Don't Get Fooled! Ingredients To Look For And Avoid In Eyelash Serums
There are dozens of eyelash serum brands available at drug stores, professional salons and online. They all claim to deliver longer, thicker, and fuller eyelashes within weeks or months. You can purchase eyelash serums for $15 or $200 without even realizing the difference between them. The beauty industry is flooded with products that claim the same promises, so how can we understand if the product works and can help you achieve longer, thicker, and fuller eyelashes? The answer is simple, and you can find it on the product’s label section called INGREDIENTS.
What Ingredients to Avoid and Look For?
There are three types of eyelash serums available on the market.
1. Prostaglandin and analogue serums
The prostaglandin serums use chemical compounds with hormone-like effects. These ingredients are prohibited from being used in cosmetics based on Health Canada guidelines. You can only purchase a prostaglandin-based serum via your doctor as a prescription is required.
These products are sold as medication and not as cosmetics for legit reasons. There are no long-term tests for prolonged growth hormone application other than random images on the web of drooping eyelids, skin darkening, and iris colour change. Also, the final effect of longer lashes lasts as long as you use the medication. Once you stop, you lose your long lashes. You can read more about prostaglandin and analogue-based serum in our blog post "The Unspoken Truth About Prostaglandin (Hormone-Based) Lash Serums".
Key ingredient: Prostaglandin (Bimatoprost) or analogues (Isopropyl cloprostenate, Isopropanol Phenyl-hydroxyl-pentene, Dihydroxy-cyclopentyl-heptenate, Dechloro Dihydroxy Difluoro, Ethylcloprostenolamide, Trifluoromethyl Dechloro Ethylprostenolamide)
Price: $150-$200
2. Botanical Serums
There is a lot of misinterpretation when it comes to botanical serums. Some claim to be organic, vegan, sustainable, or purely botanical.
Unfortunately, the beauty industry is yet to define when a product can be considered sustainable, so we will leave it here.
When the product claims to be vegan and has lactic acid or allantoin as an ingredient, it becomes problematic. Lactic acid is made in milk fermentation, while allantoin is produced from uric acid and is not vegan. However, there are new lactic acid and allantoin synthesis production methods to be sourced as a vegan. Check the source of the ingredients before buying the vegan product with these ingredients.
The botanical extracts in serums can help achieve healthier eyelashes but will not produce the same results as other serums. Also, if you have sensitive skin, it has been proven that you're more prompt to allergic reactions using botanical products. Keep in mind that natural products, once open, have a shorter lifespan than their counterparts.
The botanical ingredients that you should look for in serums should have a moisturizing and conditioning effect. The most beneficial ingredients are DHT Blockers such as Natural Grape & Pumpkin Seed Extracts, Trifolium Pratense (Clover) Flower Extract, and Panax Ginseng Root. These botanical extracts help condition and protect lashes. The DHT blockers are also part of the ADOREYES Plus Lashes serum formula.
Key Ingredients: DHT Blockers (Natural Grape & Pumpkin Seed Extracts, Trifolium Pratense (Clover) Flower Extract, and Panax Ginseng Root Extract)
Price: $60 - $120
3. Peptide Serums
A popular hormone-free alternative is a peptide-based serum.
Peptides in your lash serum are a good indication that an eyelash serum can boost the appearance of your lashes. Peptides are popular in lash serums because they help lashes look longer and fuller. Clinical studies on these peptides report longer, fuller-looking lashes. Is every peptide equal? No. Multiple peptides serve different purposes and functions. Using the same purpose peptide in the formula at the same stage of the eyelash growth will not double the effect. Instead, look for serums that combine several peptides for the best-looking results. For example, ADOREYES Plus Lashes serum uses Triple Peptide Complex, a blend of three peptides that condition lashes.
Check the listed peptides on the product label. Some of the proven peptides with clinical studies are Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, and Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1. As these are actives, you want to make sure that there are listed on the product label as the first with the highest concentration.
Most peptide serums also contain conditioning and moisturizing agents to keep your lashes healthy and free from brittleness and breakage. In this case, look for ingredients such as Biotin (Vit B7, Arginine, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Panthenol & Calcium Pantothenate (Vit B5), Niacinamide (Vit B3), Arctium Majus Root Extract.
Key Ingredients: Peptides (Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, and Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1), Conditioning agents (Biotin Vit B7, Arginine, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Panthenol & Calcium Pantothenate Vit B5, Niacinamide Vit B3, Arctium Majus Root Extract)
Price: $80-$130
How do I know if the product works?
The answer is simple. Know your ingredients, not the claims. If the listed ingredients on the product packaging have proven results supported by clinical studies, then you know that this is a product for you. Once you verify the ingredients, check the concentration by looking at the first listed ingredients on the label. Still not sure about the ingredient? Open your browser and search for information about the ingredient.
Why There is a difference in the lash serum prices?
Buying any product serves two purposes – achieving desired results and accomplishing budget goals.
To achieve the results, you must look at the product ingredients. If the lash serum product has some random ingredients commonly used as a moisturizer , then the price tag will be lower, but you might not gain the expected results.
The market is flooded with counterfeit products, so buy your beauty products from known sources. Some of the products are manufactured in countries that do not follow health guidelines or human rights, and they are repackaging the product multiple times to sell under various brands that you've never heard of. Please do not get fooled and avoid them. The risk of product contamination is higher, and the ingredients are from unknown resources. This can lead to damage to your eye as the lash serum is applied close to your eyelid. These products often appear for the company's financial gain and disappear to come back with the new packaging once the bed reviews are flooding.
Buy local products to ensure safety and quality. ADOREYES products are made and formulated in Canada to high standards of quality and safety. Always check the product label for the country of origin of the product.
The final note? The lower price of the serum might be enticing. Check ingredients, concentration, brand and product origin to assure results without getting fooled into promises that cannot be fulfilled and can be harmful to your body.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is myristoyl pentapeptide-17?
Myristoyl pentapeptide-17 is a synthetic peptide made of five amino acids attached to myristic acid, a fatty acid that helps the peptide absorb. It is one of the most common actives in lash and brow serums, used to condition lashes and help them look longer and fuller.
Does myristoyl pentapeptide-17 have side effects?
It is generally well tolerated. The reactions reported most often are mild: redness, itching, or stinging if the serum gets into the eye. It is not associated with the iris colour change or eyelid darkening linked to prostaglandin analogues. Patch test first and stop using any serum that causes ongoing irritation.
Does biotinoyl tripeptide-1 have side effects?
Biotinoyl tripeptide-1 combines biotin (vitamin B7) with a small peptide. It has a low irritation profile in cosmetics. As with anything applied near the eyes, people with sensitive skin may notice mild redness or itching.
Which lash serum ingredients should I avoid?
Avoid prostaglandin analogues such as isopropyl cloprostenate, bimatoprost, dechloro dihydroxy difluoro ethylcloprostenolamide and trifluoromethyl dechloro ethylprostenolamide. Also avoid products with no full ingredient list, no country of origin, or no brand contact information.
How long does a peptide lash serum take to work?
With daily use, most people notice a difference in 4 to 6 weeks, with full results at around 3 months. Lashes grow in cycles, so consistent use matters more than the amount applied.
Looking for a prostaglandin-free option? ADOREYES Plus Lashes Serum is made in Canada with a Triple Peptide Complex that includes myristoyl pentapeptide-17 and biotinoyl tripeptide-1.