I’m putting on my white lab coat and goggles today because we’re going quite sciencey. I feel the need to take a deep dive into all the new lash and brow serums that keep appearing. Because what you all want to know is do they really work and can they really make brows fuller and lashes longer?
You see, I’m fully on board with a face serum. They are renowned for being harder-working versions of basic moisturisers because they can penetrate the skin more deeply. Hair serums? They are famed for doing myriad things from adding shine to smoothing frizz. But what about brow and/or lash serums? What can they do and why are so many brands jumping on the bandwagon? No, really. I’ve seen them everywhere lately and at every price.
The original lash serum that so many of you ask me about is by RevitaLash, a company started in 2006 by a doctor whose wife lost her lashes while going through breast cancer treatment. People tend to have the same reservations about it: “At £99 it’s not cheap!” and “Is it safe? It’s worrying as it’s going so close to my eyes.” So here are all the answers you need … Are they safe? It’s quite simple. All lash and brow serums are not created equally. It’s a terrible idea to cut corners and order a dirt-cheap one on black market-type websites. In fact, it reminds me of teeth whitening. Things can go wrong and you don’t want to be taking any chances with the eye area. Do your research before you buy: read reviews, look up clinical trials and understand what ingredients are key. On the subject of good ingredients, according to Claire Larsen, global master educator at RevitaLash: “You should look out for peptides, biotin, panthenol and vitamins.” And what to avoid? “Fragrance, phthalates, parabens — essentially anything that can irritate the eyes,” she says. For those who have steered clear because they are afraid of irritation, the new RevitaLash Advanced Sensitive Eyelash Conditioner (£99) is a serum designed to improve the health of lashes. Healthy lashes? It covers everything from preventing breakages by improving flexibility to adding a lovely shine. This serum is for people who have very sensitive eyes. “It has a unique encapsulated time-release technology that gently works over a period of time,” Larsen says. It’s a perfect one for first-timers to try. Advertisement In the world of brows, Blink Brow Bar has just launched Brow Boost (£49). According to Vanita Parti, Blink Brow Bar’s founder, the biggest issue her clients have struggled with is loss of brow hair over the years. As a result she has spent a long time “developing the right formula to ensure a combination of ingredients that feed and nourish the brows, but also actively work to grow them”, she says. I ask whether this can help those who fell victim to the tadpole brow epidemic in the 1990s. It’s a thumbs-up from Parti. “You can stimulate the hair follicles and kick-start them back into action,” she says. “We use a delivery method called Rovisome Biotin in Brow Boost to deliver the potent ingredients to your hair follicles and help boost growth.” And there’s no fussy application here — you swipe over brows each morning and wait for the serum to dry. And finally, the hybrid: Augustinus Bader The Eyebrow and Lash Enhancing Serum (£115). The German scientist, whose skincare and haircare ranges have had universal success, is now promising longer lashes and fuller brows with one product that he describes as “irritation-free”. The 12-week clinical trials came back with impressive results such as lash thickness increased by 40 per cent and eyebrow thickness increased by 55 per cent. Quite something, isn’t it? Apply morning and evening, and use the wide side of the brush along the brows and thin side on the lash line. Let’s finish by managing expectations, because it’s important to know that these hard-working tubes aren’t going to take brows and lashes back to their youthful state. “That’s not an easy task,” Parti says. “But they can thicken and darken, which is great news for those who want to get some volume back.” Many people think the product hasn’t worked when they haven’t used it for long enough. “Give it at least six to eight weeks,” she says. “That’s the normal life cycle of brow hairs.” Another step to add to your daily routine? Yes, but according to the pros it’s a worthwhile one. Get your STYLE x Latest In Beauty advent calendar before it sells out! Over £800 of products for £199, with 25 premium products and 21 full-sizes; latestinbeauty.com
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