Mascara is one of the most popular makeup products used by women worldwide. It’s a quick and easy way to enhance the appearance of lashes, making them look thicker, longer, and more defined. But one question many women have is, does mascara make your eyelashes grow?
The short answer is no, mascara does not make your eyelashes grow.
However, there are several natural ways to promote healthy lash growth, including eating a healthy diet, avoiding eye rubbing, and using natural oils like castor oil.
In this article, I will discuss the benefits of using mascara and offer tips for promoting natural lash growth.
Why Do People Think That Mascara Makes Eyelashes Grow?
Many people believe that mascara can make eyelashes grow because it can make lashes look thicker and longer. While some mascaras may contain ingredients that promote lash growth, such as vitamins or natural oils, mascara itself is a cosmetic product designed to enhance the appearance of lashes, not to promote growth.
The Benefits of Mascara for Eyelashes
While mascara cannot make eyelashes grow, it offers several benefits for lash appearance. These include:
1. It enhances the appearance of lashes
Mascara makes existing lashes stand out more, so they look longer than they are. If your eyelashes are already long enough, then there’s nothing wrong with using mascara to enhance their size and appearance; however, if they’re too short, no amount of mascara will change that.
2. Improving your appearance
Mascara can also define and thicken eyebrows, making a big difference to your overall look.
3. It gives the illusion of more extensive lashes
Mascara can make your eyes appear larger, brighter, and more awake. It is commonly applied to the upper lashes of the eyes but can also be applied to the lower lashes.
How Can You Promote Eyelash Growth?
Rather than attempt to grow your lashes with mascara, there are actual ways to enhance their growth; they include:
1. Vitamin supplements
Vitamins supplements such as SuperHair by Moon Juice are essential for maintaining healthy hair, nails, and skin. These vitamins help promote cell growth in your body and could therefore promote the growth of your eyelashes. Add them to your daily diet by consuming fruits and vegetables that are rich in these vitamins.
You can take biotin supplements to help boost lash growth or buy a formula that contains biotin combined with other ingredients that promote hair growth, like vitamin C, zinc, and iron. You’ll want to take these supplements daily for at least three months before noticing any results. If you don’t see improvements after three months, stop taking them.
2. Fish oil supplements
Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids, which help maintain healthy hair growth. Take fish oil supplements daily to encourage eyelash growth, or massage a few drops into your lashes before bed at night for best results.
3. Petroleum jelly or castor oil
Apply petroleum jelly or castor oil to your lashes once a day before going to sleep. This will prevent the lashes from getting brittle and breaking off easily, making them look healthier and fuller over time.
4. Olive or coconut oil
You can apply olive oil or coconut oil on your lashes at night before going to bed so that they can absorb the oil into their follicles. The oil will stimulate the growth of new hair follicles on your eyelids, which will eventually result in longer and thicker lashes.
5. Eating healthy food
Eat healthy food. Your eyelashes and hair are part of the same family. When your overall health is good, your hair will look good. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein sources, and healthy fats.
Does Mascara Make Your Eyelashes Fall Out?
Yes, mascara may make your lashes fall out. The main reason is that mascara coats your lashes in a layer of oil-based chemicals that may clog up your follicles, preventing them from growing properly. This makes it difficult for new hairs to emerge from their roots and get the nutrients they need to grow strong and healthy.
If your eyelashes become thinner or sparse over time, this could be due to an allergic reaction caused by certain ingredients used in mascaras (parabens). Other common elements include fragrances, preservatives, and dyes which may also irritate sensitive eyes or cause inflammation in the body. To avoid all these, safe usage and practices are strictly advised.
Will Wearing Mascara Everyday Affect Eyelashes?
Wearing mascara every day can potentially affect the health of your eyelashes. If not applied or removed correctly, mascara can cause dryness, breakage, and damage to the lashes. Over time, this can lead to weaker, thinner, and shorter lashes.
When applying mascara, it is vital to use a clean mascara wand and apply it from the base of the lashes to the tips without tugging or pulling on them. Similarly, when removing mascara, it is important to use a gentle, oil-based makeup remover to avoid rubbing or pulling on the lashes.
Applying mascara daily also creates an ideal environment for bacteria to grow; if you don’t clean your mascara wand, it may cause eye infections. Furthermore, if you don’t remove your mascara before bed, it can cause your eyelashes to stick together, leading to damage.
It’s also worth mentioning that mascara contains ingredients that are not ideal for the health of the lashes, such as alcohol, fragrances, and preservatives. Therefore, giving your lashes a break from mascara, and using a non-mascara alternative, such as eyelash extensions or a serum, can help you maintain healthy and strong lashes.
Does gel mascara make your eyelashes grow?
No, gel mascara does not make eyelashes grow but only gives the illusion of fuller lashes by dropping pigments on the lash shafts, making them appear thicker.
Does thrive mascara make your eyelashes grow?
Yes, Thrive mascara supports eyelash growth because the formula contains an orchid stem cell complex that encourages lash growth.
Does not wearing mascara make your eyelashes grow?
Yes, not wearing mascara at all can make your eyelashes grow significantly in strength and density, as well as volume. Natural eyelash growth can still occur without using mascara.
Final Thought
So, there’s no evidence that mascara affects eyelash growth. Make sure you’re buying something from a quality brand, and don’t forget to always curl your lashes before slathering them on.
