The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?

10 best eyelash growth serums that add strength and volume

Enjoy healthier and glossier eyelashes with these formulas

Anita Bhagwandas
Monday 10 June 2024 16:04 BST
These contain growth-encouraging ingredients including vitamin E, hyaluronic acid and castor oil
These contain growth-encouraging ingredients including vitamin E, hyaluronic acid and castor oil (iStock/The Independent )
Our Top Picks

Lustrous, fluttery lashes have always been a beauty holy grail. While the traditional route to getting them has been promise-all mascaras or extensions, more recently, however, we’ve seen a slew of eyelash serums with promising claims.

Many serums work by adding growth-encouraging ingredients like peptides, proteins and conditioning ingredients (commonly vitamin E, hyaluronic acid and castor oil) to the lashes.

But one thing to note is that, sadly, this isn’t an overnight experiment. To really see any change, you do have to commit to see any results, and get into the habit of applying it routinely (keeping it by your bedside table is a good idea to help jog your memory.)

And because each person reacts differently to them, some might see results faster than others – though as a ballpark, three months (our lashes have a 90-day cycle) is a good time to look back at your progress.

One way of making sure you’re seeing a difference, is to take a profile shot before and after picture – comparing in monthly intervals. And thing to bear in mind, they tend to work with continual usage – so if you stop using it entirely, the results might not stick around.

Another thing to note is that our eyes, and the skin around it, is extra sensitive, so even if a product is hypoallergenic, stop if you notice any irritation and consult your doctor.

How we tested eyelash serums

We tested a number of eyelash serums over the period of many months to see how efficacious each one was. Above all we were looking for glossier, healthier lashes, with added length as a bonus.

The best eyelash serums for 2024 are:

  • Best eyelash serum overall – RevitaLash advanced: £99, Lookfantastic.com
  • Best budget eyelash serum – RapidLash eyelash enhancing serum: £39.99, Lookfantastic.com
  • Best hypoallergenic eyelash serum – No7 lash impact serum: £17.95, Boots.com
  • Best for lash-extension wearers – L'Oreal Paris clinically proven lash serum: £15.99, Lookfantastic.com
  • Best for sparse lashes – UKlash eyelash conditioning serum: £38, Amazon.co.uk

RevitaLash advanced eyelash conditioner

Best eyelash serum review
  • Best: Eyelash serum overall
  • Key ingredients: Peptides, moisturising agents and nourishing botanicals
  • Application process : Apply one swipe of serum across a dry lash line at night
  • Results after use: Conditioned, thicker and longer lashes
  • Why we love it
    • Easy to apply
    • Lashes look noticeable thicker

A firm favourite in the beauty industry and one of the OG lash serums, this is the one to beat. Revitalash works by slowing down the growth cycle so that they stay at fuller-length for longer. With one swipe across a dry lash line at night, the brand says you can potentially see a difference in a couple of weeks.

The serum was created by Dr Brinkenhoff, an ophthalmologist, who was looking to help his wife regain her lash confidence after cancer. It contains ingredients like peptides (the building blocks of proteins), moisturising agents (like glycerine) and nourishing botanicals. We found that it applied easily, and that – as its rave reviews suggest – our lashes looked noticeably more conditioned, thicker and longer after roughly six weeks of continual usage. A definite repeat purchase.

Read our full review of RevitaLash advanced eyelash conditioner

Back to top

RapidLash eyelash enhancing serum

Best eyelash serum review
  • Best: For a budget buy
  • Key ingredients : Polypeptides and biotin
  • Application process: Paint serum along your lash line once a day
  • Results after use: Slight improvement in length and condition of lashes
  • Why we love it
    • Affordable
    • Easy application
  • Take note
    • Results not as quickly noticeabl

One of the more affordable options, RapidLash aims to strengthen your lashes using a blend of polypeptides and also stimulate growth by using the vitamin biotin. It’s clinically proven to help boost how they look, with an everyday application that’s pretty similar to Revitalash (£89, Cultbeauty.co.uk) you simply paint it along your lash line once a day.

The brand says you can expect to see results in as little as eight weeks. While we saw that there was a definite improvement in length and condition in this time, the results didn’t feel quite as dramatic as RevitaLash, though were still noticeable.

Back to top

Elizabeth Arden PRevage clinical lash and brow enhancing serum

Best eyelash serum review
  • Best: For false-lash wearers
  • Key ingredients: Vitamins A, C and E, peptides and conditioners
  • Application process : Apply every night to skin along lash line
  • Results after use: Longer and stronger lashes
  • Why we love it
    • Good for parched and damaged lashes

Creeping into the pricier end of the market, this brow and lash serum uses a combination of vitamins A, C and E, peptides and conditioners to support the natural lash cycle, for glossier and less dry-looking lengths. While the brand says it’s not intended to prevent hair loss or promote growth, they do claim that you can see an improvement in condition in as little as two weeks.

