We’re not going to turn our nose up at a fun pair of lash extensions for extra drama and flutter, but some of us get tired of disappointing mascara results or fiddling with false lashes. Sometimes, there’s no substitute for real, full, and long lashes. Like, bump-into-your-sunglasses long lashes.

In that case, eyelash serums may be your new best friend. Most serums are designed to help strengthen and nourish lashes so they look longer, thicker, and healthier. But which ones actually work? We’ve searched through hundreds of serums to find the ones that will make you want to toss your mascara.

Best lash serum overview:

• Best overall: Dr. Lara Devgan Platinum Long Lash
• Best for lash growth: Latisse
• Best for brittle lashes: Grande Cosmetics GrandeLASH-MD Lash Enhancing Serum
• Best for thickening: Better Not Younger Superpower Lash Enhancing Serum
• Best organic: Plume Science Lash & Brow Enhancing Serum
• Best for sensitive skin and eyes: Vichy LiftActiv Serum 10 Eyes & Lashes
• Best budget: Neutrogena Healthy Lash + Brow Enhancer Serum with Biotin
• Best vegan: GRO Lash Serum
• Best curl: LiLash Purified Eyelash Serum
• Best applicator: Peter Thomas Roth Lashes to Die For Turbo Conditioning Lash Enhancer

How we chose the best eyelash serums

To compile this list, we researched manufacturer specifications, including active ingredients, clinical results, and more, to create a short list of the top lash serums. Then, we combed through detailed product descriptions, ratings, and reviews to find the best lash serums for each category.

Our picks for the best eyelash serum

Dr. Lara Devgan Platinum Long Lash serum has some of the best all-around, clinically proven results, and is available over the counter. In an eight-week study, 70% of participants saw thicker lashes, 73% saw longer lashes, and 91% said they lost fewer lashes. Vitamin B5 and phyto-peptides in the formula help give lash hairs the keratin and fuel they need to grow strong. And, this serum doesn’t cause the same skin and eye pigmentation side effects that some other top serums like Latisse sometimes do.

However, the serum is pricey and takes a long time to work — up to six months, according to the website. Considering you’d need to buy multiple tubes, that’s a large investment. But proven results can make it worth it to get the luscious lashes of your dreams.

Size: 5 mL | Main ingredient(s): Vitamin B5, phyto-peptides, clover flower extract

Latisse is the only eyelash serum approved by the FDA. It’s effective at actually boosting lash growth, as opposed to most serums, which optimize lash appearance. If you’re struggling to grow natural lashes, this is a top option to see real results. Latisse is easy to apply and uses a prostaglandin analog to grow longer, thicker lashes. Prostaglandin analogs in lash serums work by mimicking a hormone reaction to extend the growth phase of a lash’s life cycle.

Latisse is a prescription drug, so you’ll need to see a doctor to get it. There are several possible side effects, including irritation, eyelid darkening, and even permanent changes to eye color. Latisse isn’t likely to be covered by insurance unless you have a diagnosed eyelash condition.

Latisse stands apart for its unrivaled ability to make a real difference in eyelash growth, but make sure you understand possible side effects and speak to your doctor before trying this serum.

Size: 3 mL | Main Ingredient(s): Bimatoprost

Another clinically proven favorite, Grande Cosmetics GrandeLASH-MD, is a great choice for brittle or sparse lashes. Over the course of 12 weeks, 97% of participants said they saw more visible lashes, 94% said they looked healthier, and 91% saw longer-looking lashes. One dip is powerful enough for both eyes, and the formula is safe to use with contacts and lash extensions, so you can keep enjoying falsies while you wait for your own lashes to get the full benefits. The proven results speak for themselves, so this serum may provide the last boost you’ve been hoping for.

GrandeLASH-MD has a powerful formula that can cause irritation, and some users noted skin changes, like redness or darkening. If you’re pregnant, nursing, undergoing chemotherapy, or have certain eye conditions, it’s not recommended to use this product.

Size: 2 mL | Main ingredient(s): Amino acids, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E

If fuller, thicker lashes are your main concern, check out Better Not Younger Superpower Lash Enhancing Serum. A study showed that 82% of participants noticed thicker eyelashes in four weeks. The fast results may happen thanks to the moisturizing hyaluronic acid and peptide complex, which encourages hair-strengthening keratin.

Better Not Younger’s formula won’t actually grow new lashes, but the vegan, cruelty-free formula can help existing lashes look their best. If your lashes are short or sparse, this formula may not be as effective as others on the market. But strength and conditioning can help improve lash health, and sometimes that’s the main thing you need for thicker, lustrous lashes.

Size: 0.24 oz | Main ingredient(s): Pumpkin seed extract, panthenol, biotin, hyaluronic acid, peptide complex

Your eyes are a delicate part of your body. Plume Science’s formula relies on organic aloe and organic castor oil to offer gentle, nourishing moisturization. Castor oil has been used in moisturizing and eye-brightening treatments dating back to ancient Egypt. The 100% naturally derived ingredients contain plant-based, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties.

Note that you may not get as dramatic results with Plume’s serum as with other clinically proven serums. This is because the focus is on hydration rather than potentially harsher ingredients that boost lash strength or growth. Plume Science’s serum is also pricey for a castor oil treatment (although it’s cheaper than many lash serums overall). We chose this product over cheaper castor oils because this serum is formulated to be lash extension friendly, whereas many other oils can ruin extension adhesive. You can even use it on your eyebrows, too.

