I’ve recently been using vaseline on my eyelashes to help them grow. I’ve read lots of myths about it working (and that it doesn’t) and decided to copycat my sister and start applying it regularly to find out for myself.
Two weeks in and the difference is actually unreal. Yes, I do believe vaseline has helped my eyelashes to grow and I’m gobsmacked. I have naturally long lashes anyway so I don’t know if that has anything to do with it. However, whether it is or not, I’m definitely going to be applying this continuously until something drastic tells me not to.
Good To Know: I don’t apply vaseline to my eyelashes every day/night. Just like your skin and nails, your eyelashes need to breathe and be left bare.
As I tend to wear a thin layer of mascara in the day, I apply the vaseline every 2 nights both to my lashes and brows. Though, I’ll discuss vaseline and brows later on.
As previously mentioned, yes Vaseline has helped my eyelashes to grow. I haven’t used anything else on them other than Vaseline and since they’ve grown dramatically, both longer and thicker. But why?
Why Does Vaseline Make My Lashes Look Longer?
When it comes to eyelashes, prostaglandin is what encourages the body to produce more eyelashes and lengthen the growth cycle. This is what results in longer lashes.
Important: Prostaglandins have side effects including darkening of the iris and surrounding area of the eye. An alternative is to use Essential Fatty Acids.
Vaseline does not contain this and so, it’s important to understand that it’s not the products within Vaseline that have helped my eyelashes to grow but instead it’s the moisturising effect which helps to prevent them from breaking off and falling out prematurely. These conditioning qualities will help prolong the cycle of each eyelash, resulting in thicker and longer lashes.
Essential Fatty Acids
Choosing products that include Essential Fatty Acids will help your eyelashes to grow longer and thicker. Products that contain these useful fatty acids are castor oil, lavender oil and cedarwood oil. You can buy these oils individually and apply them to your lashes the same way I do Vaseline – see below.
Useful Link: Here is a great DIY eyelash serum guide using the fatty acids mentioned above.
Can You Apply Vaseline to Eyebrows?
In short, yes you can apply Vaseline to your eyebrows. Will it help your eyebrows to grow fast and thick? No. Alike for eyelashes, it does not promote lash or brow growth. However, that’s not to say that it won’t be useful to apply. It’s highly moisturising and of course, nicely moisturised skin and hair will help them to look soft and shiny.
So, if you’re looking to improve the overall appearance of your eyebrows, it’s a great addition to a night time routine. I also apply a little bit using a cotton bud or washed and clean eyebrow brush to keep them in place and moisturised in the day. Though I do suggest keeping your hair scraped back when wearing it to stop your hair getting stuck in it – if you apply too much – and going greasy.
Tip: I’ve been doing some research on products that actually work when applied to your eyebrows and castor oil and coconut oil are recurring products.
I already use castor oil on the ends of my hair on a weekly basis, so from this day onwards, I’m going to test how it applies to my brows. An update will be coming in the next few weeks – fingers crossed!
How To Apply Vaseline To Your Lashes & Brows
WikiHow gives you a step by step for applying Vaseline to your lashes using a clean lash wand. However, for my lashes, I just coat a cotton bud in the stuff and layer this either side of my lashes on both the top and bottom.
I aim to fully coat them with even coverage without making them extremely clumpy or smothered in the product.
For my eyebrows, I then use a cotton pad and rub this into the Vaseline before wiping it over my eyebrows. If I’m planning on wearing it in the day as an eyebrow gel, I apply it using an old yet clean lash wand so I can get a precise application.
Summary
Just to quickly summarise, experts state that no, Vaseline does not help your lashes and brows to grow. I agree that it’s not helped my brows to grow although, it has moisturised them and works as a great alternative to eyebrow gel.
I disagree to an extent that Vaseline doesn’t help my eyelashes to grow because they are definitely longer and look thicker. Yet, I understand that’s not because of the substances within the product but instead because of its moisturising effects helping the lifespan of my lashes. This then keeps them on my eyelids for longer, meaning there are more present at a given time and hence, they’re then growing for longer.
Comment below if you’ve tried Vaseline before. Has it worked for you? How long did you use it for? Do you have any other great alternatives for lash or eyebrow serums?
What do you think?