We think it’s best suited for anyone with very parched, damaged lashes looking to recondition them. After a month of painting it on, we did notice that ours looked longer and felt more robust. A great choice for anyone who wears false lashes frequently to help condition your natural hairs.

  1. £45 from Amazon.co.uk
Prices may vary
Back to top

Vichy LiftActiv anti-aging serum 10 eyes and lashes

Best eyelash serum review
  • Best: For multi-tasking
  • Key ingredients : Rhamnose, ceramides and instant light reflectors
  • Application process: Apply serum over the entire eye area and lashes
  • Results after use: Healthier-looking lashes and brighter eye area
  • Why we love it
    • Targets anti-ageing
    • Contains anti-inflammatory ingredients
    • Brightens under eye area
  • Take note
    • Didn’t give dramatic results

More of a multi-tasker, this eye serum-meets-lash booster aims to target signs of ageing around the entire eye area. It’s a much less fiddly application than the paint-on lash serums, so a great option for anyone looking for a multi-purpose, fast option.

It contains rhamnose (an anti-inflammatory ingredient), ceramides (which help to prevent moisture loss) and instant light reflectors too. While this one didn’t give us the dramatic results some of the others did, it did improve the condition of our lashes leaving them looking healthier and our eye area definitely looked brighter after a month of usage.

Back to top

No7 lash impact serum

Best eyelash serum review
  • Best: For a hypoallergenic formula
  • Key ingredients : Keratin and conditioning agents
  • Application process : Apply serum across the lash line at night
  • Results after use: Subtle improvement in lash condition
  • Why we love it
    • Hypoallergenic
    • Good entry level serum
  • Take note
    • Brush applicator isn’t the easiest to us

One of the less expensive options, this serum – applied at the lashes – is designed to give thicker and darker lashes and brows in eight weeks. It’s hypoallergenic, which is a big USP, and although the brush applicator isn’t the easiest to use this is a great entry level option to the world of lash serums.

With ingredients like protein-rich keratin and plenty of conditioning agents, we definitely noticed a gentle difference in the eight-week period. But it wasn’t quite as dramatic as some of the other options.

  1. £17 from Boots.com
Prices may vary
Back to top

L'Oreal Paris clinically proven lash serum

Best eyelash serum review
  • Best: For lash-extension wearers
  • Key ingredients : Castor oil, vitamin B5 and hyaluronic acid
  • Application process : Brush onto lash line and allow to dry before applying mascara
  • Results after use: Conditioned and slightly longer lashes
  • Why we love it
    • Easy to apply
    • Results within three weeks
  • Take note
    • No dramatic change

Aiming to strengthen and nourish, this impressive formula uses castor oil, boosting vitamin B5 and moisturising hyaluronic acid. You can even brush it on as a base coat before you apply mascara as it acts like a moisturising mask for the lashes.

The brush made it easy to apply and after three weeks we noticed they looked more conditioned, and a little longer – although it wasn’t a dramatic change. This could be a great option for anyone looking to up the condition of their lashes post extensions.

Back to top

UKlash eyelash conditioning serum

Best eyelash serum review
  • Best: For sparse lashes
  • Key ingredients : Hyaluronic acid, peptides and biotin
  • Application process : Apply one stroke of serum at the root of your upper lashes before bed
  • Results after use: Visibly longer and stronger lashes
  • Why we love it
    • Similar ingredients to pricier products
    • Visible difference within eight weeks
  • Take note
    • Some redness at firs

Using hyaluronic acid, peptides and biotin as its mainstay this serum is ideal for anyone with sparse lashes looking to beef them up a tad. Its recommended usage period is eight to 12 weeks, so on the longer side. But it does contain similar ingredients to some the pricier serums, which is great.

We did have a little redness from this one, which went away after we skipped a night, but there was a visible difference after eight weeks, in both length and condition too.

  1. £38 from Amazon.co.uk
Prices may vary
Back to top

Indeed Labs peptalash

Best eyelash serum review
  • Best: For fast results
  • Key ingredients : Plant stem cells from a rare Swiss apple and a blend of two peptides
  • Application process : Apply twice a day to lash line
  • Results after use: Conditioned and healthier-looking lashes
  • Why we love it
    • Improves health of lashes
  • Take note
    • Pen a little hard to use

Using a pen applicator, this well-priced option says it can lengthen, thicken and darken lashes, promising more volume in a very short 15 days. It uses plant stem cells from a rare Swiss apple plus a blend of two peptides which aims to create less breakage, as well as helping soothe the skin around the eyes as a bonus.

