Eyelash serums are very popular cosmetics that promise to make them more voluminous, fuller and longer. You can choose between prescription and over-the-counter products. To make the most of them and make sure you protect your eyes and skin, it's important to apply them correctly. Before proceeding with the application, remove make-up from your face and remove your contact lenses (if you use them). Then, sterilize the applicator. At this point you should be able to spread the product without any problem.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Choose a Product
Step 1. Learn about over-the-counter serums
There are a variety of products available in pharmacies, perfumeries or other shops that sell beauty items. They are launched on the market with the function of making the lashes thicker and more voluminous. They often contain different types of ingredients, such as natural peptides, vitamins and oils. Read the label of each product to know its contents, or ask a beautician or a saleswoman for suggestions.
- Look for products containing prostaglandin analogues. These are ophthalmic solutions that many people find effective in promoting the growth of eyelashes. However, their safety and efficacy have not yet been scientifically confirmed.
- Products that contain keratin (a protein that promotes cell regeneration) are considered to be particularly effective in promoting the growth of strong and voluminous eyelashes. You could try a serum based on this active ingredient.
- Some products are sold in the form of mascara containing additional oils and vitamins that promote the growth of strong and voluminous lashes.
Step 2. Talk to a doctor to learn more about over-the-counter products
There are in fact many eyelash serums available without any prescription. Since they are considered cosmetics, their success rates, safety and efficacy have not been thoroughly evaluated. Before using an over-the-counter product, talk to a dermatologist or ophthalmologist to see if it is right for you.
Step 3. Consider the various applicators to find the one that best suits your needs
Over-the-counter serums are usually sold with an applicator similar to a mascara brush or brush. The first allows you to coat both the upper and lower lashes from roots to tips, while the second allows you to apply the product more easily directly to the roots of the upper lashes.
The brush is preferable for a quick and practical application. Instead, the brush is excellent for those who want to apply the product with extreme care on each root. Consider which would be the easiest applicator to use in your daily life
Step 4. Evaluate the price of the serums
Those over the counter, available in pharmacies and perfumeries, cost between five and 15 euros. The most prestigious brands, sold in beauty salons and in the most well-stocked perfumeries, have costs that are around 40-100 euros. Compared to over-the-counter products, prescription serums can be quite expensive. The total investment is in fact around 1000 euros per year.
Step 5. See a dermatologist to consider a prescription serum
For now, the only eyelash-specific ophthalmic solutions approved by the authorities are those based on bimatoprost. They should be applied every day using a sterile disposable applicator. This product was originally used to treat glaucoma, an eye disorder, but doctors and patients alike have observed that the solution helps promote eyelash growth as well. Talk to an ophthalmologist to find out if you should use a prescription serum.
Step 6. Test the product before applying it to your lashes
Most serums are considered safe, but it's important to make sure you don't have any allergic reactions to the selected product. Before applying it directly to the eye, tap a small amount on your cheek, neck, or forearm to determine if it causes adverse reactions. Monitor the affected area for 24 hours.
Do not use the product in case of allergic reaction
Part 2 of 3: Apply the Serum
Step 1. If you wear contact lenses, remove and store them carefully before applying the serum, whether by prescription or over the counter
Wait for 15 minutes before putting them back on.
Step 2. Before applying the serum to your lashes, wash your face with a mild cleanser and warm water
Make sure your skin and eyes are free of any dirt, oil and makeup. A clean surface allows the serum to adhere better to the lashline.
Step 3. Take the serum applicator and pour a drop of solution into it
If you use a prescription serum, you will be provided with a bottle and a set of disposable applicators. The serum should be applied to the upper lashes every night using a sterile disposable applicator. Take it and pour a drop of product on the brush.
Since prescription serums are an ophthalmic solution, they do not harm the eyes. Should the product come into contact with an eye, it is not necessary to rinse it
Step 4. Prescription serums should be applied along the upper lashline
Close one eye and create a thin coating at the roots of the lashes, working from the inner corner of the eye to the outside. Prescription serums should not be applied to the lower lashes: every time you blink the product will also be transferred to this area.
Step 5. Over-the-counter serums can usually be applied directly to the lashes with a mascara brush
You can use them on both upper and lower lashes. Start at the base of the hairline and move the zigzag brush upwards to coat each lash well.
Step 6. Blot excess serum with a tissue
Since this product promotes the growth of eyelashes, try to apply it only on this area, otherwise you risk finding yourself with unwanted hair on other parts of the face. Once applied, pat the inner corner of the eye with a tissue to prevent excess serum from reaching other areas of the skin.
Step 7. Clean the over-the-counter serum applicators using a mild detergent, unscented soap, baby soap or dish soap and warm water
Gently wash them, rinse them thoroughly and let them air dry on a clean towel, spread out on a flat surface. The brushes should dry within six to eight hours.
If using a prescription serum, discard each applicator after use to prevent eye or skin irritation and allergic reactions
Part 3 of 3: Monitoring the Effects of the Serum
Step 1. Document your progress once a week
Before starting to use a serum, close your eyes and take a picture of your lashes to get tangible proof of their length and thickness before starting the treatment. Take a picture a week to track your progress and see if the product is working.
Most eyelash serums promise to deliver results within a few weeks. It is important to remember that a product that has worked well for one person will not necessarily work for everyone. Each body reacts differently. You may see rapid growth within a few weeks, just as you may see very little change after months of treatment
Step 2. Look for any symptoms associated with an infection
Using eye cosmetics such as mascara, eyeliner and over-the-counter serums always carries the risk of contracting bacterial and fungal infections, including conjunctivitis. When using the serum, check if the eye or the area around the eyes is affected by changes such as redness, itching or burning. In this case, stop using the product and seek immediate medical attention.
Step 3. Watch out for side effects
Some patients claim that prescription serums alter the color of the iris, others say they darken the area of application - the lashline. If you notice these side effects, consult a doctor to find out if it is better for you to continue using the product. Symptoms usually disappear when the serum is stopped.
Warnings
- If you use a prescription or over-the-counter product, see an ophthalmologist if you experience eye trauma, have had eye surgery, or notice irritation affecting the eye or around the eyes, such as conjunctivitis.
- If you suffer from certain eye problems, such as uveitis, glaucoma or macular edema, or are taking medicines that lower intraocular pressure, do not use these products. Talk to your doctor for alternatives that are right for you.
