The Best Eyelash Growth Serum: Get Goddess Like Lashes (2018 Edition)
Is it possible to actually grow your eyelashes quickly and safely?
The answer is absolutely.
Modern science has brought up (accidentally) some amazing serums that actually boost eyelash hair growth…
BUT, and this is a big but, not all products are created equally.
That means in order to get the best results you need to make sure you are using high quality products with high quality ingredients.
In this post I will walk you through the best eye lash growth serums including how to properly use them to get goddess like lashes in as little as 6 weeks.
Do Eyelash Growth Serums Actually Work?
Let’s answer this question so we can get it out of the way…
YES, eyelash serums can absolutely help you grow your lashes back.
You have to realize that your poor eyelashes, while important to you, are not very important as far as your body is concerned.
That means that your lashes are one of the FIRST things to go if you have any sort of medical condition or hormone imbalance (I’m talking to you thyroid – more on that below).
Not only are your lashes the first thing to go, they are also one of the last things to grow BACK.
Why?
Because all of the nutrients required for eyelash growth are usually better spent making hormones so you can survive and keep on kicking.
This is good news for your heart and lungs, but bad news for your lashes.
But don’t worry:
By using certain ingredients and nutrients we can basically bypass this system and provide your eyelashes with the vital components they need to GROW and to look beautiful.
If your eyelashes are looking like this (sorry for the picture!):
Then you know you are in serious need of some lash love…
Prescription Serums vs OTC serums
Before we talk about over the counter eyelash growth serums we really should at least mention one of (if not THE best) lash serums on the market: Latisse.
Latisse is actually a prescription medication that is used to treat glaucoma.
Doctors accidentally realized that patients using this medication (normally for the EYEBALLS) actually dramatically increased eyelash hair growth.
This is because the medication is actually a prostaglandin which is involved in hair growth stimulation.
And since the makers of the original medication wanted to make some more money they patented the medication has a cash only prescription designed specifically for growing back your eyelashes and Latisse was born.
One of the big problems with latisse is that it requires a prescription from an MD, dermatologist or plastic surgeon.
So while the cost the this medication is only around $50 ($44.17 if you live in Arizona), the cost of actually getting the prescription will be a lot more considering you need an appointment and you will have to pay a co-pay etc.
If you happen to have a personal Dermatologist or Plastic surgeon on speed dial then you can always grab a quick prescription and be on your way, but if you aren’t so lucky then you will want to consider using over the counter products.
Why?
Because they can work JUST as well as Latisse and come with much less hassle.
Benefits of using prescription lash serums like Latisse:
PROS
- FDA approved for eyelash growth
- Works quickly (within 6 weeks)
- Purchased from a pharmacy which means you are getting the SAME product each and every time
CONS
- Must be prescribed by a Doctor
- Hassle to get refills (have to pay for doctors visit each and every time)
- Family practice doctors or general practitioners may not know how to dose/prescribe the medication appropriately which means you may need a specialist
Benefits of using over the counter lash serums:
PROS
- Works just as well as Latisse long term
- Easier to purchase (can be purchased over the counter)
- High quality brands like Vichy and Phyto-medic produce high quality lash growth products
- Include more natural ingredients
CONS
- May be slightly more expensive initially but ends up being about the same price as Latisse after Physicians cost are factored in
- Risk of buying fraudulent or fake products if you don’t know where to shop or look (I will go over this below)
Because you can get the same benefits when using over the counter eyelash growth serums I almost always recommend that you start with these products FIRST.
It’s important to realize that some people may NEED the prescription latisse depending on what caused their eyelashes to fall out to begin with.
If you have multiple medical conditions and/or multiple hormone imbalances (like hypothyroidism) then you might want to consider using Latisse initially.
High Quality Eyelash Growth Serums
As I already mentioned you if you decide to purchase over the counter products you need to make sure you are buying high quality products.
Look for products that have the term “Luxury Beauty” and a “Professional Beauty” tag to certain products to indicate that they are legitimate.
You can find this tag under real products right below the price tag in a black and teal headline which indicates that this it the legitimate product.
If you don’t see this tag then avoid purchasing from that seller because it means you may be getting a fake product.
All of the products I have listed below are products that I have personally tried (at one point or another) and can verify that they are indeed high quality products that WORK.
