An improper lifestyle, a lack of vitamins in the daily diet, the abuse of decorative cosmetics often leads to fragility and loss of eyelashes. Manufacturers of cosmetics offer a wide selection of gels and serums for their growth and strengthening, but they cost a lot of money, and the effectiveness is not always confirmed in practice. Employees of our magazine learned that to solve the problem it is not necessary to buy expensive products, you can use folk recipes. We offer a choice of 5 home-proven methods of eyelash strengthening by our experts, as well as some tips for caring for eyelid skin.
Why eyelashes fall out
The length and thickness of the eyelashes are determined genetically and it is impossible by any means to make them fuller or longer (only with the help of mascara or extension). But, if the state of the data from the nature of the eyelashes has worsened, they suddenly began to fall out, became dimmer, less often, it is necessary to take measures.
We advise, first of all, to think about what could cause this:
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diet or unbalanced diet;
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neglecting the rules for removing makeup;
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low-quality cosmetics;
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stress;
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inflammatory diseases of the eyelids;
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hormonal disruptions in the body.
It is necessary to try to eliminate the factors causing eyelash loss. If necessary, seek medical help from specialists (dermatologist, ophthalmologist, endocrinologist or cosmetologist).
What not to do with dull and weak eyelashes
If eyelashes fall out, become brittle and dull, you need to try to strengthen the nutrition of the hair follicles, strengthen them. But what our experts strongly advise against doing:
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Sleep with unwashed mascara. At night, eyelashes need a break from cosmetics. In addition, in a dream, they can be broken if you bury your face in the pillow.
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Wear makeup continuously. The skin of the eyelids needs to rest at least one day a week.
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Use an alcohol-based eye makeup remover or soap. They dry the skin of the eyelids, negatively affect the hair follicle.
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Use waterproof mascara. Often it is removed along with the cilia.
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Rub your eyes vigorously when removing makeup. Press the cotton pad with the cleanser against the eyelids for 5 seconds, then gently pull down. All movements should be light and wet.
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Use a curling iron. This device spoils the structure of the hairs, can increase fragility and loss.
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It is not worth cutting, plucking or shaving the ends in the hope of accelerating growth and strengthening the eyelashes. Such procedures will not add volume to the hairs and will not affect growth in any way. But this can damage the hair follicle, lead to the fact that eyelashes will not grow at all or will grow crooked.
How to strengthen
When all measures to eliminate the factors that negatively affect the condition of the eyelashes have been taken, you should start feeding the hair follicles. Saturation with nutrients will strengthen and activate them, slowing down hair loss.
There are few ways to strengthen your eyelashes at home. Our experts suggest the 5 most effective ones.
Method 1. Vegetable oils
The most common and uncomplicated way to strengthen weak lashes is to use different oils:
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castor;
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almond;
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burdock;
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peach;
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sea buckthorn;
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camphor;
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wheat germ;
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olive;
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argan, etc.
They contain vitamins A and E, minerals, organic substances that nourish the hair follicles and improve cell regeneration.
It has been proven that the daily application of vegetable oils on the eyelashes for three weeks visibly strengthens them, making them more silky.
The oil can be bought at drug stores or beauty stores. A quality product is always sold in a glass bottle made of dark glass.
You can use a single oil or mix 2 or 3 types, enhancing the effect of each. You can alternate – apply a different oil to your eyelashes every day.
By the way, most of the store-bought cosmetics for the growth and strengthening of eyelashes are made on the basis of various oils. Their cost is ten times more expensive than the price of a 40 ml bottle of oil from a pharmacy.
You can apply oil with a cotton swab or cotton pad. But we recommend using a mascara brush (from an old, unnecessary or one that has already ended) for a more convenient and effective application. It needs to be well washed from the remnants of cosmetics.
Some supermarkets offer clean mascara tube brushes or disposable eyelash applicators.
Mode of application:
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remove makeup from the face in the evening (using a cleanser or washing);
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apply a thin layer of oil on the eyelashes with a brush, paying special attention to the roots (avoid contact with the eyes!);
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leave for 1-2 hours;
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remove residues with a cotton pad or napkin.
You can leave the oil for longer, even overnight. But, as practice shows, this often leads to swelling under the eyes in the morning. In addition, greasy marks will remain on the pillow, which will be difficult to remove later.
