Today, I am reviewing my experience with the brand ESQIDO and their high quality mink false eyelashes. While I’ve tried plenty of various false eyelash brands over the past couple of years, these were my first ever strip mink lashes so I was very excited to try them out! Keep reading for my full review and thoughts!
My Lash History
Next to my pores (which I’ve talked plenty about), my next biggest beauty insecurity is probably my eyelashes. To me, it’s such a symbol of femininity (I mean, just look at cartoons – it’s often the only indicator that this is a male or female animal character), yet it seemed even every guy had better/longer lashes than me. While many would say I have pretty large eyes and thick brows, my lashes are quite lacking. They are short, sparse, thin, and can’t hold a curl. Even the best lengthening, thickening, volumizing mascaras can only do so much.
I knew that many of the lashes I admired on beauty Youtubers or bloggers were not actually real but false eyelashes. I attempted to wear them for YEARS but could not figure them out no matter how many videos I watched. Then one day, it finally clicked. I managed to get that little strip close to my lash line and stay there! Since then, I’ve been able to enjoy the benefits of false lashes whenever I want. Today, I mostly wear them for cosplay as it really makes your eyes stand out in photos.
ESQIDO Mink Lashes
When it came to false eyelashes, I usually went for the drugstore brands that cost a few dollars. However, I had been hearing about mink lash strips within the beauty community and was curious to try them myself. I knew people got mink eyelash extensions, but on a lash strip? My interest was piqued. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect when ESQIDO reached out to me about their mink false eyelashes. After a quick look at their well designed, easily navigable and highly informative website, I was so on board to give these babies a try!
ESQIDO (pronounced “es-ki-doe”) makes handcrafted and cruelty-free lashes from ethically sourced, naturally shed mink hairs. Knowing these were collected from minks that lived in free range zoos during their shedding season, making it absolutely painless and harm free to the animal definitely made me feel better about the brand and wearing these lashes.
Each pair of lashes retails for $28-32 which may seem steep but taking into consideration how many wears you get out of the them (upwards of 25-30 depending on care) and the sheer all-around quality, the price seems justifiable – you get what you pay for!
Choosing My Lashes
The site has 27 different upper lash styles (yes, they have lower lash styles too). Having such lackluster lashes, I wanted to go big and BOLD! After nearly an hour of browsing (because I’m just that indecisive), I chose two of their most voluminous and dramatic lashes: Illumina and Voila Lash. Both lashes have a level 4 out of 5 volume rating on the site (although on the back of its box, it says 5). I was just floored looking at the before and after on the helpful face slider feature and couldn’t wait to see my own dramatic lash transformation.
Packaging
Upon receiving my ESQIDO mink lashes, I was immediately struck by the elegant and minimalistic white and rose gold packaging. It just exuded LUXURY. Plus, hello, aesthetic! Each pair came in its own sturdy little box with a plastic slipcover. There is a magnetic flap closure that keeps the box closed and secure. This isn’t some flimsy cardboard or plastic packaging that’s going to get squashed in your beauty drawer. Your lashes are going to be safe and sound in this box. Love it. Each pair also came with instructions on how to apply and take care of the lashes.
Lash Glue
Having the right lash glue can oftentimes make or break a good lash experience! Luckily, this stuff is a maker not a breaker. It has great reviews on their site for good reason! Also quick note, the lashes do not include glue. You have to buy it separately on the site for $10.
Once again, they hit the nail on the head with the packaging – I mean, is this not the most beautiful tube of lash glue you’ve ever seen? It matches the aesthetic of the lash sets perfectly with it’s glass tube with rose gold cap.
This specially formulated latex-free glue was made specifically for mink lashes and to extend the life of your lashes. It’s very tacky and will hold your lashes all day/night long! I also love that it doesn’t damage the lashes and is easily removed. It comes with a fine tipped brush applicator that applies the glue as white but dries clear. It’s no-hassle, mess-free and is perfect for falsie beginners.
The Lashes
Illumina
Description: An ESQIDO exclusive, this pair of Noire mink lash is specially designed with our Multi-curl process for unparalleled volume without sacrificing naturalness. Subtly criss-crossed with a gradient of fur towards the outer corners, this style gives you voluminous, sultry eyes without looking over the top. Best paired with medium to full makeup.
This is the less voluminous of the two incredibly voluminous lashes I picked. It’s absolutely bold and beautiful and I love the fluffy multi-curl lashes. Even with all that fullness, it still looks manages to look super natural which is quite a feat!
Voila Lash
Description: This style is specially designed for ladies who lust after a full and voluminous look. The luscious strands gradate outwards in length, with an additional layer of criss-crossed fur throughout the entire soft cotton band. Steal the show with this absolutely irresistible pair of mink lashes.
These lashes are DRAMATIC!! Just look at the transformation! So very full and glamorous! I reserve these for when I want to pull out all the stops and really want all the attention on my eyes. Just perfect for a night out! I wear them as is, but if they are a bit too much for your eyes, you can always trim them down for a bit. I especially love how they flare out at the ends a bit – gives a very sexy look.
Wear
These lashes are just gorgeous and even bigger and bolder than I thought they were going to be! When they say level 4/5 volume, they MEAN it! I was initially a little skeptical seeing how FULL these lashes were, but I found them super light and comfortable to wear. Seriously, they were more comfortable than lashes that are half their size in volume. At no point, did I ever forget I was wearing them though – which seems perfectly normal since both are indeed incredibly long and full. This makes me curious as to how a more natural looking set might have felt.
I loved how they were feather soft and didn’t irritate or make my eyes itch as so many false lashes do. This probably has a lot to do with the band. It’s made of cotton, isn’t too thick, and more flexible than many lash strips.
Overall Thoughts
I am incredibly pleased with my ESQIDO lashes and experience. Everything about these lashes exude quality and what I would want from a set of high end mink lashes: nice selection, great packaging and presentation, easy application, comfort, and rewearability.
The price could deter some people. If you’re the type of person who is only going to wear false lashes once a year, these are probably not for you. However, if you’re someone who wears lashes regularly or multiples times a year whether it’s for fancy events, cosplay, or special nights out, I highly recommend them.
They’re incredibly beginner friendly if you’re looking to jump right on the falsie train and want to buy some quality lashes. Hey, if they’re good enough for Victoria’s Secret Angels like Adriana Lima, Gigi Hadid, and celebs like Rihanna, they’ve got to be pretty amazing, right?
My only regret is not perhaps choosing a more natural set to try out alongside a fuller set so I could compare the two. Also, I’d probably get a bit more use out of natural looking lashes. Although, I’m definitely good to go for any big or fancy event that comes my way with the two I have! Seeing how much I enjoyed these though, I’ll probably rectify that situation soon and buy myself another pair.
