Full, long lashes may seem too good to be true. And it’s easy to assume they are falsies. Well, they aren’t always falsies; it is possible to grow your naturals into long, fluttery eyelashes. How is this possible? With an eyelash serum.
Eyelash serum is good for your natural lashes if you’re looking to have them more pronounced and give your lash line a break from eyelash extensions.
If one beauty product can help you achieve a beauty goal, it must be worth the hype. There is only one way to confirm that. Read on to see answers to the questions that are running through your mind already.
What Is Eyelash Serum?
Eyelash serum is a type of serum, highly concentrated with active ingredients that help you grow your natural lashes into longer, thicker, and more admirable lashes.
Moreover, lash growth serum promotes healthy lashes free from frequent fake lashes installation.
The active ingredients in this serum include biotin (B7), peptides, ceramides, collagen, amino acids, hyaluronic acid, other vitamins and minerals, and botanical extracts.
Eyelash growth serum ingredients combination varies with formula and products. However, they enhance eyelash growth and protect your lashes from breakage. The serums come in small bottles with a brush smooth applicator attached to the cover.
How Does Eyelash Serum Work?
Eyelash growth serum is effective because it alters the growth cycle of your lashes. Lash growth serum extends the growth phases of lashes.
During the extended phase, the peptides stimulate your follicles to grow hair, and biotin fortifies the newly grown hair to be resilient.
The botanical extracts and panthenol (B5) nourish and moisturize the newly growing lashes. This nourishment and moisture strengthen the hairs against breakage.
Also, eyelash serums contain vitamins that replenish the deficient nutrients that may have caused lash loss or sparse growth. During the growth stage, your lashes are darker, denser, and moisturized.
Lash growth serums are not magic wands. They work, but you need a great deal of patience to reap the benefits of these eyelash treatments.
Between 14-16 weeks, you should see significant changes. But before then, you’ll feel your lashes look darker, and become softer, and more flexible.
Can Lash Serum Make Your Eyelashes Grow?
Yes, it can. Lash growth serum helps to grow your natural eyelash in length and thickness. Consistent application of eyelash serum results in fuller, fluttery eyelashes.
As mentioned earlier, the serum extends the growth phase of your lashes. Dr. Kelly Dobos, a cosmetic chemist says, “the protein fragments promote hair growth from within the follicle and lengthen the growth cycle”.
So, before the falling-out stage, the hairs have grown into healthy lashes that are least likely to break. And if the lashes do not break, then, the length and volume are preserved.
Additionally, eyelash serum is good for people with weak or brittle eyelashes. More so, it will stimulate the follicles of anyone who has ever had eyelash loss.
Can Lash Serum Cause Your Eyelashes to Fall Out?
Lash serums do not entirely cause your eyelashes to fall out. At a given time, each eyelash is in a different phase of the growth cycle. Lashes in the telogen phase (the falling out phase), will naturally fall off.
Furthermore, if you stop using your lash growth serum, your eyelashes complete their natural cycle and fall off when they get to the telogen phase. In essence, lash growth serum may not always be the reason why your lashes are falling out.
Can You Use Lash Serum on Eyelash Extensions?
Yes, you can safely use eyelash serum on extensions. The serum does not dissolve the binding glue or cause the fake lashes to come off.
Applying serum over your falsies helps to preserve your natural eyelashes and minimize any possible damage.
Moreover, it helps to prevent and quickly repair and regrow eyelash damage or loss. If you plan on wearing the extensions for more than four weeks, you need to incorporate a lash serum in your lash care regimen.
Since the serum prevents your natural lashes from falling out, it extends the longevity of your eyelash extensions.
However, you cannot use just any eyelash serum on your extensions. The serum you use should not contain oil. Otherwise, it’ll cause the extensions to fall out. Use a lash serum that contains vitamins; it’ll help counteract the possible irritations lash glue may cause.
Apply eyelash growth serum along the root of your lash line like you would your eyeliner. It is best to use a lash serum on extensions during your morning routine.
In the morning, you see clearer, your lash line is clean, and there is less chance of irritation. When you close your eyes in sleep, your eyes become quite sensitive. This sensitivity may cause irritations with serum on your lashes.
Can Eyelash Serum Be Used on Eyebrows?
Yes, it can. Although eyelash growth serum is formulated to nourish and moisturize your lashes, you can apply the serum to your eyebrows too. Except for other peculiar concerns, it is safe to use a lash serum on your eyebrow.
If you’re battling eyebrow loss, you can fill in the sparse areas with eyelash growth serum. Use the applicator to fill in sparse areas like you would with your brow pencil. Do this every day until you see results.
Can Eyelash Serum Cause Eye Problems?
You may experience some reactions around your eye area while using eyelash growth serum, especially at first contact.
Board-certified dermatologist, Monica Li says, “while some people can react to certain peptides, oils, or other vitamins, others will not show the slightest reaction”.