We warn you that any vegetable oil can cause allergic reactions. There are also cases of individual intolerance or the use of a low-quality product. Before applying the oil to your eyelashes, we advise you to test it first on the skin of your hands, then your face. Only after that (if there is no reaction) can you safely apply to the eye area.
Method 2. Herbal decoctions
Many herbs contain substances useful for strengthening hair follicles: vitamins, minerals, polyphenols. To improve the condition of the eyelashes, you need to pour 1 tsp. a glass of boiling water any of the plants:
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chamomile;
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calendula;
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cornflower;
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nettles;
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burdock;
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sage;
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succession.
You can also use freshly brewed black or green tea to strengthen your eyelashes. Due to the coloring properties of tannins, the eyelashes will not only get stronger, but also acquire a darker shade.
Cotton pads should be soaked with a decoction of herbs or tea and put on closed eyelids for 15-20 minutes. This procedure nourishes and strengthens the hair follicles of the eyelashes, soothes and tones the skin around the eyes, relieves swelling.
Method 3. Strengthening with masks
Nourishing masks for strengthening eyelashes at home have proven themselves well. We recommend mixing the ingredients in a beaker, then moisten two cotton pads generously in the mixture. They need to be placed on the closed eyelids of each eye for 15-20 minutes, then rinse off the remnants with warm water.
Our experts have selected the 3 most effective mask recipes:
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Mix 15 drops each of castor oil, rosehip oil, carrot juice and the contents of a tocopherol (vitamin E) capsule.
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Mix in equal proportions sea buckthorn oil, parsley juice and aloe.
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Mix Vaseline and burdock oil in a 3: 1 ratio, add a pinch of fine powder of edible tannin. Instead of tannin, you can use Vinilin (Shostakovsky's balm) in the same amount as the oil.
Along with strengthening the eyelashes, nourishing masks will restore firmness and elasticity to the skin around the eyes. Facial wrinkles will disappear, the look will become more expressive.
Method 4. Capsules Aevit
Any pharmacy sells Aevit capsules – a drug with immunomodulatory and antioxidant properties, which contains vitamins A and E. The price for a package with 20 capsules is 22-40 rubles.
With brittle and falling eyelashes, it is useful to drink a course of these vitamins (in accordance with the instructions) and apply externally.
For this you need:
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get one Aevit capsule from the blister;
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gently pierce its shell with a needle disinfected with alcohol;
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squeeze the contents of the capsule into a small container or directly onto a brush or cotton swab;
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apply an oily liquid to clean eyelashes (over the entire surface);
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after 2-3 hours, remove the rest of the product with a cotton pad.
Retinol (vitamin A) contained in the capsules improves metabolic processes at the cellular level, and tocopherol (vitamin E) contributes to the accumulation of nutrients in the hair follicles.
If you regularly apply the contents of the capsule to the eyelids, you can not only strengthen the eyelashes, but also get rid of fine wrinkles in the eye area.
You can enhance the effect of the drug Aevit by mixing it with any vegetable oil (almond, burdock, peach): the contents of 2 capsules and 10 ml of oil.
Method 5. Massage eyelids
To increase the effectiveness of any of the above means, you can massage the eyelids. Although the positive effect will be observed even without the use of oil or herbal compress. Massaging movements increase blood circulation in the eye area, promote better nutrition and cell regeneration.
Execution technique:
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with the tips of the ring fingers, it is easy to press on the outer corners of the eyes;
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slowly slide your fingers along the upper eyelid to the bridge of the nose, then back, repeating several times;
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with light pressing movements, draw along the lower eyelid to the left and right;
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finish the massage by patting the eyelids with the pads of the middle and index fingers.
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The procedure takes about 5 minutes. The first results can be seen already after 2-3 weeks: the eyelashes will get stronger, stop breaking, and the skin around the eyes will gain elasticity.
Our experts remind you that any product must be used regularly to achieve the desired result. There will be no effect from one or two procedures. Only a course application for 3-4 weeks will have a positive effect on the hair follicles of the eyelashes, strengthen them, make them more silky.
Means to improve the condition of eyelashes must be used in combination with health care: eat well, be outdoors more often, exercise and get enough sleep. Do not forget about the rules of skin care and eye makeup removal. This approach is guaranteed to give a quick result that will last for a long time.
