Long, glossy lashes and brows are a beauty mainstay, but the way we achieve them has evolved. In place of 20 coats of mascara and several sticky layers of brow gel, growth serums have become the go-to – and now, they’re more sophisticated and credible than ever.
When it comes to lashes, modern formulas focus on strengthening at the root by using peptides, proteins and conditioning ingredients such as vitamin E, hyaluronic acid and castor oil to support healthier growth over time. The results on offer are desirable, to say the least, so I put the industry’s most popular formulas to the test to see if they could deliver on their claims.
Because lashes grow in cycles, results are gradual rather than instant. As such, I tracked changes in length, thickness and condition over several months. These are the ones that genuinely impressed me, from RevitaLash, L’Oréal and more.
Read more: 15 best mascaras for length and volume, tested by a beauty writer
The best eyelash serums for 2026 are:
- Best overall – RevitaLash advanced: £99, Revitalash.co.uk
- Best budget buy – L’Oreal Paris clinically proven lash serum: £14.99, Boots.com
- Best hypoallergenic serum – No7 lash impact serum: £14.36, Boots.com
- Best for sparse lashes – UKlash eyelash conditioning serum: £38, Boots.com
How I tested
I tested a number of eyelash serums over many months. Above all, I was looking for glossier, healthier lashes, with added length as a bonus. I applied each serum to clean lashes to ensure there was no interference. In the interest of fairness, I tested each formula as instructed by the brand (e.g. RapidLash claims to work within eight weeks, so I used it as such). After several weeks, I assessed differences in length, volume (strand thickness and number of lashes), as well as curl and overall lash health, seeing if any lashes fell out as a result of these serums. Further down this guide, you’ll find a more in-depth run down of my testing criteria.
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RevitaLash advanced eyelash conditioner
Best: eyelash serum overall
Key ingredients: Peptides, moisturising agents and nourishing botanicals
Application process: Apply one swipe of serum across a dry lash line at night
Results after use: Conditioned, thicker and longer lashes
Cruelty-free and vegan: Yes, both
Why we love it
- Easy to apply
- Lashes look noticeably thicker
A firm favourite in the beauty industry and one of the OG lash serums, this is the one to beat. It sounds counterintuitive, but RevitaLash works by slowing down the growth cycle, so lashes stay at fuller length for longer. With one swipe of the formula across a dry lash line at night, the brand says you can potentially see a difference in a couple of weeks.
The serum was created by Dr Brinkenhoff, an ophthalmologist, who was looking to help his wife regain her lash confidence after cancer. It contains ingredients like peptides (the building blocks of proteins), moisturising agents (such as glycerine) and nourishing botanicals. I found it applied easily, and that – as its rave reviews suggest – my lashes looked noticeably more conditioned, thicker and longer after roughly six weeks. However, it’s nearly ten times more expensive than my budget pick.
Read our full review of RevitaLash advanced eyelash conditioner
Buy now £99, Revitalash.co.uk
L'Oreal Paris clinically proven lash serum
Best: budget eyelash serum
Key ingredients: Castor oil, vitamin B5 and hyaluronic acid
Application process: Brush onto lash line and allow to dry before applying mascara
Results after use: Conditioned and slightly longer lashes
Cruelty-free and vegan: Not vegan and doesn't test on animals but sells in China, which requires animal testing
Why we love it
- Easy to apply
- Results within three weeks
Take note
- No dramatic change
Aiming to strengthen and nourish, this impressive formula uses castor oil, boosting vitamin B5 and moisturising hyaluronic acid. You can even brush it on as a base coat before you apply mascara, as it acts like a moisturising mask for the lashes.
The brush made it easy to apply and, after three weeks, I noticed lashes looked more conditioned, and a little longer – although, it wasn’t a dramatic change. This could be a great option for anyone looking to up the condition of their lashes post extensions.
Buy now £14.99, Boots.com
Vichy LiftActiv anti-aging serum 10 eyes and lashes
Best: eyelash serum for multi-tasking
Key ingredients: Rhamnose, ceramides and instant light reflectors
Application process: Apply serum over the entire eye area and lashes
Results after use: Healthier-looking lashes and brighter eye area
Cruelty-free and vegan: No
Why we love it
- Targets anti-ageing
- Contains anti-inflammatory ingredients
- Brightens under-eye area
Take note
- Didn’t give dramatic results
More of a multitasker, this eye serum-meets-lash-booster aims to target signs of ageing around the entire eye area. It’s a much less fiddly application than the paint-on lash serums, so a great option for anyone looking for a multi-purpose, fast option.
