You can make a safe & effective DIY lash serum using only 100% natural ingredients with this recipe:

  1. Take a small clean bowl.
  2. Add 2 tablespoons of castor oil.
  3. Add 1 tablespoon of vitamin E oil.
  4. Add 1/2 teaspoon of rosemary extract.
  5. Add 1/2 teaspoon of red clover extract.
  6. Stir it all together.
  7. Pour into a clean mascara tube or small bottle with an applicator using a small funnel.

In this guide, I’ll go into the actual science behind each ingredient, where to source them, and walk you through the steps of the recipe.

I’ve also recorded a short video where I make this recipe if you prefer to watch 🙂

Ingredients

My favorite ingredients for making an eyelash growth serum at home that actually works are:

  • Castor Oil: This will be the base of your concoction. Castor oil is an all-natural and safe ingredient. This oil is a powerhouse of ricinoleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid that works wonders on your lashes. It is known for its ability to increase hair growth and thickness.1
  • Vitamin E Oil: Now this one’s a champion at fighting oxidative stress. And guess what? It boosts hair growth too! This vitamin is a must-have in any DIY eyelash serum. People with hair loss saw significant growth when they added Vitamin E to their routine.2
  • Rosemary Extract: This powerful plant extract is a secret ally for your lashes. Known for its stimulating properties, rosemary invigorates the lash base, encouraging growth and increasing lash density.3
  • Red Clover Extract: This is a recent addition to my formulation. Red clover extract is rich in biochanin A, a potent phytonutrient. Research shows they can reduce hair loss and even stimulate hair growth!4
  • Essential oils (optional): These could be added in very small quantities to our recipe but they pack a punch! There are many to consider but my favorites are lavender and rosemary for their healing and nourishing properties.5
How to make eyelash serum at home @Divinelashes.ca
DIY lash serum ingredients

Homemade Lash Serum Recipe

  1. Take a small clean bowl.
  2. Add 2 tablespoons of castor oil.
  3. Add 1 tablespoon of vitamin E oil.
  4. Add 1/2 teaspoon of rosemary extract.
  5. Add 1/2 teaspoon of red clover extract.
  6. Stir it all together.
  7. Pour into a clean mascara tube or small bottle with an applicator using a small funnel.

And voila! You’re done! Now let’s apply it to the lashes and see the transformation.

Fun Idea: If you buy a set of empty mascara tubes, why not make enough lash serum to create several tubes and offer them as gifts to your friends? You can customize each tube with stickers and surprise your friends with a fun, safe, homemade beauty product.

Pro tip: I prefer to not completely fill the mascara tubes so that there’s enough space for shaking and mixing.

Container & Applicator

Now that we know which ingredients we’ll use, it’s time to figure out the container and applicator.

I find that your best option here is simply a mascara tube with the wand that came with it.

So, where can I find an empty mascara tube?

You have two options here. You can either use an old mascara tube (after having thoroughly cleaned it) or you can simply buy an empty mascara applicator online. You can find sets of 4 mascara applicators for less than $20 on Amazon, and in my view, this is by far the best option.

But wait – why not just use the empty mascara tube?

Technically, you can. However, it’s much less hassle – and much more hygienic – to simply buy new ones. If you want to use an old mascara tube, you’ll need to clean and disinfect it thoroughly using a safe disinfectant, ensuring no mascara product remains either in the tube or on the applicator wand.

And don’t forget: growth serums need to be applied to clean, dry lashes to work properly. If you still have traces of mascara on your lash applicator, it’s going to disturb the lash serum’s process and potentially prevent it from working entirely.

How to Apply Your DIY Lash Serum

So, is applying a homemade lash serum different from using a manufactured one?

It can be!!

It all comes down to the applicator you’re using.

Store-bought serums typically come with an eyeliner-type applicator, perfect for applying along the upper lash line. But if you’re working with a mascara wand, things change.

With a mascara wand, the application is direct – you apply the serum directly to your lashes like you would any mascara.

