A generous coat of your favorite mascara will work wonders for creating the appearance of longer, more voluminous eyelashes. But let’s be real—we’d all love some naturally full lashes. That’s where eyelash growth serums come into play. “Eyelash growth serums can help boost the length and fullness of your lashes,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Michelle Henry, MD. “They typically contain special proprietary complexes that feature peptides, antioxidants, or prostaglandins—all ingredients that help promote hair growth.”
But unlike mascara, the potential positive results that eyelash growth serums create take some time to see. So, we put 31 of the most popular and highly-rated lash serums to the test for 10 weeks. We evaluated each one on its ease of use, absorption, sensitivity, and strengthening and lengthening capabilities. Ahead, find the six eyelash growth serums that performed the best.
Best Overall
Borboleta Lash Serum
Fast-absorbing
Thin, non-sticky consistency
Works beautifully for lengthening the lashes
Non-sensitizing
Doesn’t do much for thickening the lashes
Highlighted Ingredients: Biotin, peptides, keratin, plant-based stem cells | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Powered by a blend of biotin, peptides, keratin, and plant-based stem cells, this cruelty-free, ophthalmologist-tested, and clinically-tested lash growth serum seriously impressed us. With just one swipe of the small brush across the lash line, we were able to apply the serum quickly and easily. The thin consistency dried down within a matter of seconds, and it didn’t leave a heavy or sticky residue on our skin or between our lashes.
While we didn’t notice a difference in the density or thickness of lashes, we were blown away by how well this serum worked at lengthening them. After consistently using the serum throughout our 10-week test, we noticed a significant improvement in the length of our eyelashes. The difference was so noticeable that a co-worker (who had no idea we were testing a lash serum) complimented our eyelashes, a welcomed first for us. If length is what you hope to improve, we highly recommend this formula.
Best for Sensitive Eyes
Lancôme Lash Revitalizing Serum
Easy to apply
Non-irritating on the skin or eyes
Makes the lashes feel stronger
Helps minimize lash loss
Provides minor lengthening benefits
Could be more effective for promoting lash density
Highlighted Ingredients: Amino acids | Cruelty-Free: No
If you have sensitive skin or sensitive eyes, you may hesitate to use a lash serum. However, there are options that may work for you without causing irritation, such as this one, which did not irritate our tester's eczema-prone eyelids. Another plus: The formula has been ophthalmologist tested and utilizes the power of amino acids that can help fortify lashes that have been damaged by consistent makeup wearing. What's more, the brand claims that this formula minimizes the amount of lashes that fall out during the makeup removal process.
Best Volumizing
Grande Cosmetics Lash Enhancing Serum
Read Full Review: The Grande Cosmetics GrandeLash-MD Lash Enhancing Serum Is Worth the Hype
Fast-absorbing
Thickens eyelashes and eyebrows
Small brush is easy to use and evenly distributes the serum
Doesn’t do much in terms of lengthening
Can be sensitizing on the eyes
Highlighted Ingredients: Peptides, amino acids, hyaluronic acid | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Chances are, you’ve either seen ads for this ultra-popular eyelash growth serum or you know someone who’s tried it. We are seriously impressed by how well it thickens lashes and brows. Our hairs appeared fuller, felt stronger, and were noticeably more resistant to breakage. In terms of the application, the fine brush applicator makes for a mess-free, targeted distribution without having to constantly re-dip into the tube. Do note that if you get the formula into your eyes, you might experience significant eye sensitivity. So, while we highly recommend this for people who are looking to thicken their lashes, we suggest taking your time to apply it very carefully.
Best for Quick Results
RapidLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum
Fast-absorbing
Non-sensitizing
Helps to significantly lengthen the lashes
Relatively affordable considering the quick, positive results
Doesn’t work to thicken the lashes
Highlighted Ingredients: Peptides, biotin, amino acids | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Eyelash growth serums require a consistent application and a whole lot of patience before you notice results; that’s just the nature of these products. But, with this pick, we noticed an immediate thickening and lengthening within a few weeks as lashes went from short and stubby to longer and more uniform. We also loved that the brush picks up just the right amount of the formula, and once applied, it absorbs within a matter of seconds without causing any irritation. Though it’s not a budget option by any means, this one is relatively easy to find, making it a great option for those hoping to lengthen their lashes ASAP.
