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Do lash serums actually work?

We put this one to the test to find out

By Carli Alman

Beauty Crew Editor / March 14 2019

We put this one to the test to find out

The last few years have been all about big, bold and bushy brows, and while that isn’t showing any signs of changing any time soon, there seems to be a new star in town: lashes. Specifically, long, full, voluminous lashes. Just look at how popular lash tinting, lash lifting and eyelash extension treatments have become. And so it makes absolute sense that with the rise of enviable lashes comes a boom in the lash serum category. Designed for at-home use, lash serums have been formulated to give natural lashes a bit of a helping hand – some to help promote growth, others to help strengthen and fortify them so they stick around for longer, but all with the main end goal: better lashes to frame those peepers of yours.

But do they actually work? It’s a very good question, especially given you’re expected to invest a few weeks to months of your time to a lash serum. So, in the name of journalism (and legitimate curiosity), I put one of the newest ones to the test: L’Oréal Paris Clinically Proven Lash Serum.

LOP0282 - LOreal Paris Clinically Proven Lash Serum

$29.95 READ MORE

L'Oréal Paris Clinically Proven Lash Serum

Historically, most of the lash serums on the market have come with a pretty hefty price tag and are only available either online or from salons or spas, so it was nice to see an option for $30 (well, $29.95, if you want to get specific) that you could pick up at your local Priceline or Chemist Warehouse. And even nicer to see that the Clinically Proven Lash Serum has – as the name suggests – clinically proven results. In a clinical trial of 32 women (who applied the lash serum twice a day for four weeks), 94 per cent reported their lashes were more fortified, 81 per cent experienced fuller lashes, and 97 per cent saw less lash loss during makeup removal. Good stats, right? But how did I fare?

Here are a few thoughts I had on my experience with the lash serum (FYI, I used it morning and night, for 30 days).

#1 / It was super gentle on application

As someone who used to wear contact lenses daily (thanks laser eye surgery for helping me ditch those!), I’m still very wary of the things I apply near my eyes. Given that the instructions for this lash serum were to apply to the root of bare lashes on the upper and lower lash lines, I was ready for stinging. But it never came. Even when I over-twisted the applicator and quite a lot of the formula came out at once. Excellent result.

Also, a note about when I applied it: At first, I wasn’t sure how I’d make sure I didn’t forget to apply it twice a day (a key component to, you know, see results), but then I had the GENIUS idea (I’ll accept pats on the back later) of adding it as an extra step in my skin care routine so I wouldn’t forget. I applied it as the last step both morning and evening.

#2 / My lashes totally got stronger

Or more resilient to my rigorous makeup removal. I wear mascara every day (who doesn’t?), but I’m not always the gentlest when it comes to removing it before bed, so my natural lashes have taken a bit of a hit as a result. After a month of using the serum I noticed there were fewer rogue lashes in my bathroom sink (and I can guarantee you that I have not suddenly become gentler with my night-time makeup removal and cleansing routine).

How did they become stronger, you ask? I think that can be put down to the combo of lash boosting and strengthening ingredients in the formula. One of the biggies in Clinically Proven Lash Serum is castor oil, known for its ability to nourish, which has also been partnered with conditioning pro-vitamins, keratin (which helps strengthen and fortify lashes), and madecassoside and hyaluronic acid to protect and reinforce lashes. There’s also filoxane in the mix, which has been added to help boost lash volume.

#3 / My lash fringe stopped looking so sad and sparse

Do you know what happens if you make your lashes stronger? They’re less prone to falling out. Which means your lashes start looking better. And healthier. And fuller, even. After the month of trialling the Clinically Proven Lash Serum, I could see that my lash fringe was fuller with more volume.

My natural lashes after using the Clinically Proven Lash Serum for 30 days

I think it’s important to clarify that this lash serum didn’t help my lashes grow. There was nothing in there to help stimulate growth or make my lashes longer. The nourishing and conditioning ingredients work to fortify and strengthen weak lashes so that when I did things to compromise my lashes (i.e. my makeup removal), they were more likely to stay put rather than circle the drain.

The final verdict

Did this work? Yes! My lash loss was reduced and as a result I noticed improved fullness in my natural lashes. Did I find that the volume of my lash fringe had tripled and the length of my lashes were hitting my brow bone in just a month? No. But that’s not the end-game of using this product. It’s about strengthening, repairing and fortifying your lashes, and in those departments, it certainly ticked the boxes.