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6 Lash-Enhancing Products Dermstore Shoppers Love

Jenn Sinrich
Writer and expert2 years ago
View Jenn Sinrich's profile

woman with long lashes 2

If you’re one of the many people who can’t seem to achieve fuller-looking lashes, you might consider a lash-enhancing mascara or an eyelash serum. But before you try just about anything that claims to help your lashes “look thicker,” it’s helpful to know how these products really work and how to pick the best one.

How Do Eyelash Serums Work

While anyone can use a lash serum, they can be especially beneficial for anyone who can’t tolerate mascara or for those who simply want to go ‘au naturel,’ explains Dr. Blair Murphy Rose MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York.

Lash serums are great because they contain ingredients that promote and extend the growth phase of hair, such as prostaglandins and peptides, explains Dr. Rina M. Allawh, MD, a dermatologist at Montgomery Dermatology in King of Prussia, PA. Eyelash growth serums also help condition your natural lashes so that they’re less likely to break and fall out.

What Helps Eyelashes Grow

Dr. Murphy Rose recommends finding a lash serum with ingredients that condition, strengthen and encourage hair growth. “Ceramides moisturize and condition hairs to keep them healthy for a longer duration; biotin, or vitamin B7, is a well-known ‘hair’ vitamin that works by increasing strength and decreasing breakage in the hair shaft so hairs can grow longer. Panthenol, a vitamin B5, derivative may function similarly,” Dr. Murphy Rose says.

However, dermatologists also warn that certain ingredients in some lash serums might cause irritation and sometimes an allergic reaction. If your eyes are on the sensitive side, start by trying the product on a small area to ensure that you won’t have a negative reaction.

How to Use Eyelash Serum  

The most important tip for using an eyelash serum is to be consistent, as results do not appear overnight. “With continued use, 1-2 times daily of a good product, you can expect noticeable improvement over a period of 2-6 weeks,” adds Dr. Murphy Rose.

How Lash-Enhancing Mascaras Work

“Unlike regular mascaras that only add length and volume for the time that you’re wearing them,” lash-enhancing mascaras contain hair-boosting ingredients, says Robyn Fisher, a celebrity makeup artist. “Coating your lashes with a mascara that has thickening, lengthening and curling fibers creates a [visible] effect, but choosing one with the addition of biotin, for example, will promote the health of each individual lash,” she adds.

Lash-enhancing mascaras are a good alternative for those who are intimidated by more concentrated lash serums or can’t use them due to certain ingredients. They nourish and condition natural lashes to promote fullness.

What to Look for in a Mascara

The ingredients Fisher recommends looking for when choosing a lash-enhancing mascara are peptides and botanicals. “Peptides cause changes in cell behavior, stimulate follicle growth and promote natural hair production." Hyaluronic acid is another beneficial ingredient in a lash-boosting product because it helps retain moisture, which nourishes the lashes.

How to Get Longer Lashes

For optimal results, Fisher recommends using a lash-enhancing mascara on both the top and bottom lashes to get maximum benefits and apply a few coats ideally 10 seconds or so apart.

Ready for stronger, fuller lashes? Here are the best lash-enhancing products.

    Jenn Sinrich
    Writer and expert
    View Jenn Sinrich's profile
    Jenn Sinrich is a freelance writer, editor and content strategist in NYC. Her work can be found in Women’s Health, SELF, Reader's Digest, Health, PureWow and more. When she's not putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), she can be found traveling the world and discovering more about the big apple of a city she's always dreamed of calling home. Follow her on TwitterInstagram and Facebook.
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