Best Dual-Purpose
Vichy Eyelash Growth Serum
Multi-use formula doubles as an anti-wrinkle serum
Comfortable, lightweight formula
Helps to strengthen the lashes
Doesn’t work to lengthen the lashes
Pump applicator dispenses a bit too much product
Highlighted Ingredients: Rhamnose, hyaluronic acid, Vichy volcanic water | Cruelty-Free: No
This serum combines your eye cream and eyelash serum application into one easy step, making it an excellent option for those who like to keep their beauty routines quick and easy. The formula doubles as an anti-wrinkle serum for the delicate skin in the eye area, as well as a lash fortifying and conditioning serum. You simply pump out some product onto your fingertip and apply it to the eye area, making sure to sweep a bit of it across your lash lines and gently coat your eyelashes. Although the pump applicator might be hard to control (it can dispense too much product), the results make using the serum well worth the inconvenience. After the full ten-week testing period, we saw a real improvement in the strength and fullness of our lashes. We also love that the formula helps reduce the number of lashes that fall out during makeup removal.
Best Splurge
RevitaLash Cosmetics Advanced Eyelash Conditioner
Fast-absorbing
Helps strengthen lashes
Significantly improves the length of the lashes
Doesn’t help to increase lash density
Highlighted Ingredients: Peptides, biotin, amino acids, vitamin B | Cruelty-Free: Yes
There’s no denying that this lash growth serum is expensive, but the results are very noticeable, so we can justify the price tag. Formulated with a blend of peptides, biotin, amino acids, and vitamins, the formula works to strengthen the lashes, protect against breakage, and significantly lengthen the eyelashes. We noticed eyelashes feeling stronger and more resistant to breakage throughout the testing period, but the dramatic improvement in the length of lashes is what really stood out. Between how well it works for lengthening and strengthening, how easy it is to apply, and how comfortable it is, this one has our stamp of approval.
What to Look for in a Lash Growth Serum
- Peptides: Jas Imani, a New York City-based licensed esthetician, recommends looking for formulas that contain peptides, which are great for "fortifying lash hair and helping lashes grow stronger." Peptides are also helpful when it comes to nourishing lashes that are brittle and frail, so consider them a must if you’ve been too rough with mascara removal or wear waterproof formulas on the regular (here are our tips for removing eye makeup gently!).
- Biotin: You’re probably already familiar with biotin in supplement form, which is great for helping the hair and nails grow strong and healthy. Imani recommends looking for lash growth serums that also contain this powerful ingredient to help your lashes grow long and strong, too.
- Conditioning formulas: To maintain long and healthy lashes, you’ll want to look for a formula that contains conditioning ingredients to keep them soft and prevent future breakage. Alternatively, if you love a formula that doesn’t contain conditioning ingredients, you can also purchase a separate lash conditioner to help maintain lash health.
Why Trust Byrdie
Alyssa Kaplan is an experienced writer in the beauty industry and a product tester specializing in cosmetics. She received a bachelor’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she studied marketing and product development in the cosmetics industry as well as fashion business marketing. Alyssa has been a commerce writer at Byrdie since 2022, where she covers all things beauty.
Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud is a writer with over a decade of experience in the beauty industry. She covers all things skincare—from buzzy ingredients to acne advice. For this story, she considered any potential irritation and how long serums take to deliver visible results.
Caitlyn Martyn is a commerce writer on staff at Byrdie, where she covers beauty and style. She gathered insights and testimonials from our experienced team of editors and in-house lab testers to curate this list of eyelash growth serums.
We spoke to two experts to get valuable insights to inform our selections for this story, including:
- Jas Imani, a New York City-based licensed esthetician and certified Yumi Lash esthetician
- Dr. Michelle Henry, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist
According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough eyelash growth serums from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com, and we will evaluate the product ASAP.