Jump to Recipe
This DIY eyelash serum contains nourishing and easy to find ingredients that will “feed” your hair follicles naturally! Not only is the serum EASY to make, it also WORKS! Honestly can you really have lashes that are too long or too thick. NO! There are actually several recipes floating around the internet for DIY eyelash lengthening and thickening serums. I’ve researched all the suggested ingredients, done some tweaking and used the serum on myself. The results were surprising and I couldn’t be more satisfied!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Learn more
Did you know you don’t have to be genetically blessed to get gorgeous lashes?? Sure you can pay for a doctor’s visit, get a prescription and spend over $100 bucks for an eyelash growth serum that is full of unnatural ingredients that lead to possible scary side effects. You could also get false eyelashes that will eventually weaken your real lashes while breaking the bank. Personally, I’m not interested in either of those options.
There is a much safer, more affordable and easier way to enhance your own eyelashes using natural ingredients that are proven effective in conditioning and stimulating hair growth minus the adverse side effects.
First things first, let’s discuss the root of thinning lashes… Of course some people are simply born with shorter, thinner lashes than others but there can be health issues causing lashes to thin and fall out. These issues should be acknowledged in order to properly fix the issue.
Possible Health Reasons for Thinning Eyelashes:
- Age is the most common cause of thinning/falling out lashes and is not a medical issue. In fact-if you aren’t aging-your dead so aging is a good thing! However, supporting lash health can give you thicker eyelashes.
- Hormonal imbalance of the thyroid hormone can result in loss of hair on your head, brows and lashes.
- Chemotherapy can cause loss of hair.
- Not taking off your makeup before bed can contribute greatly to the loss of eyelashes and lash thinning.
- Removing mascara in a non gentle manner.
- Allergies can cause your eyes to itch an itching can cause loss of lashes.
- Prolonged use of fake lashes. Lash extensions can put a strain on your natural lashes causing them to weaken and fall out.
- Reaction to certain medication.
Why Aren’t Conventional Lash Growth Serums Ideal?
The FDA has approved many eyelash serums but they warn against possible side effects these serums could cause. Eyelash growth serums can cause adverse reactions such as an allergic reaction, eye irritation causing itchy, red eyes, reduced eye pressure, darkening of the eyelid skin, and in rare cases, a permanent change in eye color.
What Are the Risks of Lash Extensions?
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, eyelash extensions can cause swelling, temporary or permanent loss of eyelashes, skin irritation of the eyelid and infection of the eyelid or cornea.
Also, the glue used contains several questionable ingredients such as latex, cellulose gum, cyanoacrylates, benzoic acid and formaldehyde. Ingredients found in eyelash extension removers include formaldehyde, propylene glycol and geraniol.
Lash extensions are not only time consuming, they are expensive as well.
What Oils Help Your Eyelashes Grow?
In all my research, I have found several scientifically proven natural oils that help hair grow longer and thicker. Healthy hair growth starts with increased blood circulation and detoxed hair follicles. Conditioning the hair can give the appearance of thicker, longer lashes as well.
Castor oil is one of the most commonly and widely used oils for lashes and brows. I use it in this serum because it is gentle on the eyes and will not cause irritation.
Castor Oil is the main active ingredient in this serum. It can be extremely beneficial when it comes to growing hair. Castor oil is full of Omega 6 fatty acids, vitamin E and proteins. It is easily absorbed into the hair shaft and locks in nutrients. Using Castor Oil for hair growth dates all the way back to the ancient Egyptians!
You can even massage castor oil into your scalp before bed for more hair growth on your head! Castor oil also has a pulling action which I believe the pulling detoxes the hair follicle allowing hair to grow. Castor oil is easy to find and can often be found at any natural grocery store.
According to Healthline, there is evidence that ricinoleic acid, a chemical compound that makes up almost 90 percent of castor oil, might help reverse hair loss. A study found that the protein prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) is present in high levels on men who have male pattern baldness, and is one of the factors that kept the subjects of the study from growing their hair back. Another study found that ricinoleic acid may help inhibit PGD2 and potentially help scalp hair grow back.
