So, you’ve been enjoying the results of your lash serum, and your lashes appear longer and more fluttery than ever. Then, without warning, suddenly your serum stops working. What’s going on?

In general, lash serums will always keep working: there’s no evidence to suggest that the effects of lash serum diminish over time. As your lashes fall out and regrow every 4-8 weeks, there’s no reason your lash serum should stop being effective. 

If your lash serum is no longer working, there’s probably a pretty simple reason why.

So, let’s find out what it is!

Why Your Lash Serum Isn’t Working (4 Reasons)

I’ve been there before. At first, I could notice a visible difference in my lashes. They seemed longer and healthier. But after a few weeks, it was like the lash serum just stopped working altogether.

What could possibly happen?

Let’s dive into the 4 main reasons why your lash serum can stop working.

#1 Inconsistent Application

When it comes to lash growth serums, consistency is key. You need to apply your lash serum at least once a day in order to see visible results. If you skip days or go weeks without re-applying your lash serum, you’re going to stop seeing results. 

Some lash serums actually require more than one application per day. You can take a look at my other blog article here to find out how often you should be applying your specific brand of lash serum. 

#2 You Have More Eyelashes in the Telogen Phase

At any given time, up to 50% of your lashes are in a resting phase and unable to grow. This can explain why you’re not seeing any lash growth, despite being consistent in your serum applications.

If you’re seeing mixed results from your lash serum (aka some lashes are longer than others) it simply means that the shorter lashes are no longer in the Anagen (growing) phase.

Confused? Let me elaborate. 

Your lashes have three stages of life:¹

• The Anagen phase – during this phase, around 35-45% of your lashes are in an active growth period. This phase typically lasts 4-10 weeks.
• The Catagen phase – during the Catagen phase, your lashes stop growing and the hair follicles will shrink.
• The Telogen phase – this is known as a ‘resting’ phase – in this phase, your lashes stop growing and will soon fall out and be replaced. 

As your lashes are often in different life stages, you might notice differing results from your lash serum, with some lashes longer than others.

This doesn’t mean that your serum is faulty or has stopped working – it just means that more of your lashes are currently resting than growing.

#3 You’re Using the Wrong Kind of Lash Serum

If you’ve noticed that your lash serum has stopped working or your results have stalled, it might be because you’re not actually using an eyelash growth serum.

There are different types of lash serums, and each of them offers different types of lash enhancement:

• Eyelash growth serums (with active ingredients)
• Lash conditioning serums
• Generic lash “nourishing” serums

So let’s imagine, you begin using a lash conditioning serum. With regular applications, you start seeing visible results. Your lashes are thicker, healthier, and more nourished – but they aren’t actually growing.

This is because the active ingredients in a lash conditioning serum aren’t going to stimulate lash growth, only prevent breakage. 

With the help of marketing, many companies can trick you into thinking that you’re getting a lash growth serum, rather than simply a nourishing or conditioning serum.

It’s super important to check the label before purchasing any lash serum, so you know exactly what results to expect. 

#4 The Lash Serum Is Expired

One of the simplest reasons your lash serum might have stopped working is because it’s past its expiry date. Yes, lash serums come with expiry dates!

So, how long can you keep using your lash serum once it’s been opened?

Typically, you can expect to get at least 6 months of use out of a lash serum. Once your serum has been open for longer than 6 months, you might find that your results are not as prominent as before.

What to Do if Your Lash Serum Stops Working

So, what can you do to get your lashes back to their full and fluttery best? 

If your lash serum stops working, I’ve listed a few steps I’d recommend taking. With a little persistence, you can get your results – and your lashes – back on the right track.

• Check the expiry date on your current lash serum. If it’s been over 6 months since you opened it, buy a new one.
• Apply your lash serum at the same time every day, preferably before bed. 
• Try a different brand. You might simply find that certain lash serums are more effective on your lashes than others. 
• Give your lashes a break. You might find that your lash serum has stopped working because the majority of your lashes are in the telogen phase, and therefore unable to grow. Take a pause for a couple of weeks before re-applying.

References

1. Sarah Aumond, Etty Bitton (2018). The eyelash follicle features and anomalies: A review. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6147748/ (Accessed on July 5th, 2022)