Sky organics castor oil eyelash serum before and after

Some of the best lash growth serums of 2022 don’t require a prescription, meaning that shopping for a suitable formula no longer requires a trip to the dermatologist. In a sea of options, we tapped experts to weigh in on their picks for products they actually use, and the ingredients that make a difference. “Eyelash serums work when used properly,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Purvisha Patel, founder of Visha Skincare, who recommends a consistent routine of daily application, adding that “it takes at least a month to see results.” Essentially, this isn’t an instant gratification situation (unless you’re working with a serum primer like Pacifica’s under-$15 formula, below).

For those who want a supernatural, superclean option, a dose of straight-up castor oil can make an impact. “I’ve been using castor oil on dry eye patients for years to help soothe their painful symptoms,” says board-certified ophthalmologist and founder of Twenty/Twenty Beauty, Dr. Diane Hilal-Campo. “After seeing many of them develop thicker, longer lashes over time from this treatment, I decided to make it the star ingredient in my serum.” She points out that it’s important to first protect your lash foundation. “If the root of your lashes or brows is dead, there is no product that can bring them back,” she warns. “Certain beauty practices can kill them, so for healthier hair, I recommend avoiding treatments like lash lifts and extensions.” Instead, consider fortifying the building blocks of healthy hair with supplements that fill in the nutrition blanks you may be missing. “Nutrafol is a supplement taken to grow scalp hair, and can help with lash growth as well,” says Dr. Patel. Part of the reason serums can be helpful, though, will sound familiar: hydration. “If you’re prone to dry, brittle lashes, that hydration can help stave off breakage for healthier growth,” says Dr. Hilal-Campo.

According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Blair Murphy-Rose, key ingredients in some lash serums, prostaglandins, or PGAs, are still mysterious. “Latisse contains a prescription-strength prostaglandin called bimatoprost, which is known to stimulate growth, though the exact mechanism is not well understood,” she says. “Over-the-counter prostaglandin-based serums contain a weaker prostaglandin—the benefit to using a weaker prostaglandin-based serum is that the risk of side effects is also lower.” When side effects include discoloration of the skin and iris color as well as fat atrophy that Dr. Hilal-Campo describes as a “sunken look,” it makes sense why clean formulas like Dr. Lara Devgan’s Platinum Long Lash Serum and Luna Nectar’s Moon Boost Serum are on the rise.

Below, 15 serums that experts (and users) recommend to help boost your lash growth potential.

Dr. Lara Devgan Scientific Beauty Platinum Long Lash Serum

Dr. Lara Devgan Scientific Beauty Platinum Long Lash Serum

Award-winning plastic surgeon Dr. Lara Devgan’s line of science-backed products comes with some serious clout. The Platinum Long Lash Serum is stamped with Sephora’s clean seal of approval and backed by clinical results. After two weeks of use, patients in a clinical study saw a 25% increase in lash length. After a month? More than 70% lash density. After two months, there was an average 45% increase in new eyelash growth without the telltale darkening of skin and eye color that often comes with PGA formulas.

Better Not Younger Superpower Lash Growth Serum

Better Not Younger Superpower Lash Growth Serum

“The best lash serums contain hydrating and moisturizing ingredients that condition, vitamins that strengthen, and peptides that encourage growth,” says Dr. Murphy-Rose. Better Not Younger’s formula includes a peptide complex designed to support healthier-looking lashes and has been shown to increase eyelash density up to 82%. The brand’s head of product and innovation, Dr. Debra Lin, explains that it also “leverages vitamin-B complexes with pumpkin-seed extract and hyaluronic acid to support stronger, smoother, healthier-looking lashes.”

Babe Lash Essential Lash Serum

Babe Lash Essential Lash Serum

One of Amazon’s top-rated, top-performing, top-selling serums includes panthenol and biotin in its award-winning formula. “Biotin, or vitamin B7, is a well-known ‘hair’ vitamin,” Dr. Murphy-Rose explains. “Biotin works by increasing strength and decreasing breakage in the hair shaft so hairs can grow longer. Panthenol, a vitamin B5 derivative, may function similarly.” The brand notes that it’s also safe to use on brows, lash extensions, and even strip lashes.

Lashfood Phyto-Medic Eyelash Enhancer

Lashfood Phyto-Medic Eyelash Enhance

Lashfood’s eyelash enhancer has Sephora’s clean seal and a mix of derm-approved ingredients. “This formula contains purslane extract, which is naturally rich in antioxidant vitamin E and nourishing fatty acids, hydrating ginseng,” says Dr. Hilal-Campo. It also contains arginine, “an amino acid found in keratin that is responsible for maintaining and supporting hair strength.”

Luna Nectar Moon Boost Lash & Brow Enhancing Serum

Lunar Nectar Moon Boost Lash & Brow Enhancing Serum

Luna Nectar founder Mia Fiona Kut created her clean lash serum a few years ago after firsthand experience with other formulas. “I was inspired to create a natural lash enhancer when I saw that my sister had adverse effects to a chemical-based lash growth serum, and I was also struggling with allergies of my own,” says Kut. To create the PGA-free formula, she combined ayurvedic and Chinese herbal knowledge with modern science. For her Canada-based brand, she also supports carbon offsetting, tree planting, and product-package recycling programs.