It contains rhamnose (an anti-inflammatory ingredient), ceramides (which help to prevent moisture loss) and instant light reflectors. While this one didn’t give us the dramatic results that some of the others did, it improved the condition of my lashes, leaving them looking healthier, and my eye area definitely looked brighter after a month of usage.
Buy now £29.95, Sephora.co.uk
UKlash eyelash conditioning serum
Best: eyelash serum for sparse lashes
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, peptides and biotin
Application process: Apply one stroke of serum at the root of your upper lashes before bed
Results after use: Visibly longer and stronger lashes
Cruelty-free and vegan: Yes, both
Why we love it
- Similar ingredients to pricier products
- Visible difference within eight weeks
Take note
- Some redness at first
Using hyaluronic acid, peptides and biotin, this serum is ideal for anyone with sparse lashes looking to beef them up a tad. Its recommended usage period is eight to 12 weeks, but it does contain similar ingredients to some pricier serums, which is great.
I did have a little redness from this one, which went away after I skipped a night, but there was a visible difference to my lashes after eight weeks, in both length and condition.
Buy now £38, Boots.com
Indeed Labs peptalash
Best: eyelash serum for fast results
Key ingredients: Plant stem cells from a rare Swiss apple and a blend of two peptides
Application process: Apply twice a day to lash line
Results after use: Conditioned and healthier-looking lashes
Cruelty-free and vegan: Yes, both
Why we love it
- Improves health of lashes
Take note
- Pen a little hard to use
Using a pen applicator, this well-priced option says it can lengthen, thicken and darken lashes, promising more volume in a very short 15 days. It uses plant stem cells from a rare Swiss apple, plus a blend of two peptides, which aims to create less breakage, as well as help soothe the skin around the eyes.
This one needed to be used twice a day, and, although the pen was a little tricky to use, the results showed better-conditioned, healthier lashes in just a fortnight.
Buy now £21.03, Amazon.co.uk
Lancôme cils booster activating serum
Best: eyelash serum for dry lashes
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, an amino acid concentrate and cica (a reparative plant extract)
Application process: Apply the serum along the eyelash line, from root to tip, twice daily
Results after use: Conditioned, slightly longer lashes
Cruelty-free and vegan: No
Why we love it
- Nourishing
- Good for dry lashes
Definitely the chicest looking of the bunch, this luxury serum is infused with hyaluronic acid, a four amino acid concentrate and cica (a reparative plant extract) to help nourish lashes. After a month of usage, I saw a big improvement in the condition of my lashes, and there was a little growth, too.
The formula was thicker and heavier than the others, making it ideal for bedtime use – it felt vaguely like a hair mask. It could be one for anyone with very dry lashes, as a brilliant conditioning treatment.
Buy now £40, Boots.com
Luna Nectar the moon boost tonic for lashes and brows
Best: eyelash serum for vegans
Key ingredients: Vitamin E, argan oil and aloe
Application process: Swipe serum along upper and lower lash line and onto the roots of brow hairs before bed
Results after use: Glossier, healthier and thicker lashes
Cruelty-free and vegan: Yes, both
Why we love it
- Nourishing formula
- Lashes look visibly healthier
- Vegan and fragrance-free
This cult US brand uses antioxidants and plant-nutrient formulas promising to nourish lashes and brows in just under three weeks, by prolonging the growth phase of the hair follicles.
With the formula including ingredients such as nourishing vitamin E and argan oil and soothing aloe, I did indeed see that my lashes looked visibly glossier, healthier, and they appeared thicker. I also liked that it’s vegan and fragrance-free – a great choice for anyone looking to recondition their parched lashes.
Buy now £61, Lunanectar.com
Elizabeth Arden prevage clinical lash and brow enhancing serum
Best: eyelash serum for false-lash wearers
Key ingredients: Vitamins A, C and E, peptides and conditioners
Application process: Apply every night to skin along lash line
Results after use: Longer and stronger lashes
Cruelty-free and vegan: No
Why we love it
- Good for parched and damaged lashes
Creeping into the pricier end of the market, this brow and lash serum uses a combination of vitamins A, C and E, peptides and conditioners to support the natural lash cycle, for glossier and less dry-looking lengths. While the brand says it’s not intended to prevent hair loss or promote growth, it does claim you can see an improvement in condition in as little as two weeks.
