Why Adding a Lash Serum to Your Beauty Routine Is a Must for Full, Fluttery Lashes

Take a look at any celebrity red carpet event and you’ll no doubt clock a sea of false eyelashes. Long, thick and feathery lashes are the key to achieving look-at-me peepers—whether you’re in front of a camera or not. But real talk: Who has time for lash glue and tweezers on a Monday morning? Even on Instagram, more and more beauties seem to wake up with an impossibly feathery fringe so that even in a “no-makeup makeup” moment, eyes are still framed to perfection. While the secret to their faux-natural lashes is most likely the work of pricey and punishing professional lash extensions, a lash serum can work wonders to give you naturally thicker eyelashes. So, if you want to make the most of your existing fringe, read on to learn how to incorporate a lash serum into your beauty routine.

Originally, eyelash treatments were only available by prescription to treat hypotrichosis, a deficiency in lashes due to genetics, disease, aging or pulling on strands. Prescription eyelash growth serums containing a prostaglandin called bimatoprost work by extending the growth cycle of lashes, resulting in lengthier, darker and thicker lashes. (Cosmetic benefits were discovered after glaucoma patients reported the flattering side effect when taking bimatoprost medicine to help alleviate eye pressure.) However, some users also experience sensitivity and itchiness or, worse, discolouration of the eyelids and even the iris.

Good news, though: Numerous over-the-counter lash serum alternatives now exist with the aim of infusing strands with nourishing ingredients that strengthen resiliency, so lashes are less apt to break and more likely to grow. Which is the best lash serum for you? Don’t be duped by lash serums boasting biotin, a B vitamin associated with keratin protein in healthy hair and nails. The verdict is still out on whether biotin actually has any effect on eyelash growth when applied topically or even when ingested as a supplement.

The reality is, a good moisturizing lash serum is the best you can do to ensure that lashes are as supple as the hair on your head to reduce the breakage of existing strands. Plus, nurturing a healthy “scalp”—the skin around lash roots—helps make way for new growth. Just like a good conditioner, lash serums like L’Oréal Paris Lash Serum Solution contain pro vitamin B5 or panthenol, which penetrates readily into hair to moisturize and soften. And just like a good face serum, the formula also contains hyaluronic acid, a hydrating ingredient known to hold 1,000 times its weight in water, in addition to antioxidants that help counter the negative effects of free radicals due to environmental pollution and harmful UV rays.

The difference? This lash serum is ophthalmologist tested and safe for contact lens wearers, so you can feel secure applying the formula close to the delicate eye area. Friendly PSA: You never want to apply a serum designed for face care too close to your lash line, since active ingredients can cause stinging and burning, especially when it hasn’t been tested for use in that area.

So, here’s how to incorporate L’Oréal Paris Lash Serum Solution into your daily beauty routine for best results. Start with a clean, dry eye area. Prime the applicator by twisting the cap until the product is visible. Next, twist the cap five times and run the brush along the upper lash line to apply the product at the base of your lashes, being careful not to get any product in your eye. (Rinse well with water if you do.) Allow the serum to dry for 60 seconds before applying any mascara. Apply it twice a day, morning and night, for four weeks. The result? A lash fringe that looks denser and thicker and feels healthier, too. With the money you save using an at-home eyelash treatment, you can even invest in a hot new mascara!