15 Best Eyelash Serums, According to Dermatologists 2023

By Deanna Pai

Sick of eyelash extensions? Want to add oomph to your mascara game? The best eyelash serum can help (and yes, lash serum is considered safe). These formulas are designed to boost your natural lashes, leaving them to appear thicker, stronger, fuller, and even darker.

They can also be a game changer for when you’re experiencing hair loss or even brittle lashes, which is actually common. "As we age, our lashes undergo a decrease in density and fullness," says Melanie Palm, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in San Diego. Plus, "mascara, eye-makeup removers, glue from lash extensions, and eyelash curlers can cause damage," says board-certified ophthalmologist Diane Hilal-Campo, MD, who's also the founder of Twenty/Twenty Beauty.

The best eyelash serums allow lashes to grow longer than they typically would before shedding, says Dr. Hilal-Campo. Others work by moisturizing the lashes or fortifying their structure, but the efficacy varies based on the ingredients and whether you’re using a prescription formula or over-the-counter lash serum. "Bimatoprost, a prescription-strength prostaglandin found in Latisse, targets the hair follicles, effectively starting at the source of lash health—which is why it makes for the best lash serums."

Latisse is the only source of bimatoprost that's FDA-approved for the purpose of lash growth, but prescription-strength prostaglandins, has a risk of side effects, like discoloration of the skin and iris color," says Dr. Palm, who adds that it can't be used if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

The over-the-counter lash serums, meanwhile, "are less powerful but are used in a similar fashion to Latisse," says Dr. Palm. Some formulas, which can take anywhere from four to 12 weeks to work, also hydrate the lashes using hyaluronic acid and panthenol (a.k.a. vitamin B5), while others are powered by amino acids like arginine; as the building blocks of protein, this can help contribute to keratin production.

Ready to invest in an eyelash growth serum? These are the picks reviewers say actually work.

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Newly reformulated to accommodate sensitive eyes, this formula was actually developed by a physician for his wife when she was undergoing cancer treatment. It has a peptide complex to strengthen and soften the lashes, and is the only formula on the shelf to also give lashes a built-in curl—allowing you to lay off the curler to keep lashes that much healthier. It also happens to be the one that Meghan Markle "swears" by.

Powered by a combination of vitamins, peptides, and amino acids, this ophthalmologist-tested formula delivers softer, fuller lashes and minimizes breakage within six weeks. The precise applicator makes it easy to swipe onto the lash line, and it's safe to use with contact lenses.

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A true hybrid formula works as both a lash primer—prepping and protecting the lashes for mascara, upping their volume, curl, and length—as well as a lash conditioner to boost density over time. Since you only have to apply it beneath mascara, it's easy to slot into your makeup routine and, of course, delivers a more immediate payoff than a lash serum alone.

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While many lash serums are an investment, this one offers a lower price tag but doesn't skimp on the efficacy. In fact, it features four types of peptide technologies to support dense, thick lashes with clinical results in as few as four weeks (with twice-daily applications). You can also use it on the brows for extra oomph too.

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The star of this lash serum is the brand's exclusive NouriPlex Technology, a strategic combo of biotin–which supports healthy hair growth–sodium hyaluronate, panthenol, and a lipid compound that targets the lash's growth phase. Since it's intended for application at night, you don't have to sweat about pairing it with contact lenses.

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As clean as a lash serum can possible get, this Ecocert-certified lash enhancing serum features more than 99% natural-origin ingredients, including a patented complex designed to nourish the lashes. Plus, it pairs arginine with soy proteins to condition and support healthy hair growth.

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This brow and lash serum uses not one, not two, but three peptides (along with vegan keratin) to nourish and fortify lashes, while panthenol and hyaluronic acid boost shine and hydration. Not only does the angled doe-foot applicator make the application seamless, but the formula is also hypoallergenic and free of prostaglandin, making it a winner for sensitive eyes.

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As the only FDA-approved treatment for fuller or thicker lashes, Latisse's big advantage is that the results are proven. "Latisse really works," says Ashley Brissette, MD, a board-certified ophthalmologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and founder of eye-care brand Daily Practice. "It has side effects, but if you lost lashes due to hormonal changes, chemotherapy, or want to use it temporarily, you will see a good effect." Besides that, the only drawback is that you have to see a health care provider for a prescription (which you can do virtually on a platform like Ro).

What sets this lash serum apart isn't just that it clocks in at a moderate price point than some of its peers, but also that it features a six-ingredient complex to target various pain points for the lashes—think polypeptides to limit breakage, panthenol to nourish, and amino acids to fortify proteins, among others. It's also relatively low-maintenance: Just swipe it on once before bed.

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Not only is this drugstore pick jam-packed with moisturizing ingredients—think humectants glycerin and hyaluronic acid, not to mention panthenol—but it's also formulated with sensitive eyes in mind. It features a brush-on applicator that's easier for newbies to wield than the usual, super-skinny tips.

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With arginine, panthenol, and bioton, the ingredient list for this serum reads like a greatest hits of lash-friendly ingredients. The lightweight formula (which sets in two minutes) is designed to repair damaged or overprocessed lashes, making it a winner if you have a standing appointment for lash perms.

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The serum sets out to replace your mascara entirely, with a botanical complex to support lash growth and other ingredients intended to darken, strengthen, and even curl the lashes. Plus, it has a unique wand with both a doe-foot applicator and spoolie for even application.

Designed to target the impact of aging on lashes—think finer, thinner lashes—this formula is shown to increase lash density by up to 82% after four weeks. Its active ingredient is vitamin-packed pumpkin seed extract, which works alongside panthenol, biotin, hyaluronic acid, and peptides to nourish the lashes. Bonus: It's cruelty-free, vegan, and free of parabens too.

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Yes, the unique water-free formulation means you get that many more active ingredients. However, this one mostly stands out for taking a different approach to thicker lashes; it harnesses adaptogenic ingredients, like burdock root and red clover, to offset the hormonally driven weakness and brittleness caused by stress.

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Both Dr. Brissette and Dr. Hilal-Campo point to this formula as a strong over-the-counter contender. "The primary ingredient in this formula is CBD, or cannabidiol, which is believed to work similarly to ricinoleic acid as it pertains to lash health," says Dr. Hilal-Campo. "It also contains peptides and mung bean extract—mung bean extract is naturally rich in selenium, a mineral believed to play an important role in healthy hair growth."

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