As always, I include the product that I LOVE the most as #1 🙂
#1. RevitaLash Advanced Eyelash Conditioner
First up on the list is Revitalash advanced eyelash conditioner.
In my opinion this is probably the BEST of the over the counter products and should probably be the FIRST eyelash growth serum that you try.
Here’s why:
Revitalash contains a combination of nutrients and vitamins that have been shown to help nourish eyelashes and hair follicles.
Among the list of ingredients is biotin, green tea extract and Ginseng.
In clinical studies the use of biotin has been shown to increase hair growth even if taken ORALLY.
And it’s important to remember that we are talking about SERUMS here that go directly on your lashes and get VERY high absorption rates.
Compare that to oral supplements that have to be digested, absorbed and transported to your EYELASHES to have any sort of effect.
In addition to these ingredients Revitalash also includes Saw palmetto which helps block androgen receptors on your lashes which prevents lashes from falling out (especially if you have PCOS or high testosterone levels).
Along with these nutrients come other powerful amino acids and fat complexes that actually help nourish and “condition” existing lashes.
The combination of these ingredients results in nutreints to promote growth, nutrients to stop lash loss and nutrients to nourish existing lashes.
If you look at studies you can see that prostaglandin derivatives increase lash length, thickness and darkness (all associated with the subjective sense of beauty).
And revitalash contains ingredients that help act to boost these effects.
How quickly will it start working?
One of the benefits of using growth serums is that most will start to work almost immediately.
I don’t mean that your eyelashes will magically start growing within one day, but I do mean that you will notice a difference in terms of the texture and QUALITY of your eyelashes.
This immediate change stems from special ingredients that act almost like shampoo and condition for your little lashes.
They nourish your lashes and condition them so they look shinier, healthier and more full almost immediately.
The actual growth of your eyelashes will occur within about 4-6 weeks and you will notice a change in the thickness, darkness and even the length of your lashes.
In most cases the average INCREASE in lash thickness is as much as double what it was previously.
Is Revitalash well tolerated or will I react when I use it?
This particular product is considered to be hypoallergenic (meaning it doesn’t exacerbate or cause allergies), non-irritating and clinically tested on real life people.
How to Use RevitaLash Conditioner
Overall rating:
Overall Quality
Contains well studied ingredients
Price
High price, but high quality
Why I Love it
Works well for women of ALL ages
Who should use it:
Ingredients:
- Anyone who wants longer and more beautiful lashes
- Women with big events (wedding, birthday, bridal showers, event pictures/videos, etc.)
- People with hormone imbalances like hypothyroidism that may result in lash damage or lack of lash growth
- Women of all ages
- Biopetin complex (contains biotin + green tea extract)
- Ginseng and Swetia Japonica (both plants high in anti-oxidants to reduce inflammation and protect against free radical damage)
- Saw palmetto (helps reduce androgen activation locally to reduce lash loss)
- Wheat protein (healthy amino acids that promote lash growth and help condition existing lashes)
How to use it:
Why it works
- After cleansing your entire face and after your face is dry, apply a thin (one pass) of the serum across the top of your upper eyelid/eyelashes – this will allow proper absorption of all ingredients
- Active ingredients promote eyelash growth through stimulation of hair follicles while other nutrients (saw palmetto) prevent lash loss and finally amino acids and fat complexes nourish existing lash volume and look
Recommended product:
You can find the complete ingredient list in the image below.
Just realize that the ACTIVE ingredients are different from the INACTIVE ingredients that help dissolve the active products.
Complete Revitalash ingredient list:
#2. Vichy LiftActiv Serum 10
Next on the list is a Vichy product.
This eyelash serum is special because it does TWO different things (and means that it might be better for certain people over others)…
First:
Vichy liftactiv serum helps to promote eyelash hair growth by increasing the time that your eyelashes spend in the “growing phase”.
The special products of ceramides and hyaluronic acid help make this a reality.
This helps your lashes grow longer and stronger MORE of the time.
You can see an image of the elongation of the growth phase below:
Second:
In addition to also helping with your eyelash growth this product also helps reduce fine lines and WRINKLES by acting as an anti aging product.
So this product has a double whammy and is better suited for people who want beautiful lashes AND for women who also have some premature signs of aging.
This combination means that this particular product is better for women over the age of 35 to 40 years old.
Why?
