to start with and I pick the Gossamer out with my fingertips. Pulling each section with a full grip of all the individual lashes, instead of 2-3 lashes as that might damage it. Then I transfer the lash to the Control wand, holding it at the lash tips. I like to tilt my head back and use my other hand to pull my eyelid up so I can clearly see my lash-line, then I start with the outer corner of my eye first. I like to place the Gossamers side by side, but you can space them out with a little bit of gaps. For the first try-on, I used two sets of A10 to the outer corner to give me this natural, fanned-out lash look. I will work my way to a full set of A10 when I feel more comfortable.

When I am comfortable with the Gossamer placements, I will put the Wandoms on the Control Wand so the wand has a larger surface area and would be more gentle when I press. I tried to line the shape of the wand to the shape of my eye and going as close to where I apply the bond as possible, but the wand did not match my eye shape very well, so I ended up using the tips to “fuse” the Gossamers, which is pressing the Gossamer and my own lashes together with the bond. At this stage, the bond is still a little tacky and I need to remove that tack. Glass sealer is what I need to use. I apply the Glass sealer to where I applied the bond to complete the application. The Glass sealer magically removes all that tackiness and makes the entire application waterproof.

First impression, then entire ordeal took me about 10 minutes with a little bit of time spent on pre-cleaning my lashes and also checking myself out. I would say it was pretty easy to do. Throughout the day my eye felt pretty comfortable and the Gossamers were really weightless, I couldn’t feel a thing! I could see the lashes a little bit, but that’s just me not being used to fuller lashes! Throughout the day, my eyes felt really comfortable, and I can’t feel the weight of the lashes at all. There were no stickiness or things poking my eyes. I carefully wash my face at the end of the day (check out this IGTV of me removing my makeup and cleaning my face with Gossamers on). I basically use a Face Halo to remove my cleansing balm, cleanser and all traces of makeup, then cotton pad and q-tip to remove eye makeup carefully.

I went to bed with lashes on and the next morning I could see one of the Gossamer lifting a little bit. I went ahead and used a little bit of bonder to try and salvage it, but it didn’t seem to work. I was wearing my glasses that day and the Gossamer kept touching my lens therefore it kept moving it whenever I blink. Around late afternoon, I could feel the one Gossamer starting to fall out so I simply removed it and it surprisingly removed really easily without ripping off my own lashes. I ended up removing all the Gossamers and started new again the next day.

Second try, I decided to leave a little bit more time for the bonder to get tacky, also making sure I have enough bonder to the root of the lash. I don’t have a lot of lashes, so maybe that’s why there was a problem with bonding. If there is nothing for the Gossamers to bond to, they are more prone to falling out. Second attempt was a breeze and I was able to get it done much faster and more accurate. My lashes looked perfect and comfortable the entire day. However, overnight one of the Gossamers fell out again and I was a little disappointed to be honest. I decided to remove the entire set and just start off fresh another day. I managed to remove and clean the Gossamers without damaging them but I can tell they are starting to warp a little and are very delicate so I don’t think I will be able to keep for another reuse.

I also got the Gossamer Sampler set which contains 4 sets of Gossamers along with a sample of the Melt Away cleanser and Pre-Cleanse cleanser.

Overall

TIP: The box that the control kit came in can also be used to store your unused Gossamers. When you take out the Control Kit, there is a piece of foam insert that you can remove and it reveals a couple of eye-shaped holes at the bottom and that’s where you can pop in your Gossamer holders when you have started using them, but not finished with it. However, if you wish to reuse the Gosssamer lashes that you have already applied and removed, you will need to use something else to keep them safe. I usually put them in a contact lens case and just mark the style and length of the lashes.

Overall I think the system is quite an amazing idea as long as you apply them correctly and look after them well. I figured I will do a list of pros and cons.

Pros:

• It was relatively easy to use, there is minimal wait time for the bond to dry down.
• Better value compared to lash extensions that are done in a salon.
• Can be applied and removed at home at your own convenience. Removal is really easy.
• There is a range of styles, colours and length to choose from.
• High quality lashes that looks really natural and beautiful.

Cons:

• The lashes did not last as long as expected.
• A lot of care is needed around the eye area to prevent water and oil to come into contact as the bond will be reduced.
• Difficult to put on or remove eye makeup and avoiding interfering with the bond.
• You need sufficient natural lashes for the bond and lashed to be adhere to.
• Lashes are really delicate and would last probably 3 reuses after the first use.

Apparently I have left this review without posting because I wanted to see how often I would use this and how long-lasting they would be. Honestly, I was a little disappointed at how easily the lashes came off my lashes. I appreciate the beautiful lashes and how it is really lightweight and the bonder is really easy to use without that sticky glue feeling. However, it constantly scratches my glasses and that causes it to lift. I also found it a little inconvenient to avoid getting cleanser over my eye area. However, I would reach for these if I do have somewhere to go because they are so easy to apply and not messy overall. The removal was easy and hardly affects my own lashes and leaves no residue.