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Caring for your eyelashes is a step in the beauty routine that’s often neglected. Here’s how to make sure you’re doing it right!

Get the lowdown on caring for your lashes

How to keep your lashes healthy

Like all hair that grows on the human body, eyelashes have a natural life cycle of roughly eight to 10 weeks. The length of the cycle varies from person to person and can be affected by different factors: For example, it’s normal to lose more eyelashes during seasonal changes, hormonal fluctuations and stressful times. But there are steps you can take to preserve the health of your lashes.

1.

Always avoid pulling lashes and rubbing the eye area.

2.

Save the waterproof mascara for occasions when your face may get wet, as it’s often difficult to remove without rubbing.

3.

Start using an eyelash serum that contains peptides, vitamin E, biotin and ceramides to support eyelash growth and nourishment.

4.

Opt for an effective makeup remover, which allows you to remove even water-repellent makeup easily. Think of twophase formulas and micellar waters, as well as cleansing oils and balms.

5.

Look for mascara with a formula that contains fortifying and revitalizing ingredients.

How to make those lashes grow

There is an array of over-the-counter serums and mascaras that help hydrate and strengthen lashes. These products can help to preserve the health of your lashes and may also help them grow by reducing breakage.

If you want an in-depth treatment for lengthening your eyelashes, check out a product like Latisse, a serum designed for this purpose, available by prescription after consultation with a doctor. This treatment features bimatoprost, an active ingredient that helps boost eyelash growth. Its efficacy is proven, but it usually takes at least two months of use to see results, with the full effect occurring at the four month mark. In addition to making the natural lashes denser, longer and fuller, this serum also makes them darker.

Temporary fixes

Besides pampering and helping your natural lashes grow, there are other treatments and tricks that can be used to give them more density:

1. Using a lash primer before applying mascara will amplify your lashes temporarily, and can also help nourish them depending on the primer’s ingredients.

2. Eyelash extensions provide longer, denser-looking lashes. And contrary to popular belief, they should not damage natural lashes when properly applied. On the other hand, extensions require maintenance and you must avoid makeup removers that contain oil, which can dissolve the adhesive of the extensions.

3. A lash lift is a treatment that curls and separates the eyelashes, much like a perm, that can be done by a salon professional. Treatment is often accompanied by tinting the eyelashes, and the results last several weeks.