Because after age 30-35 women start to lose elastin and collagen in their skin which results in wrinkles.
So how does vichy help this?
This product contains a special ingredient known as Rhamnose which is a special plant sugar which has been clinically proven to help with skin rejuvination (making your skin look younger).
This ingredient is combined with the age old and tested hyaluronic acid which also helps hydrate and promote plump skin – especially around your eyelids where skin tends to sag.
Who should use Vichy lift serum?
Consider this product your number one choice if you want to grow your lashes and have early signs of aging or are over the age of 35.
If younger, or also using another anti-aging serum (like Vitamin C serum) then you can use Revitalash instead.
Is it tolerated well?
Yes, Vichy liftactiv is suitable for sensitive skin and is considered hypoallergenic as well.
How to Use Vichy LiftActiv Serum 10 for your Eyes and Lashes
Overall rating:
Overall Quality
High quality products combined with anti-aging ingredients
Price
Moderately priced compared to other brands
Why I Love it
Better for woman over the age of 35 not using anti-aging serum
Who should use it:
Ingredients:
- Anyone who wants longer and more luscious eyelashes
- Women who ALSO have early signs of aging or wrinkles around the eye’s and eyelids (This product has the added benefit of having some anti-aging properties)
- Women who want better and longer eyelashes who are ALSO over the age of 35-40 (better to start with this product first)
- Rhamnose 10% plant sugar (proven to assist in skin rejuvenation and used in dermal fillers)
- Hyaluronic acid (enhances the structure of dermis/epidermis and hair follicles, also nourishes and hydrates the skin)
- Ceramides (act as conditioner for your little lashes to improve appearance immediately)
How to use it:
Why it works
- This product is best when used TWICE daily – place a single drop of serum on your finger tips and massage into the entire eye contour and eyelid area (AWAY from your eyeball)
- Rhamnose and hyaluronic acid help promote eyelash growth while ceramides and fat complexes help immediately nourish existing eyelashes
Recommended product:
Complete ingredient list:
#3. LashFood Phyto-Medic Eyelash Enhancer
Next on the list is Lashfood by phyto-medic.
This is included in the list because it is not only a luxury product it is also VERY well tolerated.
This eyelash growth serum should be considered if you have SUPER sensitive skin or if you have multiple food allergies.
I’m talking to the fair skinned people out there who get red skin when leaves gently fall and braise their skin.
In a consumer study (I know they are generally not very reliable) Lashfood showed the following results:
- 85% of people who used lashfood noticed an improvement in lash fullness
- 100% of people who used lashfood noticed an increase in lash length
- 100% of people who used lashfood noticed an increase in lash density and thickness
- 0% noticed irritation of any kind while using lashfood
A consumer study is when people are chosen by the company who produces the product and given the product (usually free) for a 6-12 week test.
They then send them a questionnaire and ask them a list of questions and then use the results to “prove” that their product works.
Obviously this isn’t the best way to tell if something works, BUT it does provide some insight into IF a product is likely to work.
In this case we do know that the product will work but we are more concerned about how well it was tolerated.
If you have a gluten intolerance, autoimmune disease or lots of food allergies then lashfood should be your go-to product for beautiful lashes.
What else makes lashfood special?
Lashfood contains more natural ingredients based on herbs, proteins and fats that are designed to nourish and strengthen your existing brows.
One of the reasons that people tend to tolerate lashfood so well is because they use more natural ingredients, but this also may be why it’s not QUITE as effective as other eyelash growth serums.
Another benefit is that lashfood can be used with EXISTING eyelash extensions to provide growth to your brows so you don’t have to keep up with the extensions.
LashFood Phyto-Medic Eyelash Enhancer
Overall rating:
Overall Quality
Contains more natural ingredients like amino acids and soy
Price
Good price for the product
Why I Love it
Works better for patients with super sensitive skin and food allergies
Who should use it:
Ingredients:
- People who want to grow their lashes but have VERY sensitive skin
- People who don’t tolerate gluten or dairy based foods or products
- People looking for a more natural product
- People with eyelash extensions who want a more natural look
- Women of all ages
- Phyto-medic proprietary blend of natural herbs designed to reduce inflammation and manage free radicals
- Lavender water to help nourish and condition lashes
- Soy Protein to help provide nutrients directly for lashes for growth
- Arginine – an amino acid which helps prevent lash breakage
- Adenosine – designed to help rejuvenate surrounding skin and hair follicles
How to use it:
Why it works
- Each night swipe the applicator brush along the upper eyelid and eyelash to let nutrients into eyelash follicles, make sure to apply to completely DRY skin
- If you have eyelash extensions, simply apply at the base of the extensions
- Lashfood contains more natural ingredients but the majority of the heavy lifting comes from their botanicals and herbs designed to nourish existing lashes and promote growth of new lashes. Other products provide conditioning and provide immediate changes to existing lashes.
