By Dr. Jennifer Atkinson, MD. Certified Medical Esthetician
Last Updated Sep 18, 2024
Which lash growth serums are truly worth the hype?
Prostaglandin-based, oil-based, or peptide-based serums?
With so many options out there, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the brands and what they offer. What’s even more important, though, is that each of them contains different active ingredients.
So, how do you know which one to choose?
As a Certified Medical Esthetician with 35 years of experience, it’s my job and passion to help clients look and feel their best through skincare and haircare.
Fortunately, I’ve had the opportunity to try nearly every eyelash growth booster product on both myself and my clients, and I'm ready to share my insights with you!
Prostaglandin serums can deliver quick results, but they are often not recommended for mature women due to potential side effects such as redness, itching, orbital fat loss, and changes in eye color.
Some companies even hide prostaglandin analogues in their formulas (look for "-prost" in the ingredients). My advice: as a mature woman, avoid hormone-based serums—the risks aren’t worth it.
However, they don’t stimulate lash growth—their main benefits are limited to conditioning and moisturizing.
What can I truly recommend for eyelash growth? Peptide-based serums!
Peptides are essential building blocks of proteins like collagen and elastin, which are crucial for maintaining skin elasticity and firmness.
These serums stimulate the natural growth of hair follicles organically, at a lower intensity compared to aggressive prostaglandin serums.
You don’t have to waste your time and money testing countless products—I’ve already tried many lash serums for you and would love to share my top 5 that have genuinely helped me and my clients grow thicker, denser, and healthier lashes.
Effectiveness: 99%
Price: $59
Overall Value: A+
This serum is a real gem! I discovered it during my research and was genuinely impressed.
I couldn't find any other product specifically designed for mature women with sensitive eyes in mind.
I always pay attention to the ingredients of products, both as a doctor and a regular customer.
When it comes to peptide-based serums, it’s essential to ensure that any lash serum claiming to grow and nourish lashes contains these three key ingredients:
- Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17 that stimulates the production of keratin, a vital protein for growing long and healthy lashes and brows;
- Biotin that stimulates new cell growth;
- Arginine is one of the primary building blocks of hair keratin and skin collagen.
And Vitae Charm combined all three in their formula!
This formula is clinically proven and free from side effects like eye irritation, allergies, or vision problems, effectively addressing the causes of thinning and sparse lashes due to aging.
Importantly, Vitae Charm is the only company that emphasizes the need for consistency and patience to achieve maximum results—it doesn’t promise miracles overnight.
They provide comprehensive information about the treatment cycle and detailed instructions on usage and post-treatment care.
The full treatment cycle is 28 weeks, but it’s worth it! My lashes have indeed become thicker, denser, and well-nourished, with no side effects at all.
Whenever I recommend Vitae Charm to my clients after their treatments, they always come back saying how their friends ask where to buy it and how their husbands compliment them on their full, healthy lashes.
Check Out Vitae Charm Pro-Age Enhancing Lash SerumEffectiveness: 85%
Price: $78
Overall Value: B+
Natural, safe, effective, and no prescription required—this lash serum is a drug-free, irritant-free alternative that delivers results in 16 weeks. Dermatologist-tested, approved, and vegan.
Their formula lacks both Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17 and Biotin, key ingredients that significantly stimulate lash growth when combined.
The serum did nourish my lashes, but the promised lengthening effect wasn’t as dramatic. While their website claims visible results within four weeks, I didn’t notice much change by then.
After 16 weeks (when the company states the peak results occur), I saw some improvement in length, but it wasn’t as significant as expected.
It works, but may not be as effective for mature lashes as Vitae Charm.
Effectiveness: 80%
Price: $68
Overall Value: B
This serum claims to deliver visibly fuller, longer lashes in just 30 days. Made with clean, vegan ingredients, it’s infused with powerful phytoactives that revitalize hair at the root.
However, their formula lacks key ingredients essential for an effective peptide-based serum, such as Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, Biotin, and Arginine.
After 60 days of use, my lashes are indeed fuller, which is great, but they aren’t longer—yet. The results weren’t as noticeable as I expected, and the company doesn’t provide clear information about the full treatment cycle or how to maintain results after use.
Overall, the serum helps lashes appear fuller and likely denser, but it may take longer than advertised, and the results may not be as dramatic as expected.
Effectiveness: 70%
Price: $14.9
Overall Value: C
This serum is a 2-in-1 product designed for both lashes and brows, aimed at promoting thicker, fuller, and healthier-looking hairs within just four weeks, according to the company.
However, I found the brush too hard, making application inconvenient and risky for the eyes. Because of this, I used it more for my brows than my lashes. After four weeks, I didn’t notice any improvement on either, but I decided to continue using it.
One downside is that the company doesn’t provide clear information about the recommended treatment cycle. They mention visible results in four weeks but don’t specify when to expect maximum results.
It took about 12 weeks before I noticed any visible improvements. The serum does work, especially considering its low price, but if you have delicate or sensitive eyes, the hard brush may make the application process difficult and less safe.
Effectiveness: 65%
Price: $49
Overall Value: C
This serum claims to nourish, condition, and stimulate lash growth, resulting in longer, healthier, and fuller lashes with full results in 12 weeks.
However, it took me 16 weeks to see the first noticeable results. Unfortunately, I also experienced slight irritation along my lash line, forcing me to stop using the product.
While this could be due to personal intolerance to one of the ingredients (though I’m not allergic), I’m still unsure what caused the reaction.
Overall, the serum works to make lashes fuller, but due to the irritation, it ranks last on my top list.