Size: 5 mL | Main ingredient(s): Organic aloe, organic castor oil, coltsfoot flower extract, yarrow extract, vitamin E

Protecting sensitive skin around your eyes can be a challenge. Anyone can find that they’re sensitive to specific ingredients, so it takes some trial and error to find eye products that are right for you. But Vichy LiftActiv Serum 10 is a formula that’s easy on your eyes. It’s free of fragrances and tested by dermatologists and ophthalmologists to be gentle on your eyes and lids. The combo formula helps reduce fine lines, firm the delicate skin around your eyes, and fortify your lashes.

While Vichy reports smoother and more supple skin after four weeks, the company’s clinical results don’t specifically mention a lash boost. Choosing an eye product requires the consideration of multiple factors, but if you’re looking for a sensitive formula, this may help to avoid skin irritation.

Size: 0.51 oz | Main ingredient(s): Rhamnose, hyaluronic acid, Vichy volcanic water

You don’t need to blow your budget to get a lash serum that works. Neutrogena’s eyelash serum is an affordable drugstore favorite. Its formula combines biotin, a B vitamin, and peptides to bring lashes the vitamin boost they might need to look healthier and more robust. The fine-tip, slanted applicator makes it easy to get serum right down to the roots of your lashes.

Like most over-the-counter serums, Neutrogena’s won’t stimulate real lash growth. If you’re getting plenty of vitamin B in your diet, you might not need to apply extra directly to your lashes. Some users also notice itchy or watery eyes. But overall, we’re ready to bat our eyes at this budget-friendly biotin boost.

Size: 0.08 oz | Main ingredient(s): Peptides, biotin

GRO Lash Serum is 100% vegan and cruelty-free, perfect if you’re looking for a new ethical and sustainable beauty favorite. It can also lengthen lash appearance, improving density and volume.

GRO’s serum also doesn’t come with the eye or skin hyperpigmentation side effects some serums can cause. It includes special ingredients like mung bean, which may help fortify the area around your hair follicles. It’s also lash extension friendly.

This serum is costly, and it can be a little annoying to have to apply it twice daily rather than just once. But it may be worth the cost and a little extra effort for effective results and a cruelty-free and vegan product.

Size: 3 mL | Main ingredient(s): Pentylene glycol, propylene glycol, mung bean, red clover

Many eyelash serums promise to boost the appearance of lash length and density, but LiLash stands out for its attention to curl. The serum is physician formulated and ophthalmologist tested.

The formula, which works with just one swipe a day, contains ingredients like sweet almond extract, panthenol (a form of vitamin B5), and a chemical compound that works as a prostaglandin analog. (Remember, prostaglandin analogs mimic hormones to extend the eyelash growth phase, and they can also encourage melanin production to darken lashes.) 

Any lash serum that uses a prostaglandin analog can have side effects like itching, redness, and skin or iris pigmentation. LiLash is also expensive — the small size is intended to be a three-month supply, but some reviewers said it didn’t last that long. Keep an eye out for side effects, but this serum comes with a 90-day satisfaction guarantee, so you have some assurance if you take a chance on LiLash.

Size: 4 mL | Main ingredient(s): Panthenol, Prostaglandin analog

Lashes to Die For serum stands out as a two-in-one applicator that combines a fine brush with a wand. You can apply the serum from the lash line to the eyelash tips, which can help every part of your lashes soak in beneficial ingredients. The formula contains familiar favorites like peptides, biotin, and aloe and introduces an unusual one, too — Tahitian plankton extract, which supposedly improves the appearance of brittle lashes.

This serum won’t help treat eyelash loss or promote new growth, but it will condition and fortify existing lashes. The instructions note to stop using it if you experience redness or irritation, so look out for those possible side effects. If this serum works well with your skin chemistry, the two-in-one applicator seems worth a try for root-to-tip lash conditioning.

Size: 4.7 mL | Main ingredient(s): peptide complex, biotin, aloe, Tahitian plankton extract

Lash but not least

Lash serums vary wildly because they’re intended to do different things. Some serums aim to act more like a medication to promote hair growth. Others are like premium haircare on a tiny scale, fortifying and conditioning the lashes you’ve got. 

Latisse is still the only FDA-approved serum on the market, making it stand out as an effective, powerful way to grow natural lashes. Dr. Lara Devgan Platinum Long Lash impressed us with its nutrient-rich formula to make eyelashes look their best. If you have other considerations, like sensitive skin or contact lenses, you may need to experiment to find the serum that feels best for you.

How to pick the right eyelash serum for you

Choosing an eyelash serum means balancing effectiveness, side effects, and the results you’re hoping to get. Consider these factors to choose the right eyelash serum for you.

Ingredients

• Prostaglandin analogs. These have several different names and mimic hormone effects to help encourage hair growth.
• Vitamin B5 or B7 (aka biotin or panthenol). Vitamins help nourish hair.
• Peptides. These may help strengthen hair follicles or give lashes what they need to help them grow longer.
• Castor oil. This oil has deep moisturizing power for skin and hair follicles.

Sensitivity considerations

• Side effects. Some serums can cause irritation or hyperpigmentation, so you’d need to watch for side effects or weigh those negatives against improved lash health.
• Contact lenses. Contact wearers may need to be especially careful to find serums that don’t cause irritation.
• Lash extensions. Some oils can damage lash extensions. Fortunately, there are serums on the market, even those that contain rich oils, that are compatible with lash extensions. 

FAQs

What’s the most effective eyelash serum? 

Latisse is the only eyelash serum approved by the FDA to promote lash growth. Other serums may be beneficial or effective at conditioning or strengthening lashes to maximize their appearance.

Do eyelash serums actually work?

Yes, as long as you choose a lash serum designed for your needs. Some serums are formulated to stimulate lash growth or prolong the growth phase of lashes (look for prostaglandin analogs and peptides). Others focus more on strengthening and moisturizing, so your lashes look healthier because they’re hydrated — and therefore may be less likely to fall out prematurely.