LiLash Purified Lash Serum

LiLash Purified Eyelash Physician-Formulated Serum

Another top-rated formula, LiLash contains a blend of vegan, natural, paraben-free ingredients. “In addition to panthenol, this formula contains biotin, which can help foster healthy hair growth—especially if you’re biotin deficient,” says Dr. Hilal-Campo. It also includes hydrolyzed lupine proteins. “Lupine is rich in fatty acids and amino acids, and is known to help nourish hair,” she adds.

Milk Makeup Kush Lash + Brow Serum

Milk Makeup Kush Lash and Brow Serum

“This lash serum contains cannabis-seed extract, which is rich in the fatty acid linoleic acid,” says Dr. Hilal-Campo of Milk Makeup’s Kush formula, which doubles as a brow serum. “Linoleic acid is believed to contribute to healthy hair growth. It also contains panthenol (vitamin B5) and many different peptides, which can help support the production of healthy keratin.”

Sky Organics Organic Castor Oil Eyelash Serum 

Sky Organics Organic Castor Oil Eyelash Serum

“Castor oil can be a great, natural way to grow your eyelashes,” says plastic surgeon Dr. Kevin Sadati. “Castor oil is widely used and regarded as a safe alternative to medical actives—but like any other products, make sure it stays out of your eyes.” He also provides a pro tip: “Because it’s an oil, it generally isn’t safe to use with eyelash extensions.”

Grande Cosmetics GrandeLASH-MD Lash Enhancing Serum

Grande Cosmetics GrandeLASH-MD Lash Enhancing Serum

“My favorite, the one I use, is Grandelash MD,” says Dr. Patel of the formula that contains prostaglandin derivatives. “Prostaglandin analogues work by lengthening lashes by prolonging the anagen phase (active growth phase) of the hair follicles,” she shares. “They also stimulate the production of melanin, which produces darker eyelashes.”

Vegamour Gro Lash Serum

Vegamour Gro Lash Serum

“Vegamour’s formula contains peptides as well as mung bean extract, which is rich in selenium,” says Dr. Hilal-Campo of the “often-overlooked mineral that is believed to play an important role in hair growth.”

Shiseido Full Lash & Brow Serum

Shiseido Full Lash and Brow Serum

“The active ingredient is arginine, an amino acid that’s essential to keratin production and responsible for making hair healthy and strong,” says Dr. Hilal-Campo of Shiseido’s recipe, which works on both lashes and brows. Vitamin E has an added benefit: “Vitamin E is an antioxidant, so it can help reduce oxidative stress on the hair follicle, and it is also said to help promote blood circulation.”

Lancôme Advanced Génifique Yeux Light-Pearl Eye & Lash Enhancing Concentrate

Lancôme Advanced Génifique Yeux Light-Pearl Eye & Lash Enhancing Concentrate

On top of the antioxidant powers Dr. Hilal-Campo mentions, there’s a straightforward benefit when vitamin E is added to serums. “Vitamin E helps condition the lashes,” says Dr. Patel of the ingredient in Lancôme’s dual concentrate. This particular blend also leans on caffeine for its skin-firming bonus. “Caffeine causes vasoconstriction and helps with the micro-congestion in the skin around the eyes to tighten and decrease fine lines and puffiness,” Dr. Patel advises.

Pacifica Vegan Collagen Conditioning Lash Serum & Primer

Pacifica Vegan Collagen Conditioning Lash Serum & Primer

Pacifica’s formula infuses hydrating vegan collagen and vitamins B and E to moisturize lashes and “create a thicker appearance when mascara is used on top,” according to Dr. Patel. Products with a conditioning effect carry value: “By hydrating and nourishing the lashes, they appear thicker, longer, and more lustrous,” says Dr. Hilal-Campo.

Talika Lipocils Mascara

Talika Lipocils Eyelash Enhancing and Boosting Treatment

And for a high-functioning mascara option, Talika created a cosmetic hybrid featuring many benefits of its cult-favorite serum. Plus Dr. Murphy-Rose points out that it contains an ingredient that enhances lashes with every use—beyond length. It’s “rich in coleus forskohlii,” she says, “a natural pigmentation booster to darken lashes.” It’s also packed with peptides. “They are the building blocks that hairs require in order to grow and thrive.”

Rapidlash Eyelash Enhancing Serum

Rapidlash Eyelash Enhancing Serum

“RapidLash also works,” says Dr. Patel. “Polypeptides, biotin, panthenol, amino acids, soybean oil, and pumpkin-seed extracts act as conditioners to the lashes. It has prostaglandin derivatives to help lengthen the lashes.” Dr. Hilal-Campo provides another helpful tidbit about prostaglandin (PGA) products: “PGA serums also only work while you use them; once you stop using them, your lashes will go back to their prior state.”

How long will it take for castor oil to make my eyelashes grow?

Does organic castor oil grow eyelashes?

Does castor oil make eyelashes grow faster?

Does castor oil or lash serum work better?