This one needed to be used twice a day, and although the pen was a little hard, the results showed more conditioned lashes, with a definite improvement in their health, in time period promised.

Back to top

Lancôme cils booster activating serum

Best eyelash serum review
  • Best: For dry lashes
  • Key ingredients : Hyaluronic acid, an amino acid concentrate and cica (a reparative plant extract)
  • Application process : Apply the serum along the eyelash line, from root to tip, twice daily
  • Results after use: Conditioned, slightly longer lashes
  • Why we love it
    • Nourishing
    • Good for dry lashes

Definitely the chicest looking of the bunch, this luxury serum is infused with hyaluronic acid, a four amino acid concentrate and cica (a reparative plant extract) to help nourish lashes. After a month of usage, we saw a big improvement in their condition and a little growth too.

The formula was thicker and heavier than the others, making it ideal for bedtime use – it felt vaguely like a hair mask. It could be one for anyone with very dry lashes, as a brilliant conditioning treatment.

Back to top

Luna Nectar the moon boost tonic for lashes and brows

Best eyelash serum review
  • Best: For vegans
  • Key ingredients : Vitamin E, argan oil and aloe
  • Application process : Swipe serum along upper and lower lashline and onto the roots of brow hairs before bed
  • Results after use: Glossier, healthier and thicker lashes
  • Why we love it
    • Nourishing formula
    • Lashes look visibly healthier
    • Vegan and fragrance free

This cult US brand uses antioxidants and plant-nutrient formulas promising to nourish lashes and brows in just under three weeks, by prolonging the growth phase of the hair follicles.

Using ingredients like nourishing vitamin E and argan oil and soothing aloe, we did indeed see that our lashes looked visibly glossier, healthier and appeared thicker too. We also liked that it’s vegan, and fragrance-free – and a great choice for anyone looking to recondition their parched lashes.

Back to top

Eyelash serums FAQs

Do eyelash growth serums really work?

In short, yes. However, the effectiveness of eyelash serums is dependent on continuous usage. It’s not a one-time treatment or overnight quick fix, as our lashes have a 90-day cycle, so it’s a good idea to use them regularly over the course of three months to see the best results.

Most have formulas enriched with ingredients such as peptides and proteins which promote growth, combined with vitamin E, castor oil and hyaluronic acid which condition dry lashes.

It also helps to track your progress by taking before and after pictures, so you can compare changes in length. Of course, everyone’s hair growth speed is different, so some may notice results quicker than others.

Are eyelash serums dangerous?

Our eyes and the skin surrounding them are the most sensitive part of our face, so there is a risk of irritation involved. However many lash serum formulas are now made to be hypoallergenic, which means they are unlikely to cause a reaction.

Lash serums typically have brush or pen applicators that are designed to make using the product easier and safer to apply at your lash line. If you have eye issues such as conjunctivitis, it’s advised to steer clear of putting anything near your eyes that could worsen an infection.

If you notice any redness, itchy sensation, increased dryness or any other irritation, stop using the serum immediately and consult your doctor.

What happens if you stop using eyelash serum?

Lash serums work with regular use over the course of three months, though some do promise faster, noticeable results in as little as eight weeks.

If you run out, or forget to keep up with applying it consistently, then your lashes will simply stop growing and return to their usual length.

The verdict: Lash serums

RevitaLash Advanced was definitely the one that made the most dramatic impact on the length of our lashes. But we also liked Luna Nectar’s conditioning and more holistic approach for a gentler approach to reconditioning your lashes – so that could be a great regular-use option too.

Give volume, length and curl to your lashes with our round-up of the best mascaras

Voucher Codes

TUI Discount Code
TUI Discount Code
£300 off a 7 night stay with the deal of the week - TUI discount code
ASOS Discount Code
ASOS Discount Code
10% off first orders £20+ using this ASOS promo code
Travelodge Discount Code
Travelodge Discount Code
5% off all bookings with this Travelodge discount code
The Body Shop Discount Code
The Body Shop Discount Code
Save 20% on everything - The Body Shop discount code
The Perfume Shop Discount Code
The Perfume Shop Discount Code
Save 15% on everything with birthday orders at The Perfume Shop - Member exclusive
Cult Beauty Discount Code
Cult Beauty Discount Code
15% off orders over £25 with this Cult Beauty voucher code

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in