I think it’s best suited for anyone with very parched, damaged lashes looking to recondition them. After a month of painting it on, I noticed that my lashes looked longer and felt more robust. It’s a great choice for anyone who often wears false lashes.
Buy now £101, Boots.com
RapidLash eyelash enhancing serum
Best: mid-range eyelash serum
Key ingredients: Polypeptides and biotin
Application process: Paint serum along your lash line once a day
Results after use: Slight improvement in length and condition of lashes
Cruelty-free and vegan: Cruelty-free but not vegan
Why we love it
- Easy application
Take note
- Results not as quickly noticeable
A relatively affordable option, RapidLash aims to strengthen your lashes (using a blend of polypeptides) and stimulate growth by using the vitamin biotin. It’s clinically proven to help boost the look of lashes, with an everyday application that’s pretty similar to RevitaLash (£99, Lookfantastic.com), in that you simply paint it along your lash line once a day.
The brand says you can expect to see results in as little as eight weeks. While I saw that there was a definite improvement in length and condition in this time, the results didn’t feel quite as dramatic as RevitaLash, though they were still noticeable.
Buy now £26.89, Amazon.co.uk
No7 lash impact serum
Best: hypoallergenic eyelash serum
Key ingredients: Keratin and conditioning agents
Application process: Apply serum across the lash line at night
Results after use: Subtle improvement in lash condition
Cruelty-free and vegan: Cruelty-free but not vegan
Why we love it
- Hypoallergenic
- Good entry-level serum
Take note
- Brush applicator isn’t the easiest to use
One of the less expensive options, this serum – applied at the lashes – is designed to give thicker and darker lashes and brows in eight weeks. It’s hypoallergenic, which is a big USP, and although the brush applicator isn’t the easiest to use, this is a great entry-level option to the world of lash serums.
With the formula including ingredients such as protein-rich keratin and plenty of conditioning agents, I noticed a gentle difference during the eight-week testing period, but it wasn’t quite as dramatic as some of the other options.
Buy now £17.95, Boots.com
Your questions about eyelash serums answered
What is the best eyelash serum?
RevitaLash’s formula was definitely the one that made the most dramatic impact on the length of my lashes. I also liked Luna Nectar’s conditioning, more-holistic approach to boosting lashes. For more purse-friendly options, the L'Oreal Paris clinically proven lash serum and No7 lash impact serum helped to condition mt lashes, albeit the overall results weren’t as dramatic, compared with those of pricier products in this list.
How I tested eyelash serums
I tested each serum in line with its recommended use period, incorporating them into my nightly routine and tracking changes in length, thickness and overall lash health. To get a clearer picture of performance, I assessed them in the following ways:
Do eyelash growth serums really work?
In short, yes. However, the effectiveness of eyelash serums is dependent on continuous usage. It’s not a one-time treatment or overnight quick fix, as our lashes have a 90-day cycle, so it’s a good idea to use the serums regularly over the course of three months, to get the best results.
Most have formulas enriched with ingredients such as peptides and proteins, which promote growth, combined with vitamin E, castor oil and hyaluronic acid, which condition dry lashes.
To track your progress, take before and after pictures, so you can compare changes in length. Of course, everyone’s hair growth speed is different, so, some may notice results quicker than others.
Do eyelash serums cause irritation?
Our eyes and the skin surrounding them are the most sensitive part of our face, so, there is a risk of irritation when applying products to the area. However, many lash serum formulas are now made to be hypoallergenic, which means they are unlikely to cause a reaction.
Lash serums typically have brush or pen applicators that are designed to make using the product easier and safer to apply at your lash line. If you have eye issues such as conjunctivitis, it’s advised to steer clear of putting anything near your eyes that could worsen an infection.
If you notice any redness, itchy sensation, increased dryness or any other irritation, stop using the serum immediately and consult your doctor.
What happens if you stop using eyelash serum?
Lash serums work with regular use over the course of three months, though some do promise faster, noticeable results in as little as eight weeks.
If you run out, or forget to keep up with applying a serum consistently, your lashes will simply stop growing and return to their usual length.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Anita Bhagwandas is an award-winning beauty director and editor with more than 15 years’ experience reviewing and writing about skincare and make-up. She’s covered everything from false lashes to mascaras and, when it comes to the brand specialising in eye make-up and lash care, she knows which ones are worth your time and money. After months of testing the industry’s most discussed lash serums, you can certainly trust her top picks.
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