Long, voluminous lashes are the perfect finishing touch for any makeup look, whether they’re achieved with mascara, eyelash curlers, fluttery extensions, or falsies. These temporary options give your eyes an instant, alluring boost. Still, the most natural, effective, and long-lasting way to achieve your dream lashes (without makeup) is to use a lash growth serum, especially one that is safe to use around your eyes. “The skin around the eyes is very thin and much more prone to irritation than other areas of the face,” explains NYC-based dermatologist Carmen Castilla, M.D., who recommends applying your preferred formula “slowly, using a small amount of product to ensure you won’t develop sensitivity to your lash serum.”
Applying a few strokes of serum along your lash line on a regular basis will result in healthy, fuller-looking lashes. InStyle tested 40 of the most popular lash growth serums for 10 to 12 weeks to see which ones made our lashes appear longer, fuller, and more voluminous while causing no irritation or sensitivity.
Why We Love It: This Borboleta serum deserves tens all around—we were impressed from start to finish by its chic packaging, ease of application, and lightweight consistency. The applicator brush resembles the tip of a liquid eyeliner, allowing you to easily reach your lash line with a single, targeted sweep. After eight weeks of consistent serum application, our tester’s lashes not only became noticeably longer (she even received compliments from strangers on the sidewalk!), but they also began to curl upwards. In terms of strength, she noticed that her lashes were not falling out as frequently as they usually did.
Who It’s For: If you can get past the initial irritation (which our tester experienced for the first few nights), this lash serum can deliver long, thick lashes in as little as two weeks for those who have always desired them.
Why We Love It: A good mascara can give you the illusion of length, but GrandeLash-MD’s powerhouse serum delivers the real thing. Our tester discovered that when she used this radish root extract and hyaluronic acid-infused formula, her notoriously short lashes grew noticeably longer in about four weeks. She also noticed less breakage after she decided to use mascara and then removed it. Bonus: Because it is water-based, you can use this product with eyelash extensions.
Who It’s For: Anyone looking for the ultimate doe-eyed effect will appreciate the formula’s ultra-lengthening abilities.
Why We Love It: Although the package states that results will be visible in eight weeks, we were surprised (and delighted!) to see signs of fullness and growth after only a few. At the end of eight weeks, the serum’s full effect on our tester’s lashes was visible. They grew noticeably longer, more uniform, and fuller, allowing her to flaunt her new “I just woke up like this” look. While some lash serums require careful application to avoid a tingle, this lightweight serum felt like water on our tester’s lids and caused no eye sensitivity.
Who It’s For: If you’re concerned about shedding and breakage and want to achieve a natural, healthy look for your lashes, this option can help.
