I ditched my huge ‘Russian' lashes & hair extensions to be a natural beauty – but trolls say I have ‘aged 20 years'

The Sun

21-05-2025

A MOTHER has revealed that after years of getting huge fake eyelashes and wearing long hair extensions, she has now had an epic glow-down.
In a bid to embrace her natural beauty, Ellie-Mae Phoebe ditched her mega Russian eyelashes, also known as volume lashes, which are a type of eyelash extension that create a dramatic, full, and voluminous look.
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Not only this, but she also removed her long, blonde hair extensions too.
Now, Ellie-Mae has left people totally stunned after sharing her before and after look.
In a new trend, we're seeing more and more social media users sharing their jaw-dropping glow-downs, with many ditching fillers and heavy make-up for a more natural look.
There have been plenty of epic transformations posted online, but Ellie-Mae's in particular has left people particularly gobsmacked.
A glow-down, similar to the ' clean girl aesthetic ' trend, is rooted in the idea of 'less is more'.
It promotes enhancing natural beauty - rather than covering it up.
With a glow-down, we're seeing people ditch long hair extensions, colourful fake nails and mega lashes - and instead, people are learning how to take care of their skin to make it look youthful and radiant.
Before embarking on her transformation journey, Ellie-Mae wore her hair down and was barely ever seen without her fluttery lashes.
But she soon realised she had had enough of the fake aesthetic and decided to give herself a brand new look.
Sharing her jaw-dropping makeover online, Ellie-Mae then shared a short clip after she became more confident in her own skin.
Blankita's Glow-Down: Embracing Natural Beauty
As she sat in her car, the content creator rocked a much more fresh-faced look, showing off her gorgeous freckles.
Not only was there no eyelash extensions in sight, but she had also ditched the mascara too.
Four ways to give yourself a glowdown
Thick fluffly lashes are out, so is the fake tan and long nails...here's how to have the ultimate glow-down in four steps...
The term "glow-down" refers to a woman removing what once was the most popular beauty choices, for a more natural look.
Eyelash extensions - Thick, bold "Russian lashes" used to be all the rage, but nowadays, girls are opt for subtle, individual eyelash extensions to lengthen what they already have.
Nails - Gone are the long, plastic talons, more women are favouring BIAB or gel manis.
Hair colour - Remember when everyone wanted icy white hair? Not anymore! Millions of women are trying to go back to their roots (literally), and have soft blondes, and warm gold tones added to their hair, in a bid to achieve the "old money blonde" look.
Makeup - Sculpting your face shape through the art of contouring is no more. Ladies are adding freckles and sweeping blush across cheekbones instead.
Alongside pictures of her new look, the confident mum, who wore her hair tied back, beamed: 'I spent so long with black Russian lashes and long hair extensions…
'I almost forgot how beautiful I can feel without them.'
Social media users react
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ elliemaescarrett, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 99,700 views.
Not only this, but it's also amassed 3,436 likes and 34 comments.
But social media users were left totally divided by the six-second clip - whilst many rushed to share complimentary messages to Ellie-Mae, unfortunately not everyone was as kind.
One person said: 'Never go back, you look amazing.'
Another added: 'You're naturally so beautiful.'
1. Never go to bed in make up
2. Moisturise daily
3. Don't pick at your spots, to avoid scarring
4. Get enough sleep to prevent tired-looking skin
5. When it comes to make-up, less is more
6. Trim your hair regularly to prevent split ends
7. Don't forget to moisturise your neck and décolletage
8. Drink a big glass of water each morning to cleanse and rehydrate
9. Gently pat your face dry with a towel instead of rubbing to avoid irritation
10. Avoid using too much heat on your hair to prevent damage
11. Remove makeup gently, especially around the eyes
12. Use a lip balm to keep your lips soft and prevent chapping
13. Put cucumbers on eyes to help reduce puffiness
14. Choose a foundation that matches your neck to avoid a mismatched face
15. Wash your face in cold water after cleansing to close pores.
16. Rinsing hair in cold water to increase the shine
17. Wear sunscreen/SPF protection every day, no matter the weather
18. Use a cold spoon to reduce under-eye puffiness
19. Use petroleum jelly to tame brows and moisturise lips
20. Test skincare products on a small patch of skin before using them all over your face
21. Never spend longer than 30 minutes in direct sunlight
22. Exfoliate your skin regularly to remove dead skin cells
23. Wear gloves on hands and socks on feet after putting cream on overnight
24. Wear brown mascara for a less harsh look
25. Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks for a natural glow
26. Wash hair in beer to make in shiny
27. Invest in a good quality eye cream
28. Keep your makeup brushes clean to avoid breakouts
29. Apply eye cream to reduce puffiness and dark circles
30. Apply a heat protectant before using styling tools on your hair
31. Brush your hair 100 strokes per day
32. Head massages for hair growth
33. Deep condition your hair weekly to keep it healthy and shiny
34. Wrap hair in a warm towel to enhance a hair treatment
35. Use a silk pillowcase to reduce hair frizz and skin wrinkles
36. Use a facial mask once a week for deep cleansing
37. Use a gentle, non-comedogenic cleanser to prevent clogged pores
38. Exfoliate your lips using your toothbrush
39. Use mayonnaise as a hair conditioner
40. Use a primer before applying foundation for a smoother finish
A third commented: 'Your eyes literally pop!!! You're naturally stunning.'
However, at the same time, one user wrote: 'Personally prefer before.'
Meanwhile, another chimed in and rudely remarked: 'You just aged 20 years.'