Eyelashes all about drama

LOS ANGELES -- When it comes to eyelashes, the mantra has always been "the bigger the better." And now beauty brands aren't stopping at full and lush. They're taking it to the extreme with products that offer intense, almost spider-webby lashes that fall somewhere between a 1960s Twiggy and a 1980s Tammy Faye Bakker.

The look was all over the fall runways, but beauty products offering heavy and dramatic lashes are hitting shelves now.

Celebrity makeup artist Patrick DeFontbrune gave us a tutorial on how to do doll-like lashes so the effect is flattering rather than unfortunate.

He offers that the key to getting long, thick and intense lashes is in how you build up the product, taking several steps so that lashes end up long and thick but separated.

"Start by curling the lashes; they will always look fuller and longer," he said. "Sweep on a lengthening mascara, applying it from the bottom of lashes. Let that dry and brush through the lashes with a clean eyelash brush. Then apply a volumizing mascara. ... Use as many layers as you want, trying to keep lashes clean and separate. Use an eyelash comb (metal, not plastic) and brush through again."

He recommends adding mascara until you hit the level of intensity you desire. And should you sweep any across the bottom lashes to achieve the doll-like lash look, use a waterproof mascara and blot the under eye area with a loose powder.

The building process, combined with new mascaras designed for the spider-lash look, should produce heavily defined eyes that are best worn with relatively little to no other makeup.

As far as mascaras promising a femme fatale result: