Thick, luscious eyelashes are one of the most sought after beauty features, and while lash extensions, lifts, and tints are all options, gorgeous natural lashes can effortlessly elevate any look. While part of having great eyelashes is genetics, there are some tricks you can integrate into your beauty routine which will provide a boost and allow for the growth of naturally thicker and fuller lashes. We spoke with Geeta Patel, DO FAAD and Owner of River Oaks Dermatology who outlined her top tips for enhancing your natural lashes, and each solution can be done at home at s fraction of the cost of extensions.
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Castor Oil
Gently applying castor oil to the root of your eyelashes can help to moisturize that area and promote natural growth over time. “Keeping the lashes hydrated promotes follicular development of the hair and can lead to a healthier lash. Castor oil contains ricinoleic acid, a fatty acid that has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties,” explains Patel. “The oil is also full of vitamin E, which can help protect those hairs from environmental aggressors.” Castor oil is also a known emollient and occlusive, according to Patel, meaning that this ingredient will be particularly beneficial for promoting hair growth at the source.
Aloe Vera & Daily Cleaning
Caring for your eyelids and lash line makes all the difference in maintaining healthy eyelashes and reducing fallout. Aloe vera is a great hydrating ingredient which can help to keep the skin moisturized and sets a great base for your eyelashes to continue to grow, in combination with the above recommendation of castor oil. With this, Patel also suggests taking extra care to clean your lashes before applying any additional ingredients to avoid buildup. “Eye makeup, mucus, and oil can stick in lashes and limit lash growth,” she says.
Vitamin E
Another excellent serum for promoting eyelash growth is Vitamin E, which has a number of significant benefits to the skin as a whole. “[Vitamin E] is a powerful antioxidant that can help reduce the oxidative damage causing an increase in hair loss,” explains Patel. “It also contains tocotrienol compounds that may help increase the number of hair strands and may contribute to longer eyelashes.”
Green Tea
Rather than a topical solution, drinking green tea can be a great way to improve your overall health, and in turn strengthen the follicles of your lashes from the inside out. “Green tea contains flavonoids called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) which improve the length as well as the volume of lashes,” notes Patel. “Drinking green tea on a regular basis or applying it on the lashes both work. Place a green tea bag on the lids to grow eyelashes and or dip a cotton swab in the green tea and dab it on the lashes every day.”
With some patience, you should see some changes in the length and volume of your lashes within eight weeks of integrating these tips into your routine. However, making sure to wash your lashes daily is inarguably one of the most essential steps to avoid buildup of ingredients which may inadvertently cause breakage. Skipping waterproof mascara that requires intensive scrubbing to remove, as well as following the above tricks will all but guarantee you healthier, more durable lashes that don’t require a lift or tint.
