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With the introduction of eyelash growth serums to the mainstream market, it is a matter of course that there are folks out there wanting to make their own serums at home with all natural ingredients.
Folks are also eager to find an alternative to eyelash extensions to save some time and money without sacrificing their lush lash look. For a complete guide on DIY eyelash growth serums, read on.
Things You’ll Need
Getting started with homemade growth serums for your lashes is not an overly complex situation.
Really, all you need is a mascara tube to hold your serum, a mascara wand for application, and all of the oils you’ll need.
A carrier oil is essential, but there are many other kinds of oils that can be combined and included to provide different effects.
You may also wish to purchase a small funnel or two to make it easier to add all of the oils to your empty mascara tube.
That’s all the supplies you need!
Potential Ingredients for DIY Lash Serum
The first type of ingredient we’ll look at is the carrier oil. A carrier oil is an oil used to dilute and effectively carry the essential oils to your skin.
There are many types of carrier oils that can be used, so feel free to experiment and try out some different combinations to find the right type for your lashes.
Carrier oils will be unscented or lightly scented at most, so they don‘t interrupt any of the therapeutic effects of the essential oils they are mixed with.
The use of a carrier oil is important when making a lash growth serum because essential oils can be irritating due to their potency.
One of the most common carrier oil people like to use is castor oil because of its exceptional nourishing effects, but there are a number of other options including coconut oil, sweet almond oil, olive oil, argan oil, grape seed oil, and more.
Vitamin E oil is also very popular because it can improve cell regeneration in hair follicles and produce longer, thicker, and fuller lashes. Every carrier oil will differ in shelf life, level of absorption into your skin, risk of irritation, and odour.
Some carrier oils will be more irritating on certain skin types, so if you suffer from acne or other skin conditions, you’ll want to use a softer carrier oil such as jojoba oil because it absorbs easily and doesn’t clog pores.
You can even combine a few different carrier oils to receive some additional benefits. Every individual will have their own preference for carrier oil, so if you don’t like the first formulation you try, make some changes!
While the carrier oil is the base of your formulation, the essential oils you choose will carry the weight of the therapeutic effects you’re looking for.
Lavender, cedarwood, rosemary, clary sage, and Helichrysum essential oils are the most popular and most common essential oils used for lash/brow serums.
They all have natural properties that encourage healthy hair growth and help maintain the quality of long eyelashes that are in the rest phase and not the growth phase.
All of these common essential oils will have a great smell to them and mix well with each other and any carrier oil you choose to use.
You can use only one type of essential oil in a formulation, or combine two or more to create your perfect blend.
Eyelash Growth Serum Recipe Examples
Example 1
- ½ tablespoon castor oil
- ½ teaspoon vitamin E oil
- ½ tablespoon fractionated coconut oil
- 3 drops of lavender essential oil
- 3 drops of rosemary essential oil
Example 2
In an empty clear mascara tube:
- Fill approximately 3/4 of the way full with the organic castor oil
Add:
- 3-4 drops of Lavender essential oil
- 3-4 drops Cedarwood essential oil
- 3-4 drops of Rosemary essential oil
Things to Remember
- You can use any type of bottle you want (doesn’t need to be a mascara tube), but the applicator needs to be either a mascara brush or proper serum applicator. You don’t want accidental drips hurting your eyes.
- There is an endless number of combinations you can use for essential oil additions. As a general rule of thumb, start with fewer drops and increase if needed.
- A carrier oil such as castor oil or olive oil is necessary to give some bulk to your essential oil mixture, and they also have their own affects on your hair growth.
- None of the ingredients you’ll use for DIY eyelash growth serum are FDA approved for use so close to the eye, so careful application is necessary.
- Homemade serums will NOT be as effective as prescription strength serums like Latisse. They will still promote healthy hair and long lashes.
Potential Risks
DIY beauty hacks will always come with their own set of risks. After all, you are putting untested combinations of ingredients on your skin, and it is impossible to predict how your body will react.
One of the most obvious risks of using a homemade serum to boost your lash growth is the risk of getting it in your eye during application.
Even though all of the ingredients are non-toxic and promote natural eyelash growth, they can still cause extreme discomfort if they get into your eyes.
It is VERY important that you know how to resolve this problem if it ever occurs accidentally. Most people’s first instinct will be to rinse their eyes out with water, but if you know anything about water and oil, you know they don’t mix well.
This is because the fatty acids in the oil do not allow mixing with water. Instead, rinse your eyes out with a carrier oil that does not contain EOs (essential oils), such as plain olive oil or castor oil.
It will rinse out the essential oils, but will not further irritate your eyes.
Benefits of Homemade Lash Serum
Homemade lash serums can be just as beneficial as branded formulations when done correctly. Not only can you cater your serum to the needs of your specific lashes and your preferences, but you can still achieve thick lashes, longer lashes, and a well-rounded skincare routine.
The moisturizing effects of your DIY lash serum, and its ability to improve the health of your hair follicles, ensure you can achieve the results you want without needing to buy a product from a store or online retailer like Amazon.
The natural lash boosters that are included in a homemade essential oil serum are also better for people who have more sensitivities.
Most brand name serums that promote the growth of longer eyelashes contain chemicals that can irritate the eyelid skin or even the eye itself.
If natural living and overall wellness from home are things you prioritise in life, a homemade lash growth serum is the way to go, especially considering that the total time for making the serum is almost negligible.