There are other oils I recommend for use in hair loss, however, since we are dealing with the delicate nature of the eye, castor oil is the only oil I use. If you are interested in a hair growth serum for your brows that incorporates more hair growth encouraging oils check out my DIY Brow Serum recipe.
Sweet Almond Oil is incredibly gentle and nourishing.
Vitamin E is moisturizing and also helps to strengthen the hair. Both vitamin E and Aloe Vera Gel help to lengthen the lashes but adding aloe to this recipe doesn’t work well since Aloe Vera is water based and does not mix well with oil.
What You Need to Make DIY Lash Serum:
- Castor Oil
- Sweet Almond Oil
- Vitamin E
- Empty mascara bottles
- Small funnel
Continue to Content
DIY Eyelash Serum
Yield: 1 Mascara Tube Prep Time: 2 minutes Active Time: 1 minute Total Time: 3 minutes
This DIY eyelash serum contains nourishing and easy to find ingredients that will “feed” your hair follicles naturally! Not only is the serum EASY to make, it also WORKS! Use it every night to see the best results!
Materials
- Castor Oil
- Sweet Almond Oil
- Vitamin E Oil*
Tools
- Mascara Tubes
- Small Funnel
Instructions
- Fill and empty mascara tube 3/4 full with Castor Oil
- Fill 1/8 of your mascara tube with Sweet Almond Oil
- Fill 1/8 of your mascara tube with Vitamin E Oil*
- Replace the lid and shake.
Notes
*I do not recommend using Vitamin E capsules in this recipe.
How To Use A DIY Eyelash Serum:
- The first thing to do is to thoroughly remove all your eye makeup and remove any cleanser/cleansing oil from your eyes. I like to swipe cotton swabs with micellar water over my eye area to remove excess oil from my oil cleanser.
- Use your DIY eyelash growth serum at night right before bed.
- Apply a small amount to the lash line as well as over the lashes themselves. Be sure you get the oil at the base of your lashes. This is important.
- Wash your face as usual in the morning.
Did you make this product?
What About Essential Oils?
Many essential oils are fantastic for stimulating hair growth. Rosemary, Cedarwood and Lavender essential oil are excellent tools when it comes to regrowing and thickening hair. However, I have not been able to comfortably add them to my DIY eyelash serum. Even 1 drop per mascara tube is too much for my sensitive eyes.
Many other DIY lash serums do contain a small amount of essential oils but I do not recommend using them on the lashes since there is no way to avoid getting them into the eye.
I do add a drop of lavender to my mascara when I first open them. I like to do this for added conditioning as well as bacteria control. there is also a risk of your lashes having mites. Lavender can be a quick and easy remedy for this as well.
Add lavender at your own risk. I have never had it mess up my mascara but I had a reader quite upset with me because she felt that it ruined her brand-new tube of mascara.
Check out my easy Lash Detoxing and Enhancing Eye Makeup Remover recipe! Nothing takes makeup off better than oil, so why not choose oils that will boost your lash health through the roof?!
How Soon Can Results Be Seen After Using a DIY Lash Serum Nightly?
This serum’s result vary from person to person. Some people see results immediately. I read of one woman’s testimonial that she had to stop using the serum because her bottom lashes got too long!
I have been using this eyelash growth serum for a couple weeks and can already see a difference.
Remember that a little goes a long way-you don’t want the oil running down your face all night so get a minimal amount on your mascara wand before you apply. You can still see without too much blurriness after you’ve applied, it’s actually very comfortable.
Precautions for Using a Lash Serum:
You may want to conduct a patch test before use. Since we are not using essential oils and are only using carrier oils that are gentle, eye sensitivity to this recipe is very uncommon. However, if you are concerned I recommend rubbing a few drops onto your inner arm and observe for 24 hours for signs of a reaction.
Embrace and enhance your natural eyelashes by addressing the root cause of hair loss and using simple ingredients to nurture and detox your skin, hair and follicles. Most of the time fuller eyelashes can be obtained by using natural oils that will not have an adverse effect on healthy lashes.
You have nothing to lose with making this DIY lash growth serum. Castor oil for hair growth is an incredibly effective, yet a natural method for thickening hair.
Be sure to share your results below!!
xx, Jenni