Recommended product:
You can find more information about the ingredient list of lashfood below:
Budget Serum Recommendation
If you are dying to grow your lashes out but can’t afford any of the other products then I have also included a cheaper priced product (the best of the lower range products) that you can use.
Whenever possible it’s ALWAYS better to use high quality products from trusted brands because they include higher quality ingredients.
Having said that I realize that $50-100 per vial of serum isn’t always in the price range of everyone…
With that in mind the best in the lower price range is the rapidlash eyelash and eyebrow serum:
How to use Rapidlash Eyelash and Eyebrow Serum
Overall rating:
Cheaper products are tempting to purchase, but they almost always result in sup par results when compared to higher quality products.
Generally the price of these products is less due to skipping steps in the concentration of the ingredients and using cheaper but more irritating inactive ingredients.
You might notice that hardly anyone lists exactly HOW MUCH of an ingredient they use, and it’s because they don’t actually have to.
This means you can purchase the same product with the same ingredient but it might only be 1/10th as much as other products leading to less results.
If you are in a pinch you can consider this product.
Ingredients:
- Polypeptides
- Biotin (Pro vitamin B-7)
- Panthenol (Vitamin B-5)
- Amino acids
- Soybean oil
- Pumpkin seed extract
Other Tips to Grow your Lashes
While using lash growth serums is a great idea (and one I recommend for lasting results) you also should consider making several other changes to help improve the quality and density of your eyelashes.
These tips will also potentially help you have better and longer lasting hair! That means eyebrows and hair on your head 🙂
I’ve included a complete list of other reasons that might cause your lashes to fall out.
If you want to regrow your lashes, then you will need to treat the underlying cause of what is making your lashes fall out.
In some cases this may be difficult, but it’s always worth exploring.
If you can’t get your lashes to grow back, then you might need to consider using lash extensions for a short period of time while you get checked out by a physician (preferably a dermatologist).
What causes your eyelashes to fall out:
- Psoriasis, neurodermatitis, alopecia, lichen planus, lupus erythematous, acanthosis nigricians
- Prescription medications
- Cholesterol medciations, anti thyroid medications, beta blockers and anti seizure medications
- Hormone imbalances: hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, pituitary insufficiency, hypoparathyroidism
- Trauma
- Radiation, previous surgeries, PTSD, anxiety, stress
- Chronic infections: herpes, fungal infections
- Inflammation
- Cancers
- Heavy metal exposure
- Trichotillomania
Even if you aren’t sure what is causing your lashes to fall out you can still use the follow tips and tricks to help grow them back!
#1. Take the proper supplements
First on the list is high quality supplements.
Certain nutrients like zinc, iron, choline, silica and biotin are REQUIRED for optimal hair growth.
If you pay attention to the ingredients inside hair, skin and nails supplements you will find that these nutrients are ALWAYS inside (or should be at least).
What you may not know is that in order to get the benefits of taking these supplements you need to make sure you are taking a high enough dose.
That generally means NOT taking one supplement that has everything in it, and instead taking a couple of supplements with high concentrations of the supplements you need.
Another very important factor to consider when evaluating your hair loss or eyelash loss is how much iron you have.
Low iron levels (even if you don’t have anemia) can cause hair loss all over your body.
And as a woman you are at increased risk for developing iron deficiency due to your monthly cycle!
This explains why so many woman who start taking a pre natal vitamin start to grow their hair back.
It’s not because there is something magical in the pill, it’s because it contains iron!
Here is my favorite hair, skin and nails supplement that I use almost daily.
#2. Use High Quality Liners & Makeup
This might go without saying, but it’s worth mentioning.
Another huge reason for lash loss, hair loss, etc. is due to slight reactions to inactive ingredients in low quality make up products.
