Eyelash Serum: Everything You Need To Know
Eyelash Serum: Everything You Need To Know
Everyone knows that babies, guys, and the very few genetically blessed have the best eyelashes the rest of us yearn for. Longer and healthy eyelashes make you look awake and alive and also draws attention to your eyebrows and jawline, allowing you to accentuate your natural beauty. There is a sense of femininity and youthfulness to long lashes everyone craves.
Today, eyelash serums have become extremely popular, and have been for many years, to achieve the perfect and desired long lashes. While there are many lash serum formulas out there, it is important to know what an eyelash serum truly is and what it can do for you. Here is everything you need to know!
What Is Eyelash Serum?
Throughout time and across the globe, women, and men alike have sought ways to lengthen and strengthen their eyebrows. In ancient Egypt, a popular way to do this was by coating your lashes with soot paste, olive oil, and egg whites. Moreover, in Countess C’s 1901 beauty book Beauty’s Aids or How to be Beautiful, the author gives growth tips and tricks by using pomade and a mixture of walnut leaves and water for thicker, fuller eyelashes.
Today, we have successfully experimented with ingredients to create eyelash serums, formulas that contain fatty acids and peptides that promote lash growth. In the last couple of years, people have been obsessed with over-the-counter (OTC) eyelash serums to help restore moisture after mascara use and give a glowy and natural look without needing globs of mascara for length.
OTC vs. Prescription
There are two different types of eyelash serums out there: over-the-counter and prescription. OTC eyelash serums are accessible to all consumers and usually contain ingredients like biotin, castor oil, peptides, panthenol, and hyaluronic acid. These ingredients are vitamins and moisturizers that work to hydrate and strengthen hair, skin, and nails. On the other hand, prescription eyelash serums are formulas that doctors prescribe to patients and are usually used to treat diseases of the eye and not necessarily made to grow lashes.
Does It Actually Work?
While eyelash serums have taken the beauty world by storm, an issue that arises is whether the product actually works. According to Cosmopolitan, most OTC eyelash serums help keep lashes strong and hydrated, not actually make them grow. Most eyelash serums are made to maintain and reduce lash breakage, which is just as important as growing your lashes. While this seems to be true for most serums, one formula that has been proven to promote eyelash growth is Latisse.
Latisse is a famous brand that was formally and primarily used to treat eye pressure and glaucoma but is now widely known and approved by the FDA as a growth serum that gives real results, evidenced by conducted research. The product has the active ingredient of bimatoprost, which assists in promoting hair growth. Unlike most eyelash serums, Latisse is not OTC in which a doctor has to prescribe bimatoprost to patients. There are complications and specific side effects to using Latisse, so make sure to discuss this formula with your physician.
Who Should Use It?
Any all-natural eyelash serum is generally safe to use at any age, seeing that the formulas consist of a blend of enriching oils to strengthen hair follicles and do wonders for those with weak, dry, and brittle eyelashes. Like any skin, hair, and nail product, however, it is essential to know just how safe the eyelash serum you’re using is.
Despite OTC lash serums’ accessibility and its popularity amongst women, it is super important to use credible resources, such as medical websites, and checking in with a physician to know how an eyelash serum could affect your eyes. Additionally, doing your research by thoroughly looking over the ingredients list and being cautious if you have sensitive skin is also essential. In most cases, the more sensitive your skin is, the more hesitant and investigative you should be with eyelash serums, especially harsher and prescription products like Latisse.
Benefits to Eyelash Serum
Even though most eyelash serums don’t necessarily lengthen your eyelashes, there are many advantages to using an eyelash serum. Here is a list of benefits to keep in mind:
- Decreases eye infections by keeping lashes nourished
- Moisturizes eyelids, skin that has water loss as you age
- All-natural eyelash serums are more environmentally friendly than mascaras and false lashes
- Works as a hair loss remedy
- Helps lash extensions stay on longer
- Promotes keratin production
- Moisturizes lashes after using mascara (using mascara dries out lashes)
Drawbacks to Eyelash Serum
Eyelash serums are all the rage at the moment, which is why slowing down and knowing the consequences of using one is mandatory. Here a few drawbacks to eyelash serums you should be aware of:
- Might contain harsh chemicals (so make sure to check ingredients, buy all-natural, and/or consult a doctor)
- Redness and irritation
- Itchiness
- Discoloration around the eyelids
- Can worsen symptoms of dry eye, blepharitis, or inflammation of the eye
How to Use It & Results
Using an eyelash serum isn’t overly complicated and varies depending on the product. Generally, however, most serums require daily applications, maybe even twice a day. Whether you choose to apply your lash serum in the morning or at night, it is important to make sure your face is clean and bare, removing any makeup or dirt around the eye area. This will not only help the serum penetrate better, but it will also prevent any type of irritation or infection from happening. A thin line of the serum along the base and the lash line will go a long way, and make sure to let the formula dry completely before applying any makeup.
It will take some time before you see your lashes looking healthy or full when it comes to results. While some people will see results within a week, it might take months for some. Ultimately, the outcome will directly correlate with the specific product you use and your lash growth cycle; your lash growth cycle truly depends on genetics and age.
