How to Get Longer, Fuller Eyelashes

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I love coming up with homemade, all-natural skincare recipes and sharing them with others.

Get longer, fuller lashes with my tips below.
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How to Make Your Eyelashes Longer

I have been experimenting with eyelash serums and mascaras for a couple of years now, trying to find what combination works best to grow my lashes naturally. Big, long, curly lashes are definitely in right now, but extensions are costly and require upkeep every six weeks. With a few easy tricks, you can get the look without spending $100!

How to Grow Longer Lashes With Eyelash Serums

Growth serums are a godsend, and yes, they can work! I started with one that kept popping up on my Instagram advertisements - ForLash Eyelash Serum. I have been using this one on and off for over a year now and love the results. Generally speaking, eyelash serums work by conditioning and strengthening individual lashes.

Latisse

That being said, there’s only one serum that is proven to extend the growth period of lashes—Latisse. Latisse is FDA-approved but requires a prescription. Basically, each individual eyelash goes through a growth cycle. The Latisse serum has been proven to prolong the growth period of the lash before it is dormant for several weeks and eventually falls out. If you’d like to try this one out, ask your dermatologist!

OTC Lash Serums

Over-the-counter serums have different ingredients, one of which is peptides. These coat the lash and make it more flexible, therefore less likely to break. I think that using over-the-counter serums is still beneficial, even if they're not clinically proven to grow your lashes. If nothing else, they will condition and make your eyelashes look and feel thicker.

A Note on Biotin for Hair Growth

Many serums or growth products will boast that they contain biotin, a vitamin that promotes keratin production for hair and nails. There are a couple of problems with this. First, biotin must be consumed in order to be effective. Second, while biotin is in many hair/skin/nail products, there isn’t a whole lot of evidence that it actually makes hair grow faster. Typically, it will be most beneficial for people who are biotin-deficient.

After using eyelash serum daily for 3 weeks
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Castor Oil for Eyelash Growth

Many tout the use of castor oil for eyelash growth. There have not been any scientific studies on this specifically, but there have been studies that ricinoleic acid, which makes up around 90% of castor oil, can prevent hair loss.

Use an Eyelash Curler

This won’t make your eyelashes longer, but it will certainly help them to appear that way! When you use an eyelash curler, you make them curl up more and become more visible instead of just sticking straight out. Plus, curlers are super inexpensive and can be found at pretty much any drugstore. Use the curler as close to the roots of your eyelashes as possible, holding for at least 10 seconds. Then, apply your mascara on top.

Left is before curling and mascara; right is after.
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Mascara Tips for Longer-Looking Eyelashes

Of course, certain types of mascara and specific application techniques can also make your eyelashes appear longer.

Try an eyelash primer first. Applying an eyelash primer before mascara can help make your lashes appear thicker.
Use a small wand. The precision with a smaller wand can help define individual lashes and prevent clumping.
Apply multiple layers. Going over in a second layer with a thicker mascara and brush can add volume and length.
Wiggle the brush from left to right at the roots, then pull it up through the rest of the lashes. Wiggling it a bit at the roots helps separate the lashes and keeps them from clumping up together.

Use a Combination of Methods

There are several different ways you can make your eyelashes grow longer, or even just appear to be longer and fuller. I typically go for a combination of the two, using a serum daily to condition, paired with an eyelash curler and my favorite mascara (Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extension Mascara). This creates such a dramatic effect, as you can see below! These tricks help me to get the lash extension look, without spending the money.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.