Growing demand for the “clean girl aesthetic” and lightweight, minimalist makeup, has influencers and everyday buyers reaching for eyelash serums.
These lash serums range from prescription, prostaglandin-based medications that grow your lashes to cosmetics with hydrating ingredients that may give your lashes a fuller look.
All that goodness can come with a cost, though: potential exposure to toxic chemicals that could lurk in some products, making it tougher than usual to choose which is best for you.
EWG has done the work for you by finding safer lash serum alternatives that avoid harmful ingredients.
Prostaglandin-based eyelash serums
Prostaglandins are lipids that, similar to hormones, can act like messengers to manage your body’s everyday processes. They are sometimes referred to as “hormone like” chemicals. Some eyelash serums use these chemicals to lengthen lashes’ growth phase.
One Food and Drug Administration–approved medication for eyelash growth, bimatoprost, is a prostaglandin derivative. It was originally studied for lowering eye pressure. But scientists noticed patients using the eyedrops were growing longer, thicker eyelashes. After more tests, the FDA approved bimatoprost as an eyelash growth serum, in 2008.
Today you can find cosmetic serums with prostaglandin-like chemicals that are not FDA-approved. These blur the line between drugs and cosmetics because, although sold as personal care products, they may have drug-like effects.
Eyelids are more sensitive than other parts of your skin, so they’re easily irritated.
Prostaglandin-like chemicals have many adverse side effects, such as darkening of your iris or eyelid, eye irritation and fat loss around your eyes.
To avoid these ingredients in cosmetics, check lash serum labels for ingredients that end in “-prost” or “-prostone.” If you struggle with lash growth and are looking for clinical results, consult your dermatologist about FDA-approved options before reaching for prostaglandin-based cosmetic products.
Non-prostaglandin eyelash serums
Lash conditioning serums without prostaglandin can also help make lashes look fuller without hormone–like ingredients, though they do not generally grow your lashes.
Eyelash conditioning serums and even some types of mascara use moisturizing ingredients, vitamins and more to promote lash health.
Emollients like castor oil are low hazard and can help hydrate or condition lashes. Amino acids like glutamic acid or alanine are also low-hazard serum ingredients that may help strengthen and protect lash structure.
Still, the eye and the surrounding area are sensitive, so EWG recommends trying a product on a different part of skin first, then applying it only to your lashes. Always avoid getting products in your eye.
We’ve curated a list of EWG Verified® and low-hazard lash serums rated a 1 or 2 – meaning low hazard – in Skin Deep®, EWG’s free, searchable database of personal care products. Products that bear the EWG Verified® have been evaluated by our scientists and meet our strictest standards of safety and transparency.
You can find these products in store or online on sites such as Amazon, CVS and Walmart. Scan products for details on the go with our Healthy Living™ app.
EWG Verified®
Rated 1 in Skin Deep
