Fiberwig in the Rain

The very fashion-forward country of Japan has exported an uncanny new non-mascara mascara called Fiberwig. Ah, to have been a fly on the wall for that branding brainstorming. You may have seen their ads on the subway, but I first read about it ages ago on Ruth Katz's City Guide shopping blog. For the local girls, Ms. Katz's blog is a wealth of handy information, esp. regarding cleaners, tailors, etc. But back to the Fiberwig.

I know, it sounds really weird. Paint-on false lashes? Fibers that adhere to your lashes? Eww! But I finally picked some up at Sephora on 34th Street ($22). And this lifetime Great Lash girl is a total convert.

Fiberwig's inauguration was the first day of fashion week. And remember the evening of September 5th? It was a lot like this:

But without the hat and umbrella and Gene Kelly. Instead it was me, my man, and no rain gear. And no singing, just me whining. I whined as I ran from store awning to store awning, bemoaning the soaking rain and lack of cabs, while also constantly asking "Do I have raccoon eyes? Is it smudging? Do I have Fiberwig all over my face?" How could the Fiberwig survive such a downpour? Like this:

Post-rain me & my happy man, relieved he no longer has to listen to my rain whining and Fiberwig obsession*

I'm posting scary, alien pictures of my head, that I took IMMEDIATELY after arriving at home after walking 10 blocks in a little tsunami, just to prove how amazing this non-mascara mascara is. The rest of my makeup, as you can see, did not fare so well. And yes, that's how soaking wet I was.

And Fiberwig does almost look like false lashes. But without the obvious, false lashes look. It's also kind of fun to take off. You just rub your lashes with a little warm water and the fibers fall away. Eww! Weird! It's kind of freaky because you mistake the fibers for your lashes. But no, it's just the Fiberwig. I also feel as if the fibers protect and condition my lashes, but I'm no mascara scientist.

Misc. Fiberwig:

• this stuff lengthens your lashes, and isn't clumpy or a thickener. If your into super thick lashes, apply before your usual mascara;
  
• curl your lashes after applying;
• love how the Japanese call smudged mascara "Panda eyes," and Americans call it "Raccoon" eyes." Wonder what they call it in Australia?
  

* update: pictures have been cropped since first posting - they were scaring me.

Sephora, 130 W. 34th between Broadway & 7th Avenue