Are you constantly envying one particular friend's lashes and wondering what they did differently? If you haven't asked them already; keep on reading as we probably have the answer here to save you bringing up the question.

They aren't wearing that much eye makeup, they haven't recently had a full set of hybrid eyelashes, and don't seem to have changed anything else in their makeup routine. So, why do their lashes look so ridiculously long all of a sudden? If you aren't blessed with beautifully luscious eyelashes then you may often find yourself comparing your own lashes to others. There is just something about gorgeous, thick eyelashes that frame the eyes and and awakens the face, right?

If you're tried all the trends of false lashes, heated eyelash curlers, lash extensions, thickening mascaras, lengthening mascara, lvl lash lifts but found that they are short lived and very temporary at most then you may be ready to get to the "root" of the issue and figure out how to enhance your real lashes once and for all!

So, Here Is The Answer...

Your friend is almost guaranteed to be using an eyelash growth serum. Lash growth serums are relatively new to the beauty industry but have taken the world by storm by those of us that have caught wind of them. Lash growth serums are growth-enhancing formulas that stimulate the lash growth phase. When applied, the lash serum interupts and prolongs the anagen phase (more on that later) to encourage growth and lengthen the lash growth cycle. This will result in longer, thicker and stronger lashes. The results however will only be seen while the serum is being used so consistency in application is key.

What's The Science Behind It?

Your eyelashes go through a process of three recurring life cycles. They consist of: anagen, catagen, and finally telogen.

• Anagen: The first stage. The eyelash is new and actively growing here.

• Catagen: The transition stage. The lash follicle begins to shrink, detach itself from the blood supply, and stop growing.

• Telogen: The resting stage. The final stage where the lash eventually falls out ready for the anagen stage to begin again. As we get older the transition from telogen to anagen slows down and in many cases gets cut off. This leads to hair loss, thinning hair and bald spots.

How Long Does It Take Eyelashes To Grow?

This can vary from person to person depending on a lot of things such as age, environmental, and external factors. If you’ve used or are currently using an eyelash serum, but haven’t seen any changes yet, your existing lashes might not have completed a full lash growth cycle or there may not be many that are currently in the anagen stage. Heres an approximate average.

• Anagen: Lashes usually spend around 4-6 weeks growing here.

• Catagen: Lashes have stopped growing here but they aren't ready to shed just yet. This phase lasts for around 2-3 weeks.

• Telogen: Lashes are now ready to shed and make way for fresh, healthy eyelashes. This can last for up to 3 months. Most people loose a few lashes (around 4) a day which may sound like a lot but we have around 150 to 200 lashes on our upper lash line alone! You may also find that you loose more lashes at certain times of the year, this is naturally occuring and due to the change in seasons.

How Does A Lash Growth Serum Work?

Lash serums work best during the anagen stage to stimulate hair growth when the lash is actively growing. Lash conditioners help to extend the growing (anagen) stage and prevent lash loss. You need to use lash serums for a whole lash cycle in order to see results so they may take a little while longer to work than you'd like however, they're worth the wait!

Can My Eyelashes Grow Longer Naturally?

They are unlikely to grow past their usual length without some extra help. Coating your lashes in natural remedies such as castor oil, petroleum jelly, aloe vera gel, or alternatively apply coconut oil, sunflower oil have been used over the years to grow natural lashes but they will do little more than moisturise the lashes and at most, make them swell temporarily and give the appearance of thicker eyelashes. Lash serums are different as not only as they more hygienic and less messy to apply but they also contain clinically proven ingredients and treat the hair follicles, not the visible hairs.

What Is The Best Eyelash Growth Serum?

There are lots of effective, clinically proven eyelash serums on the market at varying prices. Factoring in your budget is really important as it's something you will have to purchase regularly, to maintain your results, so you need to ensure that you have the budget to do so!

RevitaLash is without a doubt the most well-known of them all and for very good reason. RevitaLash contains a proprietary blend of proven functional cosmetic ingredients including an infusion of powerful peptides and soothing botanicals, this unique formulation protects against breakage and brittleness to improve flexibility, moisture, and shine for longer eyelashes. RevitaLash is both dermatologist and ophthalmologist reviewed, non-allergenic and in clinical studies showed an improved appearance in only 3 weeks! The customer results speak for themselves...

"This is the most effective product I have ever tried in my life. I can't believe how long and thick my eyelashes look after about a month, some days I'm not even bothering with mascara. Absolutely amazing." - Dermacare Direct Customer

Is There Anything Else I Can Do?

Your lashes are delicate. They will thank you for treating them kindly so using a gentle makeup remover such as Eminence Organic Herbal Eye Makeup Remover with a clean cotton ball will keep them healthy without damaging them. Avoid using lash curlers too much as they can weaken the lashes and cause them to eventually snap. Throw away expired mascara and always use a clean mascara wand. Save eyelash extensions for special occasions rather than a regular occurance!

A healthy diet goes a long way too. Ensure that you have a high protein, well-balanced diet and take biotin supplements if required. Biotin is proven to promote growth. You can find a high enough dosage of biotin and omega 3 fatty acids within Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Ultimate to be effective.

If you need some further help then feel free to ask us! All the products featured above are available to purchase at Dermacare Direct with free tracked delivery via Royal Mail. We can help with our expert advice and top tips making your makeup shopping stress-free. You can contact us by live chat, email via [email protected], or pick up the phone now and call us on phone number 0116 251 4848 to speak directly with a friendly advisor.