Big eyes and long eyelashes are a classic feminine trait and many women have gone to great lengths (pun intended) for them. I even made my own natural eye shadow recipe to accentuate mine. Unfortunately, many treatments like eyelash extensions and growth serums can cause allergic reactions, infection, or other problems.
Never fear, there’s a natural way to encourage lash growth… all you need is a little castor oil!
Get Longer Eyelashes Naturally
Of course, there is a genetic aspect to long eyelashes, but that doesn’t mean that those without the lucky genes can’t increase their eyelash length. I have a cousin who naturally has super-long dark eyelashes that look like extensions.
My eyelashes are decently long but definitely not that dramatic. I have been experimenting with natural ways to increase my eyelash length and thickness.
There does seem to be a connection between nutrition and hair health, so if a person isn’t getting enough fat-soluble vitamins, b-vitamins, vitamin C, and collagen.
Overuse of eye products, especially long-lasting mascaras or fake lashes, can weaken lashes or lead to lash loss.
Natural Eyelash Extensions?
After publishing my homemade mascara, many people asked if there was a natural way to make fiber lash mascara or eyelash extensions. I’m yet to find a natural version of false eyelashes since most glues contain formaldehyde. Most fiber lash products also contain questionable ingredients.
What I did find, however, was a natural way to make lashes look as long as fake lashes using only natural ingredients.
This natural eyelash growth serum uses:
- Castor oil– Natural source of omega-6 fats, proteins, and vitamins that helps encourage dramatic hair growth
- Emu oil– “highly anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, anti-wrinkle, penetrating, a transdermal carrier, promotes skin regeneration, non-comedogenic (does not clog pores), nourishing, anti-aging and bacteriastatic.” (source)
- Coconut oil
- Vitamin E oil (optional)
Castor oil alone would give noticeable results, as it has been extremely helpful for lengthening and thickening my hair, but the addition of emu oil, coconut oil, and vitamin E give this serum a wider range of fatty acids and nutrients to help speed eyelash growth.
TIP: Christa of The Whole Journey recommends adding 1 drop of lavender essential oil to mascara to speed eyelash growth. I haven’t tried this yet, but it could be added to this serum for additional benefit. (Just always use caution and do your own research when using essential oils!)
Eyelash Growth Serum Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tsp castor oil
- 1 tsp emu oil (optional, can use extra castor oil instead)
- ½ tsp coconut oil
- 5 drops vitamin E oil (optional)
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a small dropper bottle and swirl gently to combine.
- To use, squeeze one drop onto your finger or a cotton swab and gently massage into lash line. I prefer to do this at night to let it work overnight before washing my face in the morning.
- Use daily for best results.
Notes
TIP: Also use on eyebrows to help with thinning eyebrows! This will last up to a year as long as it is kept in an air-tight container. Be careful not to add water, aloe, or other liquid ingredients that will spoil.
How do you take care of your lashes?
Do you have any recommendations for making this vegan? Castor and emu oil both animal oils.
Castor oil is from castor beans/seeds and is not from animals. In some languages castor means beaver but the oil is not derived from them. The Emu oil however is not vegan and can just be omitted.
Castor oil is from a plant. If you want to make this vegan, just omit the emu oil. Honestly, this would be perfectly fine with just the coconut oil.
I was wondering what could be used in place of the citrus and peppermint eo? I have really sensitive facial skin and citrus oils anywhere on my face makes me break out and my skin will burn in pain from the irritation.
Castor oil is vegan.
http://www.veganpeace.com/ingredients/ingredients.htm
Yes, the addition of lavender oil helps too! I add a few drops to my mascara tube.
I have thin eyelashes so I could definitely start using this recipe. Thanks for the post.
Hi Katie. Is store-bought castor oil okay to use?
I would make sure that it is urefined, cold-pressed, and hexane-free (You are getting it pretty close to your eyes, so I urge caution).
Should also be organic..
Black mascara is burdensome. I decided to get real, and grow thick lashes! Do you know any transparent ingredient to add in this recipe so that it can act as a clear mascara (that holds eyelash curls)?.
When I first made my own make up, I tried using just oil and charcoal for mascara, but it smeared (especially on my glasses which my lashes touch). Now I use aloe vera gel and charcoal which works really well because the aloe goes on wet, but dries quickly. I’m not sure if it would dry as much mixed with oil, but it could be worth a shot?
perhaps aloe vera, it holds well on hair for instance 🙂
Do you need to use the Emu oil? Is there something else I could use?
You can omit it completely and use more castor oil instead.
