My Eyelash Routine and Recipe for Super Fast Lash Growth

We all love a set of beautiful eyelashes, but all of us are not born with them. My whole life, I’ve had pretty average lashes. They’re not super short, but they are extremely curly so there isn’t much length to be seen. They are also pretty average in fullness, but they are fine and brown so still dang-near invisible without mascara. But then I “grew up” and a large part of my womanhood has been (mostly DIY) eyelash extensions.

I love them! Especially as a “make-up minimalist”, I’m able to look put together with very little effort. The problem is that my eyelashes are just as high maintenance as the strands on my head. And when I’m wearing eyelash extensions I’m usually not taking care of them at all.

After wearing eyelash extensions for at least 6 months straight (not the same set), my natural lashes were trashed… literally bald in some spots. Now, my lashes have never been the longest, most lush lashes… But this was seriously scary. I had not given my lashes any TLC, and I also wasn’t very careful with my extensions resulting in me pulling out some of my natural lashes.

Once my eyelashes were officially gone, I knew I had to do whatever I could to try and recover as much of my eyelashes as possible. People are often tickled when they find out that I have a legit eyelash care routine. It’s not an extensive one, but it is something that I’ve put an intention into and that I do every night (when I’m not wearing extensions)

Without further ado:

3 Ingredient Recipe to Grow Your Lashes and Brows

(Links included, but no pressure to use them)

In a small container, add equal parts of:

Castor Oil– Contrary to very popular belief, castor does not in-and-of itself make your hair grow. It does, however, help to condition your hair strands and follicles because it is an emollient, and is very rich in fatty acids and antioxidants (source). It is also very viscous, and helps the oil to stay in place and not be so runny (because oil in your eyes is a nightmare).

Vitamin E– Another oil full of antioxidants, and is said to actually be able to increase blood flow to the capillaries (source). This is exactly what you need if your lashes were as bald as mine. I always use food/edible grade vitamin E oil, the higher the IU count the better! This oil is also a bit on the thicker side, helping to stop the oil from running into your eyes.

Olive Oil– Again, an oil that is full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties (source)which could be helpful if you have damaged or caused in trauma at the follicle with your *cough* extensions.

Now for my routine:

Remove my Mascara-

Every night I always make sure to remove all of my mascara at night, and I make sure to do so veerryyy gently. I noticed that I was actually pulling a lot of my eyelashes out when removing my mascara. Think about it: your eyelashes are frozen in place by layers of gunk, and to remove it, you begin aggressively rubbing it with a damp cotton round… No wonder I didn’t have any damn eyelashes!

So after oil cleansing (oil on my skin, not on my lashes), I then rinse the oil and mascara with water. I make sure to remove as much of the mascara with water as possible before then taking a micellar water doused cotton round and removing any leftover mascara. The more gentle you can be with you lashes during the makeup removing process the better. Mascara, though we love it and will never stop wearing it, can actually be a bit drying and subsequently damaging to our lashes. So removing it gently is a game changer.

Toning my Eyelashes

So after washing (and probably masking), the next step in my skin care routine is to tone. I have a few toners that I like to use, but specifically the rose water toner, and the aloe vera toner always makes its way to my eyes/eyelashes as well. The other toners are a bit too harsh for the eye area in my opinion, and definitely too harsh for the eyes! When spritzing or patting the toner on my face, I don’t avoid my eyes which insures that my lashes are getting a bit of love too. These two toners are more moisturizing, and will help to replenish any moisture that may have been stripped in the face washing process.

Apply the oil

This next step has been crucial in growing back my eyelashes so quickly. Not because this recipe is some miracle product, but because of this one trick.

After applying the toner to my face and lashes, I allow the toner to dry for about 20 seconds and then I lock the moisture in with the oil 😉

That’s the game changer.

The oil mix definitely has some properties that will aid in eyelash growth and retention. But putting the oil on dampened lashes has made it significantly more effective and has helped me see serious results in a shorter span of time vs. putting it on my dry lashes.

Conclusion

To some, having an eyelash routine may be a bit much. For me, it’s kind of necessary. My eyes are my favorite facial feature, so I’m always looking to play them up and that almost always includes my eyelashes. While you may not think that moisturizing and sealing your lashes is necessary, give this some thought:

How would your hair look if you were washing it twice a day with a clarifying shampoo (because that essentially what your facial cleanser probably is), maaayyybbeee getting a little bit of leave in conditioner but only on the tips! (that’s essentially what’s happening when you put on your facial moisturizer and/or eye cream), and in the morning slapping some gel in it, and at night rubbing the gel out with a wet towel….

exactly…

What are your thoughts on eyelash extensions? Do you have any eyelash care tips?

-Sea