12 Eyelashes Serums So Good, You’ll Forget All About Lash Extensions
Lusher, longer lashes can be all yours in a number of different ways–you can swipe on a great lengthening mascara, glue on some falsies, or head to a lash studio for eyelash extensions or even a pro lash lift. But if you want naturally long lashes with the least amount of maintenance possible, there's another option. Say hello to eyelash serums, conditioning and lash-strengthening products that help create gorgeous length–with or without eye makeup.
Shellyann Bainlardi, the founder of The Lash Loft in NYC explains that eyelash serums work by extending the average three-month life cycle of your natural lashes. "Lash growth serums contain ingredients that seek to artificially lengthen the life cycle of a lash, so that natural lashes can grow longer than normal during the growth phase."
Important to note: If you stop using a lash serum, your lashes will return back to normal (you might even notice some shedding), adds Bainlardi. Ready to find the best eyelash growth serum for your routine? We've highlighted 12 of our favorite formulas below.
About the Expert:
Shellyann Bainlardi, the founder of The Lash Loft, an NYC-based eyelash studio specializing in lash extensions, lash perms, lash lifts, lash tints, and more.
1. Best Prescription-Based Lash Serum:
LATISSE®
Courtesy of LATISSE®
Before we jump into our fave over-the-counter eyelash serums, it's worth mentioning that Latisse is the only FDA-approved lash serum on the market. You'll need a doc's prescription for this option, namely because of how powerful it is and some of the potential side effects you may experience (most common is a change in eye color). Latisse is formulated with an active ingredient called bimatoprost, a medication that helps lashes grow thicker and darker in about 4-6 weeks.
2. Most Hydrating Eyelash Serum:
MILK MAKEUP KUSH Growhouse Lash + Brow Serum
This clean and gentle eyelash conditioner coats these delicate hairs with nourishing, hydrating ingredients like hemp-derived cannabis seed extract, a peptide blend, aloe, and vitamin B5. Together, the ophthalmologist-approved lash enhancer conditions, strengthens, and boosts thickness for noticeably fuller-looking lashes in just four weeks.
3. Best for Protecting Against Lash Loss:
LASHFOOD Phyto-Medic Eyelash Enhancer
Go easy on the mascara and don’t skimp on this serum! A proprietary blend of organic herb extracts not only triggers the growth of your natural lashes but also helps to minimize lash loss, which can occur while doing anything from cleansing your skin to applying mascara.
Ipsters love the immediate nourishing effects, @Selazul says, “God this came at the perfect time! Really nourished my lashes.” Another Ipster writes, “This is the first time I received something like this and I love it.”
4. Most Innovative Eyelash Serum:
SHISEIDO Full Lash and Eyebrow Serum
If it's coming from the Japanese beauty brand SHISEIDO, you know it's going to be a high-tech, science-focused formula. That's exactly the case with this innovative lash and eyebrow serum. The formula uses the amino acid arginine to create elegant, long lashes and thick, bushy brows while a flocked tip applicator makes it super easy and quick to apply along the lash line and throughout any sparse areas in the brow.
5. Best Eyelash Serum to Use with Lash Extensions:
BABE LASH Essential Serum
Want to double down on your lash boosting treatments? This award-winning serum is safe to use while you have lash extensions; the active ingredients won't break down the extensions' glue bonds. That means you can achieve instantly longer lashes (a la extensions) while also thickening and lengthening your natural lashes (a la this serum).
“This has definitely worked for me," says Ipster katieisabelle95. "It took me about two months to see results but I'm super happy about what I'm seeing!” Ipster stokerh15 notes that patience pays off: “Honestly, this actually worked with continual use! I’m usually very skeptical of these types of products but even my mom noticed the added length/volume!”
6. The Cult-Favorite Lash Serum:
RODAN + FIELDS Lash Boost
This beloved lash and brow serum is serious about providing visible results. But don't just take our word for it, ask the 90% of people who used this serum nightly and reported fuller-looking lashes after just eight weeks. The moisturizing formula uses a high-performing blend of ingredients like keratin, biotin, peptides, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin B to create a nightly conditioning and breakage-preventing treatment you'll never want to skip.
7. Best Natural Eyelash Serum:
GREEN ESTHETICS Longer Lash Eyelash Growth Conditioning Solution
Want envy-inducing long, lush lashes within weeks while also keeping your beauty cabinet as natural as possible? Try this polypeptide-packed conditioning serum, which promotes growth on a cellular level. Three types of natural vitamin B and castor oil keep your lashes perfectly hydrated and prepped for crazy-long length. It's also one of the only lash serums to include the golden skin and hair care ingredient, argan oil.
Ipster Short_t21 says, “It's my first time using it and so far I like that it dries in minutes and doesn't stick together. The brush tip is so soft and yet sleek enough to make sure that you get even the tiniest of lashes.”
8. Best Mascara with Built-in Lash Serum:
BAREMINERALS Strength & Length Serum-Infused Mascara
Don't feel like adding another step to your skincare or beauty routine? We don't blame you. Get twice the benefits in half the time when you use this serum-infused mascara from BAREMINERALS. While it paints your lashes with color, it also coats them with red clover peptide, keeping them extra strong and long. With frequent fallout becoming a thing of the past, they’ll eventually look thicker, too.
9. Best Drugstore Lash Serum:
NEUTROGENA Healthy Lash + Brow Enhancer Serum
A great lash serum doesn't have to break the bank. This affordable, ophthalmologist-tested option from NEUTROGENA comes infused with peptides and biotin to keep lashes conditioned and nourished. When your lashes are happy and healthy, their life cycle gets an extension. You know what that means: longer, thicker lashes–with or without mascara.
10. Best Eyelash Serum with Fast Results:
LASHEM All Eyes On You Eyelash & Brow Enhancing Serum
If you tend to be a bit impatient with long game beauty products (no shame), try this quick-acting eyelash product. In a six-week clinical study, 100% of women noticed an improvement in their brows and lashes after just two weeks. Most other formulas take about double that time to see noticeable results.
The magic of this growth-boosting serum is an amino acid-heavy formula, the building blocks of proteins. When applied along the lash line, they help these delicate hairs grow in long, thick, and shiny.
11. Best for Brittle Lashes:
GRANDE COSMETICS GrandeLASH-MD Lash Enhancing Serum
This powerful formula is so good it just took home a 2021 Glamour Beauty Award. The lash-enhancing serum's eye-opening results are largely thanks to an all-star cast of nourishing ingredients like vitamins, peptides, and amino acids. It's an ideal go-to for sensitive eyes, contact lens wearers, and anyone looking for longer, thicker lashes. It can also be particularly great for helping to totally revamp and strengthen short, thinning lashes. When needs lash extensions when you have a serum as powerful as this?
12. Best Eyelash Serum for Upper and Lower Lash Line:
ELIZABETH ARDEN PREVAGE® Clinical Lash + Brow Enhancing Serum
While many eyelash serums are designed to be used exclusively along the upper lash line, this formula can be applied to the lower lash line as well. Get ready for some serious Twiggy-inspired doe eyes. The formula creates longer, fuller lashes with an exclusive triple peptide complex that gets a super boost thanks to vitamins, botanicals, and lash conditioners.
P.S. Experiencing some sparse spots around the brows? Feel free to use this serum there as well.
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