Is castor oil safe to use on your eyelashes if you are pregnant?
Hi Katie,
Where else can I buy an emu oil and black cumin oil besides the website that is linked in your recipe? There are a lot of stores online but I don’t know who I can trust, please let me know when you get a chance, thank you.
I love Emu Oil (I use products from http://www.wonderoil.com) and have used it for years. Never thought to use it for my horribly thin eyelashes and eyebrows! Thanks for this recipe! I’m going to give it a try.
I went to that website, OMG what a mess! Probably one of the worst I’ve ever been to, lol. But I will order the emu oil. Thanks for the suggestion.
Question: would you use regular coconut oil (the kind you use for cooking. ..and *everything* else 😉 or FCO?
Thank you!
I use regular 🙂
Do you have to melt the coconut oil?
It’s easier to work with, yes.
I use fractionated coconut oil. You don’t need to melt it because it is in liquid form. It is very light and non-greasy too.
It’s winter where I live (NZ) and all our coconut oil is solid because of the cold. How would you get past this with this mixture?
You might try fractionated coconut oil…
How about eye brow growth??
Hi Katie I am always confused on what vitamin e oil to buy. What do you recommend? I am trying a cuticle oil recipe as well but am struggling with deciding what vitamin e oil to use
I am wondering if you know how the emu oil is obtained from the animal? Does the animal suffer any harm or ate they farmed for this oil? I am only asking because a few friends of mine are vegan and would love this recipe but I don’t know if they would object to the emu oil!
I could be wrong but, I read it comes from dead emu’s. I was researching oils for skin and emu oil kept popping up. I didn’t know what it was at all, so I looked it up and that’s what I read. I also read that it had a unique ability to penetrate deeper into our dermis layers then any other oil. So because of that it’s great to use with other oils to repair skin. Of course I only read about it from the internet so I would encourage you to do your own research.
Yes, it’s animal fat. Just omit it and the recipe will still be fine.
I have made my own lash oil/face oil for years, and when I wear mascara most people actually think I am wearing fake lashes (I have had people ask multiple times as if I was lying!). A really good container to put it in is also 1) a cleaned out clear mascara gel tube (or empty new one found online), it is easy to clean, and you can see how much oil is left/if you have shaken and mixed it enough or 2) a liquid eyeliner container, either bought new or cleaned out (I would suggest a glitter liner that is a clear base like the mascara so it will be easier to clean than black.
I just found it easier and less messy than having it in another contain if I want to apply it just on my lashes or lash line. Also, I try not to use cotton swabs if I don’t have to, I hate the waste! Just a suggestion 🙂 Also, I just keep the oil on my lashed before applying makeup in the morning. Helps keep my (non natural) mascara from ruining my lashes.
Hi Taylor,
What’s your recipe? 🙂 x
Good tips, taylor. I wish u had given us the recipe too. Pretty please!
Any chance you could share your recipe too?
Can i have the recipe? Thanks
Thank you Taylor. Will you please share the recipe?
Could u also share the recipe with me? Thank you
I guess she’s keeping her recipe a SECRET! LOL
Although it is true that emu oil does come from a dead emu, the meat is eaten. So the animal isn’t discarded after the oil extracted.
I did research and actually, the meat is quite undesirable as it is pungent. Emu is farmed primarily for their feathers, leather, and cosmetics sadly.
The meat is actually quite desirable for its low fat content. It is red meat like lean beef. My parents used to farm them.
They kill Emu’s for the oil. I make natural products and I stay away from Emu oil because of that reason. I don’t care how great it is if an animal has to be killed or suffers for the oil I stay away!! Google it and you can find topics on how they kill emu’s for the oil. Hope this helps.
They are killed for their meat. The fat of the animal (the parts people don’t eat) are used to make the oil. It shouldn’t matter anyway we kill lots of animals for food but you don’t stop eating food because we kill animals for it.
Actually, a lot of people do not eat meat because animals are killed for it.
what oil do you use instead of emu oil for skin penetration? Would you use jojoba? As I read it helps carry oils deeper into the skin
Yes I read that too. I like to know what products I’m supporting and I will not being using emu oil, I will increase the castor oil instead. It is terribly sad that they are killed for other peoples interest like comsetics. such a shame. They are beautiful birds.
I use 3 drops of Lavender essential oil in my mascara. I also use lavender oil on my eyebrows at night because I have lost a lot of them.
I’ve heard lavender oil should be used on lashes simply because it kills eyelash mites, that can contribute to losing your lashes.