Thick, captivating eyelashes enhance eye makeup and protect the eyes from debris. As we age or experience certain medical conditions, eyelashes can thin. The internet is rife with beauty solutions, and coconut oil has emerged as a popular remedy for promoting eyelash health and potentially stimulating growth.
Coconut oil has become a staple in health and beauty products due to its proven benefits. It moisturizes and protects skin and hair and possesses antimicrobial and antifungal properties. These benefits may extend to your eyelashes. Coconut oil can help keep your eyelashes healthy, resulting in fuller lashes that can withstand cosmetics and styling tools. Human and animal studies show that virgin coconut oil is safe for use around the eyes. It benefits eyelashes and the skin around your eyes.
Coconut oil protects hair against damage from washing, hair products, and styling. This may also apply to eyelash hair. Coconut oil contains fatty acids, mainly lauric acid, which helps it be more easily absorbed by the hair shaft, according to research. This may be why coconut oil appears to provide better and longer-lasting protection compared to other oils.
One study found that applying coconut oil to hair before or after washing protected hair by reducing protein loss. This may protect your lashes from damage from washing your face or removing eye makeup.
Microbial organisms are naturally present on your eyelashes and can cause bacterial and fungal infections. Medium-chain fatty acids, such as those found in coconut oil, have antimicrobial and antifungal properties that can protect against them. Lauric acid has the greatest antibacterial activity of all medium-chain fatty acids. Applying coconut oil to your eyelashes and the skin around them may protect you from skin infections, including folliculitis, which is inflammation of the hair follicles.
Read also: Tropical Hair Care with Coconut Milk
This is good news for people who wear mascara. The microbes on your eyelashes can contaminate your mascara, especially if you use the same tube of mascara for more than three months, according to a study. The pilot study examined the microbial growth of two brands of mascara used every day for three months and found microbial growth in 36.4 percent of the tubes. They found various organisms, including Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus species, and fungi.
Coconut oil moisturizes and protects hair from protein loss and damage. These benefits may extend to eyelash hair, resulting in fewer eyelashes falling out so your lashes appear thicker and fuller.
There are a couple of ways that you can use coconut oil for your eyelashes, including eyelash serums or virgin coconut oil applied directly.
You can find dozens of eyelash serums for purchase online or at beauty counters. Many of these serums contain coconut oil, along with other ingredients, such as essential oils and castor or mineral oil. The benefits of using an eyelash serum is that it usually comes with an applicator that makes it easy to apply without making a mess. The downside is that they’re not necessarily 100-percent natural. They can also be pricey, depending on the brand.
Virgin coconut oil is available online and in most health food and grocery stores. It can be easily applied using a clean finger, an eyelash brush, or mascara wand. Disposable eyelash brushes and mascara wands can be bought online or at cosmetic stores.
Read also: Hair Care with Coconut Oil
Coconut and coconut oil allergies are very rare but can still happen. Virgin coconut oil is generally safe for use on the skin and around the eyes, but you should still be careful to not get it in your eyes. Using 100-percent organic virgin coconut oil is your safest bet, as other products may contain ingredients that could cause irritation or an allergic reaction. Use a clean, damp washcloth to remove any excess oil from around your eyes. If you happen to get the oil in your eyes and feel any irritation, flush your eyes with water right away.
While coconut oil is a promising option, other remedies are often explored for eyelash enhancement.
Just like coconut oil, castor oil may also have some benefits when it comes to hair, though evidence is limited to scalp hair rather than eyelash hair. Castor oil is a popular home remedy used for conditioning and growing hair and there is some evidence that it may help reverse hair loss. Castor oil is generally safe, but coconut oil may be the better option when it comes to your eyelashes. Animal studies have shown that undiluted castor oil can cause severe skin irritation. In 2017, a case report published in the International Journal of Trichology found castor oil to be responsible for acute hair felting in a 20-year old woman.
You will need 1 teaspoon of cold-pressed castor oil and some cotton swabs. First, carefully clean your eyelashes with water and a gentle cleanser, then pat them dry. Dip the cotton swab in the cold-pressed castor oil and apply it on both your upper and lower lash lines. Make sure that you do not get the oil into your eyes.
This powerful antioxidant helps reduce the oxidative damage associated with hair loss, while tocotrienol compounds make it possible to gain more hair strands.
Read also: Does Coconut Oil Grow Eyelashes?
You can put vitamin E on your lashes topically, and it is even OK to take it orally as a supplement.
You will need 1 teaspoon of green tea leaves (or one teabag) and 1 cup of hot water. Soak the tea for five to 10 minutes. Strain the infusion and consume it while still hot. You may also cool the beverage and apply it directly to your lower and upper lash lines using a cotton swab.
Massaging is beneficial for improving circulation, and massaging your scalp regularly with or without oil can help promote hair length and thickness.
Peel one or two lemons, then collect some coconut or olive oil as well as a cotton swab. Place the lemon peels into a small jar and incorporate a few tablespoons of either coconut or olive oil. Use a spoon to press the lemon peels and blend in all the ingredients. Dip the cotton swab in the mixture and apply it along your upper and lower lash lines, avoiding your eyes. Leave it on for two hours before rinsing it off.
Place some petroleum jelly on a cotton swab and put it on your upper and lower eyelids without getting any in your eyes.
Shea butter is packed with vitamin C and has a high concentration of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory elements.
This common kitchen ingredient contains a phenolic compound called oleuropein.
Gather three to four drops of olive oil and one or two cotton swabs. Apply the oil to your upper and lower lashes with the cotton.
Biotin deficiency can lead to hair loss on the scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes. Taking biotin supplements may help improve this condition.
A combination of these remedies may help in managing your thinning eyelashes, but they are not proven solutions to your lack of lashes. Latisse is an FDA-approved prescription medication that helps to promote eyelash growth. Latisse should be applied once daily along the upper lash line for 16 weeks. After this period, you may notice longer and thicker eyelashes. Latisse is the only FDA-approved medication for eyelash growth, so it’s the most reliable option for achieving longer and thicker lashes. It’s also easy to use and can be applied in just a few minutes each day.
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