This reaction can result in inflammation JUST at the level of your skin and epidermis which results in low grade inflammation in your hair follicles.
The result of this inflammation is early signs of aging, pale discoloration to your skin, loss of eyelashes/eyebrows/hair and even some other signs such as redness or irritation.
You can avoid these reactions by monitoring how you react to certain make up products and only using high quality products that have FEW inactive ingredients.
If you are very sensitive then you may need to make sure you use pure organic products that would be considered edible.
#3. Avoid picking or tweezing them! And pretty much avoid touching them at all if you can help it
Believe me when I say that one of the single best things you can do for your eyebrows or eyelashes is to LEAVE THEM ALONE!
Some people have a nervous habit of simply picking at their skin or hair, others have the need to be a perfectionist which leads to almost no brows.
Even if it means going without makeup for a while (few weeks) it’s worth it, just leave your eyelashes alone while they grow.
Don’t go near them and don’t tweeze your brows while they are growing either!
Mechanical trauma from tweezing or pulling can actually irritate the follicle and blunt hair growth.
Do. Not. Do. It.
#4. Avoid using fake lashes while they grow
This is an extension of #3.
While you are using lash serum it’s best if you avoid putting ANYTHING on your lashes.
While certain lash serums CAN be used with lash extensions (I’m talking about lashfood) doesn’t mean that you should.
Adding lash extensions to your face counts as a minor trauma as far as your poor little eyelashes are concerned.
In addition, as the lash extensions come out they may pull some of your native eyelashes out along with them – not good!
If you can help it, avoid using lash extensions while you are using lash growth serum.
#5. Eat foods high in choline
Choline is a critical part of the hair follicle matrix and adequate choline helps give your hair (and eyelashes) a glow or sheen.
You can increase your consumption of choline rich foods to help boost your hair growth naturally.
Focus on these food groups:
- Cage free eggs (you can eat up to 3 per day while growing your lashes and hair)
- Liver (if you can tolerate it!)
- Meat of pretty much any kind
- Seafood
- Peanuts (stick to organic)
- Spinach and Beets
Remember to also take a choline supplement as well!
#6. Make sure to detox your liver
A huge cause of poor hair growth is due exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals.
You’ve heard of detox but you probably don’t know WHY it’s so important.
Well, your body comes into contact with these endocrine disruptors on a DAILY basis.
Even touching receipts or eating out of plastic containers can result in contact with these chemicals.
Under normal circumstances your body doesn’t have a problem getting rid of them, but sometimes they can build up and cause problems.
To make sure that you get rid of these chemicals consider taking a milk thistle, MSM or curcumin to help boost your liver’s ability to detox naturally.
Here is a supplement you can try that works well.
#7. Get your hormones checked
Next up:
Your hormones.
Whether you realize it or not your hormones play a huge role in hair growth, the quality of your skin and how quickly you age.
Because of their important role it’s ALWAYS important to make sure that you have your hormones under control when dealing with your hair or skin.
One of the biggest culprits is hypothyroidism.
Your thyroid directly regulates how quickly your hair grows and if it falls out or not.
Low thyroid states (but also high thyroid states) can lead to hair breakage, your eyebrows to fall out (especially the outer third) and changes to how your hair looks (curly, wavy, etc.).
Make sure you find a thyroid literate doctor to help you out!
#8. Wait patiently 🙂
Lastly, and one of the more important steps, is to remember to wait patiently!
Growing back your lashes takes TIME.
Don’t give up, just remember to follow these recommendations, use your lash serum and you will have beautiful lashes within 4-6 weeks 🙂
Bonus Tip
Here is another trick that you might find helpful.
You can actually use your eyelash serum on your brows to help boost your eyebrow growth.
I will write another post on how to grow back your eyebrows, but just realize that you can take a small amount of your growth serum and apply it directly to your eyebrows as well.
Apply at the same time that you apply to your lashes and make sure your brows are dry before application.
Wrapping it up
Phew!
Eyelash growth serums can and do actually work, it’s just a matter of finding the right type of serum for YOUR body and YOUR skin.
Spend some time looking at my recommendations and find out which one works best for you.
But remember:
Stick to the high quality brands and look for brands that have the “professional beauty” or “luxury beauty” designation.
Now it’s your turn:
Have you tried to grow back your lashes?
What has worked for you? What hasn’t?
Leave your comments below!
