False lashes and colored contacts often get bought together for the same night out or the same costume, but they carry very different risks. A bad lash choice costs you $16 and a sticky evening. A bad lens choice can hurt your eyes. So this guide starts with the non-negotiables for contacts, then covers the specs that separate a good pair from a wasted one, then does the same for lashes. Along the way we show where the three stores we have reviewed fit: EyeCandys, Misaki Cosmetics and True Beauty Lashes.
Part 1: Colored contacts
Start with an eye doctor, even for costume lenses
In the US, all contact lenses are regulated medical devices, including purely cosmetic ones with no vision correction. That means a valid prescription and a proper fitting from an eye care professional, whatever a store's checkout lets you skip. A fitting tells you your base curve and diameter, and whether your eyes tolerate lenses at all. Follow the replacement schedule, never share lenses, and take them out if you notice pain, redness or blurred vision.
Read these five specs on every listing
| Spec | What it tells you | Examples from our research |
|---|---|---|
| Power | Vision correction; 0.00 is plano | Many costume lenses are 0.00 only; i-Sha Reborn Hue runs 0.00 to -10.00 |
| Base curve (BC) | How the lens sits on your eye; match your prescription | Misaki's Halloween series is 8.6 mm; its 3 Tone Aqua toric offers 8.4, 8.6 and 8.8 |
| Diameter / graphic diameter | Overall size and how much the pattern enlarges your iris | Bausch & Lomb Lacelle Iconic: 12.7 mm graphic; Misaki costume lenses: 14.5 mm |
| Replacement | Daily, or monthly with cleaning | 10-packs and 30-packs of dailies vs monthly pairs |
| Water content and material | Comfort and oxygen; ask your doctor what suits you | 40% silicone hydrogel on i-Sha; 55% methafilcon A on Lacelle |
If a listing leaves out base curve or power range, ask before buying. We flagged several listings that don't show cylinder or axis options for toric lenses, which matters if you have astigmatism.
Daily or monthly?
- Dailies are simplest: no cleaning, no storage, a fresh lens each time. They suit occasional wear. EyeCandys' i-Sha Reborn Hue 1-Day comes as a 10-lens box for $29, which is only five days for both eyes.
- Monthlies cost less per wear if you use them often, but need solution, a case and a cleaning routine. Misaki notes that solution is not included.
Natural vs dramatic color
On dark eyes, subtle shades barely show, and bright shades can look striking. Pick by goal:
- Subtle definition: a black or dark brown with a limbal ring, like Bausch & Lomb Lacelle Iconic Eternal Black ($45.49 for 30 dailies). On dark eyes it adds definition more than a color change.
- Natural lift: a warm brown with mild enlargement, like i-Sha Reborn Hue Peanut Latte ($17 a monthly pair, 13.3 mm graphic diameter).
- Costume: opaque white, red or yellow designs. Misaki's White Eye Zombie is $17.50 a pair. Opaque designs can tint or reduce vision through the pupil area, and the listing doesn't state pupil size, so don't drive in them.
Astigmatism needs toric lenses, and time
Regular colored lenses won't correct astigmatism. Both lens stores sell colored torics, at a premium: Misaki's Cotton Series Brown and 3 Tone Aqua are $65 a pair, EyeCandys' Desire Lush Green Toric was on sale at $53.55. Misaki makes torics to order, quoting 21 to 28 business days express or 28 to 35 regular, so order at least six weeks before an event.
Shipping speed and return rules
- EyeCandys: 2 to 4 business days of processing, then 15 to 20 working days regular or 4 to 7 express. Free regular shipping over $75; free express over $190 doesn't apply to US addresses. Returns only for unopened items within 10 working days, with an $8 restocking fee, and sale or coupon purchases are final.
- Misaki: free regular shipping worldwide, $15 express (2 to 5 business days in the US). Returns within 30 days if unused; sale items aren't refundable, and the store says it isn't responsible for losses in transit. Its second box is 20% off, useful if your eyes need different prescriptions.
Part 2: False lashes
Choose the shape before the brand
Lash names are marketing. The description tells you what you are getting. Look for:
- Length: short, medium, long, extra-long. Extra-long styles can brush glasses lenses.
- Volume: light, medium, full. Full and short reads dense on small eyes.
- Coverage: full strip or half lash. Half lashes cover the outer corner only and are easier to place, which makes them the best first purchase.
- Band: a thin, flexible band (cotton on some styles) is more comfortable over a long day.
- Reuse: some listings state a wear count. True Beauty's magnetic Sexy Classy says up to 25 wears; many styles don't list one.
Glue or magnetic?
Glue holds best and works with any style. Choose a latex-free adhesive if you have sensitive eyes, and patch test first. Magnetic lashes skip glue but need either magnetic eyeliner (which needs 60 to 90 seconds to dry) or mini magnets, and they cost a little more. True Beauty's magnetic style is $18 to $20 versus $16 for its glue-on strips.
Match the lash to the occasion
At True Beauty Lashes, most styles are $16, which makes it easy to own a few:
- First-timers: Hold That Thought, a long, tapered half lash.
- Everyday: Pure Intentions, with short, light fibers.
- On camera or events: High Definition, extra-long and layered.
- Weddings: Spoken For, long and feathery. Do a trial run for comfort first.
The Heart of Gold Lash & Glue Bundle is $24 against a $32 compare-at price and includes the brand's latex-free, aloe-infused adhesive, so it is the cheapest complete starter kit. US orders of $35 or more ship free; there is no international shipping. Returns are 14 days, unopened with the seal intact, and every return costs $5.95.
Where each store fits
- EyeCandys (our top pick of the three): the widest lens range we reviewed, from Korean circle lenses to Bausch & Lomb dailies, plus torics and press-on nails. Strict returns and slow regular shipping.
- True Beauty Lashes (a close second): cruelty-free faux mink strips and magnetic lashes at a fair $16, for US buyers.
- Misaki Cosmetics (third of the three, partly because it disclaims losses in transit and makes torics to order): budget Halloween and cosplay lenses with free worldwide shipping, plus colored torics if you can wait.
Quick red-flag checklist
- No base curve, diameter or power range on a lens listing.
- A store that implies cosmetic lenses don't need a prescription.
- "Final sale" on a lens you haven't been fitted for.
- Lash adhesive with no ingredient or latex information.
- Ordering lenses for an event without checking processing plus shipping days.