DIY Eyelash Growth Serum (No Castor Oil)
Lashes that are long, full, and glossy are what we all strive to achieve in our beauty routines, whether it’s through our mascara, a pair of false lashes, or any eyelash treatment, such as extensions.
Although those methods will help in the moment, strengthening and growing your natural lashes will allow you to have a full, dense lash line with or without makeup.
To achieve those results, lash growth serums are often recommended for inclusion in your beauty routine.
Lash growth serums are available over the counter; however, there are also easier DIY alternatives to try that include natural ingredients.
You may find that castor oil is often recommended; however, the heavy, sticky oil is not the only option.
Is it possible to make an at-home lash serum without using castor oil?
You can absolutely make your own lash serum with several other ingredient options that do not include castor oil. While it is a popular choice, products like coconut oil, olive oil, or vitamin E oil can also help enhance the look of your lashes and strengthen them to promote longer growth.
Below, we’ll discuss the details behind lash serum, how to make one yourself, and what ingredients to look for as alternatives to castor oil.
Lash Growth Serum Info
Lash growth serums are designed to help enhance the appearance of your natural lashes, giving the illusion of a full, healthy-looking lash line.
They are meant to add extra lash hairs and encourage the existing lashes to grow longer. They stimulate the lashes during the growth period to enhance their overall look.
Although they may seem similar, lash primers and lash conditioners are separate products from lash serums and all serve different purposes.
Lash primers are designed to be used under mascara, preparing the lashes for makeup and conditioning them while wearing the mascara.
Lash conditioner is meant to nourish and soften the existing lashes, especially if you already have a full, dense lash line.
While they are all different, lash primer, conditioner, and serum can be used throughout your beauty routine at various times to achieve the best results. Lash serums are available from many over-the-counter brands, as well as prescribed products.
Typically, serums contain different combinations of ingredients that focus on including peptides and keratin to mimic the proteins naturally found in lash hairs.
Although there are many brands that offer lash serums, there are also many natural, at-home alternatives worth trying.
Can You Make Eyelash Serum At Home?
Yes, there are several ways to make lash serum at home using ingredients you may already have on hand. There are several natural ingredients that can enhance the look of your lashes.
Barring any potential allergies, using these at-home ingredients should not result in any negative side effects from the over-the-counter serums.
With many store-bought or prescribed lash serums, there are a variety of side effects that can include darkening of the lash line or the iris.
However, whether store-bought or homemade, there is always the potential for general itchiness or irritation if your skin is sensitive to the ingredients.
If any irritation, itchiness, or redness occurs, it is essential to discontinue use of the serums immediately and rinse the eye area thoroughly to prevent further discomfort.
There is a risk of irritation with at-home remedies, so it is essential to perform a patch test on a different area of the skin to check for any reaction.
Most options are likely already available in your kitchen pantry, but you may want to purchase separate items specifically for your lashes.
How To Make Eyelash Serum At Home Without Castor Oil
Although castor oil is a popular at-home ingredient to use in lash or brow serums, there are a few ways to create a growth serum without it. Coconut oil is a popular alternative to castor oil and is often preferred over it.
Coconut oil is gentle enough to use around the eye area and is richly hydrating for the lash hairs. It is rich in fatty acids, which help to stimulate the hair follicles to promote longer growing lashes.
Coconut oil will penetrate easily into the hair shaft of your eyelashes to hydrate and strengthen them, which allows your existing lashes to grow to their full potential without breaking.
Olive oil is another popular option that can be used to strengthen your lashes and promote hair follicle growth. It is rich in vitamin E, which is going to strengthen the hair. It stimulates hair growth while also softening and conditioning the hair, promoting longer and stronger hair growth.
If you do want to use this alternative on your lashes, it is essential to ensure you are using extra-virgin olive oil for the best and safest results.
Argan oil also offers numerous hair care benefits that can help nourish the lashes and encourage them to grow to their full potential.
It contains a mix of vitamin E, antioxidants, and fatty acids that can help strengthen the hair and enhance its growth. The texture of the oil is lightweight and easily absorbed, making it an ideal ingredient for use as a serum.
On its own, vitamin E oil is rich in antioxidants that will protect the hair from environmental damage and help encourage hair growth.
It works to strengthen the hair follicles, helping to prevent breakage from occurring. Vitamin E oil also has properties that help combat hair loss, which can make your lashes appear fuller and longer.
Why Skip On Castor Oil?
Castor oil is a product rich in fatty acids and has been reported to be effective for a variety of uses, particularly in hair growth remedies.
Many over-the-counter lash serums include castor oil in their ingredient lists, and it is often the most recommended oil for hair growth. However, the results of whether castor oil can help grow the lashes have been inconsistent.
Castor oil has not been shown to grow additional lashes; however, it does provide conditioning properties that help to prevent breakage, resulting in strengthened existing lashes.
It is an oil rich in fatty acids, which helps nourish the lashes, allowing them to grow longer without breaking before the growth cycle ends.
Castor oil is a thick, sticky oil, but it can also help to make the lashes look shiny and healthy. The results can appear as though the lashes are growing longer or thicker.
Best Ways To Use Eyelash Growth Serum
There are several ways to apply these at-home alternative lash serums, based on your preferences, to achieve the best results.
It works best to apply these remedies at night, so they can absorb into the lashes overnight and will prevent the risk of rubbing the oil into your eyes during the day.
The most important step before applying the lash serum is to ensure the lashes are completely clean from any makeup or mascara to avoid any potential irritation.
Depending on the type of oil you are using, you can fill a clean, empty mascara tube with the disposable and apply it with the wand.
It is essential that the tube is not one that has previously contained mascara, but rather an empty tube that you can fill yourself.
You can also keep the product, such as coconut oil, in the jar it comes in and use a clean, disposable applicator each time you dip into the product.
You want to make sure you are using clean applicators each time, as the eye area is sensitive, and you want to prevent any potential infections. Using a disposable mascara spoolie will work well to coat the lashes completely with the serum. You can also use a cotton pad to swipe the oils, such as olive oil, over the lashes.
The lash serum should be washed off in the morning, especially before applying any eye makeup. It is crucial to be consistent with applying the serum nightly, as it takes time to start seeing results.
The natural lash growth cycle can be between 4-6 weeks, so it may be a few weeks before you notice a difference in your lashes.
It is best to only apply the serum to the top lash line and avoid the bottom lashes. It is easy for ducts or follicles to become clogged on the bottom lash line, which can cause irritation or discomfort.
When applying the oils, be sure to avoid getting any of the oil in your eyes, which is why using an applicator is an ideal option.
Conclusion
Although castor oil seems to be the most popular oil for hair growth remedies, there are other natural options that are lighter and can be absorbed more easily into the lashes to provide equally stunning results.
Castor oil shares many similar properties to coconut, olive, and argan oils, all of which are rich in fatty acids and conditioning properties.
These alternative, natural oils are gentle enough to be used around the eye area and help strengthen your lashes, allowing them to grow long, luscious, and strong.
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