This allows the formula direct contact with your lashes, so they can start working their magic right away!

Where to Buy Ingredients Used in This Recipe

I carefully selected ingredients and brands in this recipe since we are applying our serum to the sensitive eye area. While there may be cheaper options available, I prioritized quality and effectiveness.

Did you know? There’s a significant difference between an extract and an essential oil.

Essential oils are intensely concentrated plant elements obtained through distillation or cold pressing. They’re highly potent and typically need dilution.

On the other hand, extracts are created by soaking plants in alcohol or glycerin to extract desirable properties. They are less concentrated and gentler compared to essential oils.

If you’re making your own eyelash serum, extracts are the preferred choice. They’re gentle on sensitive eye areas, usually don’t require dilution, and blend well in solutions.

Now, for the container, I’ve used this one because it gives you the option to use an eyeliner tip or a mascara wand. It also comes with small funnels which I thought was very handy.

FAQ

Yes! So long as you’re using the safe, natural ingredients listed above, your product is 100% safe to use.

You should apply it once a day. If you have sensitive eyes, begin by applying it every two days.

2 months. Once you’ve made your serum, you should be able to use it for around 2 months. After that, you should create a new one.

You can store it alongside your usual beauty and skincare products. There’s no need to keep it chilled or in the fridge.

The Bottom Line

There’s nothing like the satisfaction of knowing exactly what goes into my beauty products since many commercial products contain active ingredients, like prostaglandins, known for their unwanted side effects.

However, if you don’t have time to make your own serum, I recommend a commercial option without synthetic or irritating ingredients. You can check out which ones I like here.

Please share your experience in the comments below!

– Asako 🙂

Related Readings on Divine Lashes:

– Best Lash Serums Compared in 2024 (Ranked & Reviewed)

– 4 Reasons Why Lash Serums Stop Working (And How to Fix It)

– Lash Serum Side Effects — The Dark Truth You Must Know

References

  1. Yamamoto, Y., Harada, K., Kasuga, S., & Hosokawa, M. (2019). Phospholipase A2-Mediated preparation of phosphatidylcholine containing ricinoleic acid and its anti-inflammatory effect on murine macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 519(4), 674–680. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2019.101141
  2. Beoy, L. A., Woei, W. J., & Hay, Y. K. (2010). Effects of tocotrienol supplementation on hair growth in human volunteers. Tropical Life Sciences Research, 21(2), 91–99. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3819075/
  3. Murata, K., Noguchi, K., Kondo, M., Onishi, M., Watanabe, N., Okamura, K., & Matsuda, H. (2013). Promotion of hair growth by Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract. Phytotherapy Research, 27(2), 212-217. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.4712
  4. Lueangarun, S., & Panchaprateep, R. (2020). An Herbal Extract Combination (Biochanin A, Acetyl tetrapeptide-3, and Ginseng Extracts) versus 3% Minoxidil Solution for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia: A 24-week, Prospective, Randomized, Triple-blind, Controlled Trial. Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 13(10), 32-37. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7840088/
  5. Hay, I. C., Jamieson, M., & Ormerod, A. D. (1998). Randomized trial of aromatherapy: Successful treatment for alopecia areata. Archives of Dermatology, 134(11), 1349-1352. https://doi.org/10.1001/archderm.134.11.1349

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10 Comments

    1. Yes it is! But it’s optional. I prefer to use extracts instead of essential oils for this recipe.

  1. Hi
    I made this but it’s solidified, I guess because the coconut oil was melted down then added.
    Any ideas? Also I failed to put it on top or the caster and put it in first, does it make a difference?
    Thanks
    Beth

    1. Hi Beth,

      Thank you for sharing your experience. I’ve updated my recipe and don’t use coconut oil now so that it stays in liquid form.

    1. Hi Barb,

      I’ve updated the article with the links to the specific products I’ve used and explained why I choose them.

    1. You can make it without red clover and still get results with the other ingredients. It’s only a recent addition to my recipe.

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