Moreover, the skin around your eyes is very thin and sensitive. On first contact or subsequent use, you may experience reactions like redness and itching around your eye area.
Using eyelash growth serum can over-dry your eyes and expose your eyes to worse cases. Lash serums vary with formula.
Serums that contain prostaglandin, a lipid, will most likely cause eye problems. The problems could be chronic dry eyes and changes in eye color.
Can Eyelash Serum Make You Go Blind?
Eyelash growth serum does not cause blindness. Eye serums that contain prostaglandin, a lipid used in the treatment of glaucoma, are quite potent. Even when used in low concentrations, without an expert’s guide, can cause impaired vision.
Over time, the lipid reduces your eye pressure; consequently, it impairs your vision. Alternatively, you can opt for lash serums that do not contain prostaglandin instead. In addition, you should see an expert for a prescription.
Can Eyelash Serum Change Your Eye Color?
Yes, it can. Another drawback or potential risk of using lash serums is that they can affect the color of your iris and retina. While prostaglandin stimulates lash growth, it causes discoloration of your iris.
The iris darkens gradually and this change is very visible after a few months of using the serum. It begins with brown pigmentation darkening your iris in bits. And this change is irreversible.
This eye color change is a side effect of using eyelash growth serums that contain prostaglandin and its analogs.
Can Lash Serum Expire?
Like every other skincare product, lash serums do go bad. An unopened lash serum can last up to one year. Just like every other serum, the active ingredients present in these serums are easily denatured by exposure to high temperatures.
After opening your serum, you should use it within three months. On the flip side, you can get your serum to last longer and remain effective even after opening the bottle.
The way to do this is to keep your bottle of eyelash serum away from environments with high temperatures.
How to Use Eyelash Serum
Eyelash serum should be applied to a clean face, free of makeup and any other impurity. How you apply your lash serum determines the results you get. In addition, if you wear contacts, you should take them off before you apply lash serum to your lash line
- Locate a well-ventilated and bright area of your room. This is because the eyes are very delicate and as such should be handled carefully
- Start with cleaning your face with oil, eye makeup, and any beauty product that may interfere with the application of your eyelash growth serum.
- Afterward, wash and rinse your hands clean. Then, dry both your hands and face with a clean towel that won’t shed lint
- Use the brush applicator to scoop the serum. Take only a little at a time (with serum, less is more)
- Apply the serum to your upper lash line, making a thin coat. If you apply too much, the product will sit over your skin and not absorb
- Make soft back and forth motions with the applicator like you would when applying eyeliner
- When you’re sure you have successfully applied eyelash growth serum along your lash root line, you can set the serum aside
- Wait for a minute or two so that the serum absorbs into your skin
- Thereafter, you can apply your makeup.
- If you’re using eyelash serum during your night routine, you still need to wait a few seconds for the serum to absorb before you sleep
- Apply the serum every day to see results. The serum alters the growth cycle of your lashes, so, you should not skip a day or apply it every other day
FAQs
What happens when you stop using eyelash serum?
When you stop using eyelash serum, your eyelashes will fall off and return to their original length. The growth cycle proceeds into the falling out stage and your eyelashes look sparse.
Eyelash serums are permanent lash growth treatments. So, if you’ll like to see long-term results, you should use them on a long-term plan. However, if you discontinue use, it’ll not ruin your lashes.
Can eyelash serum cause dark circles?
Yes, it can. Eyelash serums can darken your eyelids and the undereye area (if you apply serum there). The skin around your eyes is delicate and the ingredients in this serum can make your skin age prematurely. However, it is reversible if you stop using the serum.
Why do lash serums make your eyes darker?
The lash serum stimulates an increase in the pigmentation in the iris of people with green or hazel eyes. This also happens if the serum accidentally enters your eyes. This effect is irreversible but does not affect the overall health of your eyes.
How often should you apply eyelash serum?
You should apply eyelash serums two times every day; during your morning and evening routine. Apply lash growth serum after cleansing your face and before your makeup. Also, you must use the serum continuously and consistently.
Conclusion
Eyelash serums are a class of beauty products that have stirred a lot of questions, especially on the matter of their safety to use on natural eyelashes.
Eyelash serums are highly concentrated with active ingredients like peptides, biotin, and numerous vitamins that help to grow your natural lashes into longer, fuller, and more resilient ones. So, they are good for use if you want to achieve fluttery, lush lashes.
However, this class of products is not without its downsides. If not used correctly, this serum can cause major eye problems like a discoloration of your iris which is a permanent side effect. Other potential risks include the pigmentation of your undereye.
Most importantly, before you incorporate an eyelash serum into your beauty routine, you should do an allergy test to check how your skin fares with the serum.
Thanks for reading.
Check Serum101 for related articles on serums and how to use them correctly to get results.
