How To Take Care Of Your Eyelashes Naturally | Lash Care Routine & Safe Eye Makeup Tips
Every woman dreams of long, full and voluminous lashes. A good lash care routine is the key to healthy natural eyelashes. More than ever we are seeing all kinds of lash enhancements, from false lashes to lifts and extensions, in everyday routines.
Although these enhancements can be safe when done properly, there is always a possibility of causing some damage or slowing healthy lash growth. You do not have to give them up forever, but they are best saved for special occasions while you learn to embrace and care for your own lashes.
Table of Contents
Quick lash-care snapshot
- Nourish lashes from the inside with supportive vitamins.
- Be gentle when cleansing and always remove eye makeup at night.
- Moisturize, use clean mascara and give lashes regular makeup breaks.
Why Should You Embrace Your Natural Lashes?
Our lashes have an important role: they help keep the eyes safe and protected. They shield the eyes by catching dust and debris, any small particles that could be harmful.
Lashes are so sensitive that they can sense when something is too close and will act as a shield, signaling the eyelids to blink and prevent contact with the eyes. When the eyes are closed, eyelashes act as a strong barrier against potential irritants.
Because eyelashes are so crucial for the safety of the eyes, it is important to embrace your natural lashes and keep them healthy. When your lashes are taken care of they stay strong, do their job well and look beautiful at the same time.
Lash Care Guide, And A Few Tips
We have put together a lash care guide to help you start a good eyelash care routine. Lashes are a type of hair and they need to be taken care of just as our hair does. Having a solid routine will help you feel confident about your lashes because you know they are in the best shape possible.
Nutrition
Just like with hair, it all starts from the inside. What you take in plays a huge factor when it comes to lash health. We make completely vegan and cruelty free makeup at Red Apple Lipstick, but we know not everyone reading this section is vegan. So the following are suggestions that fit all lifestyles. Take what you like and leave the rest.
Include vitamins* such as Vitamin B-3 (Niacin), Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Vitamin H (Biotin), to name a few, in your diet to help promote lash growth. These are all great for hair and eyelash health and growth. You can either take a good multivitamin supplement that includes these and/or make sure to eat foods that contain them.
If you are not vegan, eggs are great to include in your diet as they are high in protein and Biotin. Beans are also a great source of iron, Biotin, folate and protein. Fatty types of fish are high in omega-3s which are also good for the overall health of all hair.
*Always consult with a doctor before taking any medication or supplements.
Here is a helpful article about foods with Biotin from Healthline.com
Maintain Clean Lashes
Always cleanse your face, including your eyes and lashes, at the end of the day. Be extra careful and gentle when cleansing around the eye area, making sure to properly remove makeup from the eyes and lashes. Oil cleansers, as well as balm cleansers, are excellent options for gentle makeup removal.
One Love Beauty Vitamin B Enzyme Cleansing Oil + Makeup Remover
A multitasker.
Nutiva Organic Cold-Pressed Virgin Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a favorite for gently removing mascara. Unrefined, cold pressed, virgin and non-GMO varieties are best.
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Moisturize The Lashes
Just as it is important to moisturize your skin and hair, you want to moisturize and hydrate the lashes. Oils are amazing moisturizers and contain many beneficial vitamins that help condition and keep them healthy. Just make sure you are using good quality oil.
Some great options are castor oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, argan oil, olive oil, avocado oil and coconut oil. You can use a clean lash brush or spoolie to apply and coat the lashes with oil evenly. Brushing helps distribute the oils throughout the entire lash.
Maintaining moisture helps prevent breakage, which can mean longer and fuller looking lashes over time.
Invest in a Lash Serum
If you feel like your lashes are too short or too sparse, try incorporating a lash serum into your eyelash care routine. A good quality serum can help promote lash growth because it is packed with lash-loving ingredients and vitamins.
Not all serums are created equally, so always check the ingredient list and follow the instructions that come with your serum of choice. Serums work at the lash line, so it is important to apply them carefully.
Organic Castor Oil Eyelash Serum by Sky Organics
A pure cold pressed castor seed oil with a lash applicator. Simple and effective.
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Let Them Breathe
Constantly wearing makeup can irritate the eyes and lashes. Make sure to take regular makeup breaks to let the lashes breathe and keep their good health. It is also important not to constantly wear false lashes or lash extensions. Try to keep them to a minimum or avoid them when possible.
It is completely fine to go mascara free sometimes. Damage is cumulative. You might think that no harm is being done today, but damage to lashes is slow and can be hard to detect while it is happening.
Check Ingredients
When choosing lash products and eye products, always check the ingredients. Whether it is makeup or care products (like serums), look for gentle, lash-loving ingredients that help keep lashes healthy.
Avoid potentially harmful ingredients like parabens, phthalates, plasticizers and synthetic fragrance around the eyes whenever possible. Red Apple Lipstick offers safe and gentle eye makeup that is friendly to eyelash health, including talc free eyeshadows like Porcelain, Brownie Points and Champagne that let you define your eyes without irritating the lash line.
If you get a stye or a clogged lash hair duct, do not use that product again. There is a reason it clogged your hair duct.
Use Natural Mascaras
Since mascaras are applied directly to the lashes, it is important to choose formulas that do not contain harsh ingredients. Avoid mascaras that contain drying alcohols, synthetic fragrance and Teflon. Look for mascaras that are paraben, phthalate and fragrance free.
The Lash Project Mascara is an excellent choice. It is a lash-conditioning mascara full of ingredients that lashes love, promoting healthier and stronger lashes the more you use it. It is non-toxic, vegan and gluten, paraben, soy and cruelty free.
Apply Mascara In A Tiny Amount
It is fine to go slow. Especially when we are in a hurry, it is easy to overuse mascara in an effort to just get it done. When you have the time, slow down and use only as much product as you need to get the job done.
Sanitize Eye Lash Curlers
If you use curlers, keep them clean and bacteria free with a good sanitizer. You do not want to pass bacteria back to your lash line.
Things to Avoid
- Over curling or curling aggressively, which can cause breakage and damage.
- Sleeping with makeup on, including eye makeup and mascara.
- Scrubbing or rubbing the eye area when cleansing or in general.
- Using harsh and toxic ingredients near the eyes.
- Sharing eye makeup, which increases the risk of infection.
The better care you give your lashes, the better they will look. Following a good lash care routine can give you naturally healthy, longer looking, fuller and better-looking lashes over time.
We hope this guide has helped you learn how to take care of your lashes. If you enjoyed these tips, feel free to share them with friends and family who may also want help caring for their eyelash health.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I take care of my eyelashes at home?
Start with good nutrition, then maintain a gentle cleansing routine at night, removing eye makeup completely. Moisturize and brush the lashes, avoid harsh ingredients in makeup and care products, use a good quality lash serum and choose natural mascaras.
Should you brush your eyelashes?
Yes. Just like your hair, brushing your eyelashes daily helps keep them groomed and puts stray lashes in place. You can use a clean lash comb or spoolie, brushing gently. You can even apply a bit of oil to the brush to moisturize while you groom.
How can I grow my lashes naturally?
Maintain a consistent lash care routine, use nourishing oils to moisturize and condition the lashes and make sure you are getting vitamins that support hair health, such as Biotin. Consider a good quality lash serum and avoid habits that cause breakage, like rubbing your eyes or sleeping in mascara.
What eye makeup pairs best with a healthy lash routine?
Reach for gentle, talc free eyeshadows and clean formulas near the lash line. Soft neutrals such as Espresso, Twinkle Taupe or Yes You Canyon let your natural lashes stand out without irritation.