The Top 10 Serums for Long Lashes

If you have short or severely damaged eyelashes, or are suffering from eyelash loss, then you may be familiar with every hair-growth “hack”, including castor oil, rice waters, and hair supplements. You can also wish on every lost lash (RIP), for more to grow. A good eyelash serum is your best friend when it comes to encouraging lash growth.

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that every lash serum on the market will give you the perfect lashes. Only your DNA and prescription lash growth treatments can achieve that. However, lash serums are a great option. So to help you weed through the best formulas, I chatted with a few experts–dermatologist Mona Gohara, Ilyse Haberman MD, lash expert Courtney Buhler (founder of Sugarlash ProR) to discuss the pros and cons of lash serums. The full breakdown is available, complete with customer reviews and editor tests. But first, take a peek at the sneak peak.

These are our top picks for eyelash serums in 2022

• Obagi Nu-Cil Eyelash Enhancing Serum

Dr. Gohara, a board-certified dermatologist at Yale School of Medicine recommends this serum to condition and enhance your lashes. She says that the serum hydrates, seals and supports the keratin, making the lashes thicker, darker and fuller.

• Velour Lashes are long and. Strong Lash Serum

This eyelash serum contains a combination of peptides that stimulate keratin production and strengthen your current lashes. This means: Although you won’t notice dramatic growth (once more, only Latisse is able to do that), the serum will help keep your lashes strong and prevent further hair loss. One reviewer wrote, “I have been using the serum almost every night for four weeks. My lashes have a stronger, healthier look now, thanks to the serum.”

• Clinique High Impact Lash Enhancing Serum

Vitamin E is combined with the peptides of this serum to keep your eyelashes strong, healthy, and hydrated. This doesn’t mean that you can rub your eyes vigorously and expect no lashes to fall out. However, they will be more resilient against normal wear and tear (think about removing mascara with makeup remover). After a few weeks of testing I noticed that my mascara removed more lashes from my eyelids every night.

• L’Oreal Eyelash Serum

Let me introduce you to the key ingredient in this eyelash serum, arginine. Arginine, a building block for keratin, collagen and other essential nutrients, is what your body needs to maintain your lashes’ strength and health. It also prevents brittleness. One reviewer said that he saw noticeable results after using the product for two months. I highly recommend this product, especially considering the price. After applying the solution, allow it to dry for 60 seconds before you brush on your mascara.

• E.l.f. Cosmetics Enhancing Lash & Brow Serum

Is it $8 for a lash-strengthening serum? Yes pls. Castor oil doesn’t increase hair growth but it can add a nice coating that will make your lashes look thicker and more dense. This serum, which contains castor oil and hyaluronic acids, will give your lashes thicker look if they feel thin.

• Physicians Formula 2-in-1 Boosting Eyeliner & Serum

Multi-tasking is one of my favorite words in beauty. This serum-eyeliner combination is just that. One tester wrote: “This serum-eyeliner hybrid is amazing. It has smooth application and a fine tip that gives you a precise wing. It’s an eyeliner with a peptide to stimulate keratin production. This will keep your lashes strong.”

• Wet n Wild Boost me Up Brow & Lash Serum

Are you looking to increase your eyebrows? This serum can be used as both an eyebrow and eyelash serum. It comes with a spoolie and small pointed ends to apply the serum in smaller areas like your lash line.

• Lilly Lashes Enhance Lash Enhancing Serum

This serum contains biotin and an arginine combination that will keep your lashes healthy. Pro tip: Double cleansing your eyes with an oil-based cleanser can be gentler than using makeup remover to remove mascara. If that isn’t enough, one tester wrote, “I have been receiving so many compliments about how my lashes looks, they also feel thick and healthy!”

• Latisse

Like I mentioned, Latisse is currently the only FDA-approved, prescription-strength eyelash serum. Bimatoprost is the active ingredient in this product. It helps to grow existing lashes and stimulates new hair growth within 4-6 weeks.

Why is this solution only available to prescription-only patients? It has potential side effects, including irritation and eye-color changes (yes, really). Before you try it, make sure to talk with your doctor.

• No7 Lash Impact Lash Serum

One reviewer after using the lash serum said that it “defined my lashes well. It made a huge difference to my lashes, more than mascara alone. This serum will give you lashes that look longer and thicker over eight weeks.” This serum is also available at a drugstore price, which makes it affordable for anyone who wants to give it a try but doesn’t want to spend a lot.

Are eyelash serums really effective?

Yes, and no. Only one FDA-approved eyelash product has been scientifically shown to stimulate eyelash growth. It is Latisse. Dr. Gohara says that hair has cycles and phases. Dr. Gohara says that there are three phases to hair growth: the growing phase, the resting and the shedding phases. Latisse increases the growth phase of your eyelashes. This means that Latisse allows the phase where the lashes grow to open longer so that they grow longer before falling out.

Eyelash serums aren’t able to make your hair grow, except for Latisse. Dr. Gohara claims that they condition and support the hair’s keratin. “Lash conditioners can help strengthen lashes and prevent them from breaking. They may also lightly swell them to make them look thicker,” states Ilyse Haberman MD, assistant professor of Ophthalmology at NYU Langone.

Which lash serum is best?

Latisse is the best choice if you want to grow your eyelashes straight away. An eyelash serum is a product that can keep your eyelashes healthy, conditioned and looking fuller.

Lemme say it again for the people in the back: Latisse is the only FDA-approved prescription-strength serum that will actually grow your lashes. Other serums that contain ingredients such as hyaluronic acids, peptides and castor oil can be great for keeping your eye lashes healthy and looking thick. However, they won’t prolong the growth phase, also known as the anagen stage of hair growth.

How to choose the right eyelash serum

Locate the source of the problem

Eyelash hair loss can be caused by many things, including medication side effects, age, medications, and conditions like trichotillomania. Dr. Gohara suggests that you first consult a dermatologist to determine the cause of the hair loss.

Take into consideration your eyelash requirements

Are your lashes too short or not enough? Do you want them to grow longer? Latisse will likely give you some growth results if it is used consistently for at least three to four months. If you are looking for something to hydrate and strengthen your lashes, consider lash serums that contain hyaluronic acids, peptides and oils. These will make your lashes appear thicker and more dense.