Want to know how to grow thicker eyebrows (and lashes) using the most natural ingredients possible? We made ourselves the guinea pigs for natural eyelash growth serums, so you don’t have to. Keep reading for the top four best eyelash and eyebrow growth serums for 2023.
By: Lisa Fennessy
IN THIS POST:
- The case for natural lash and brow serums
- Eyebrow growth serums ingredients
- 4 natural eyebrow growth serums to try
- FAQ
- References
RELATED: Makeup tips for gray eyebrows
The case for natural lash and brow serums
Okay so when I try a lash and brow serum and see noticeable growth in 30 days, I consider it my duty to share it with you! Let me first start by saying, I’ve tried several lash/brow growth serums in the past but most of them sting my eyes so I haven’t been able to test them long enough to see results.
I kinda suspect I’m experiencing irritation from castor oil which can be irritating to some people but not irritating to others (1).
Because of this, I kinda gave up on natural eyebrow growth serums—until I discovered our budget pick, below. And, our content manager Nicolle Mackinnon, has two other top picks to share. She tried and tested these for longer than 30 days each, and saw noticeable results—fuller brows, longer lashes, less breakage.
So via Nicolle’s and my combined experience, these are our top picks for brow and lash growth serums. Each formula stands out for a different reason.
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Eyebrow growth serums ingredients
When it comes to your eyes, you don’t want to mess around. Lots of ingredients that are safe for use on other parts of your body but get a bad rap when it comes to applying near your eyes. Not only are your eyes more sensitive, but irritation and inflammation in and around your eyes can be more uncomfortable. If you’ve ever had a stye, you know!
That’s why we’ve sought out eyebrow and eyelash growth serums that are formulated with more natural ingredients. Of course, this can mean different things to different people but for us, it means we’re skipping the prescription formulas that have a growth ingredient called bimatoprost. This has been shown to have side effects like iris darkening and eyelid hyperpigmentation; inflammation and infection; herpes simplex keratitis; and HSV dermatitis (1).
Many brow and lash growth formulas also often contain a preservative called benzalkonium chloride, which may have a cytotoxic effect on human cornea in some patients (2). So we are skipping formulas with that ingredient too.
If you’ve had eye irritation or infection with a prescription option, these ingredients could be the reason why.
So, if you are looking for something more natural, you’re in luck—we found other options, with organic ingredients that work JUST AS WELL (or better, since you are less likely to have eye irritation #winwin).
Some of the natural ingredients you will see included in our top pics are hair-growth enhancing green tea (3), antioxidants like vitamin E and scalp-conditioning agents like castor and argan oil.
RELATED: The best eyebrow makeup for gray eyebrows.
Without further delay, these are our top picks for the best eyebrow growth serums.
4 natural eyebrow growth serums to try
Easiest to apply eyebrow growth serum: Plume Lash & Brow Enhancing Serum | $95
If you’ve been on the hunt for how to grow thicker eyebrows, Plume Lash & Brow Enhancing Serum is probably the one you’ve heard about the most. It’s more widely available at green beauty retailers than our other picks, and it has overwhelmingly positive reviews.
We tried it and were immediately impressed. Nicolle has a thyroid autoimmune disorder that can cause hair (lashes included) to fall out. Because of this she was able to test Plume Lash & Brow Serum on a hole in her lash line. Within 10 days, new growth was visible where nothing had grown in three months on its own. And within a month, the hole in her lash line was gone.
Plume’s texture is also really easy to use and apply. The applicator is the most effective one out of our top three picks and there was no blurred vision or irritation if the formula got into Nicolle’s eyes (coming from the most sensitive one on our team, that’s saying something).
But, Plume irritated Lisa’s eyes. So if you historically have eye irritation issues or issues with castor, this might not be the one for you.
Pros of Plume Lash & Brow Growth Serum:
- WORKS! And incredibly fast—we saw results in 10 days, and the hole in Nicolle’s lashes was gone within 30 days.
- Super easy to apply—no mess, no fuss, can wear it during the day or night.
- Cruelty free + safer ingredients.
- Works on brows AND lashes.
- Can be used during pregnancy (according to their website).
- Natural ingredients.
- Tons of positive reviews.
Cons of Plume Lash & Brow Growth Serum:
- Plastic packaging.
- May cause irritation for some people.
- Price.
Best budget eyebrow growth serum: Papillon Organic Eyelash Growth Serum | $55
When we saw Papillon’s ingredient list (comprised of 95% certified organic ingredients), we knew we had to give it a try. Check it out:
- Organic castor oil
- Organic argan oil
- Organic camellia japonica seed oil
- Organic camellia sinensis seed oil
- Matcha and camellia japonica flower and seed extracts
- Vitamin E (non-GMO, sunflower derived)
Castor, argan and camellia oils offer omega-3 & -6 fatty acids, which help moisturize dry lashes and reduce breakage. These are paired with camellia sinensis seed oil derived from matcha, which studies show strengthen and encourage hair growth (2). And vitamin E promotes blood flow and encourages healthy growth.
Papillion Organic Eyelash Growth Serum 30 day before and after….
I tested Papillon Organic Eyelash Growth Serum on my brows for 30 days and this is what I saw:
HELLO signs of thicker, fuller brows. Not only that, you can see some new growth coming in, some of the gaps in my brows are smaller and my brows look overall fuller.
Pros of Papillon Lash & Growth Serum:
- 95% certified organic ingredients.
- Bottled in the USA.
- Cruelty free & vegan.
- Packaged in glass.
- Showed noticeable eyebrow growth in 30 days.
- Can be used on lashes AND brows.
- More affordable.
Cons of the Papillon Lash & Growth Serum:
- Viscous texture, which some people might find “too much.”
- Can be hard to apply with the included eye dropper.
- Not as easy to apply in the morning if you want to wear makeup.
Code NEWKNEW will save you 15% on Papillon here!
And it’s not just us who love it. Take a look at this text exchange with one of Nicolle’s friends:
RELATED: My current anti-aging organic skincare routine—it’s easy to replicate!
Best vegan eyebrow growth serum: Luna Nectar Moon Boost | $76
Another lash and brow serum that’s been around for a few years, Luna Nectar Moon Boost is 100% organic and vegan, a feat for any formula. Nicolle loved this formula too—she noticed thicker lashes in two and half weeks, and her lashes kept growing even after she finished the serum bottle (which lasted longer than Plume’s tube).
It’s easy to apply, slightly thicker than Plume, but less viscous than Papillon. Nicolle didn’t notice any eye irritation or blurred vision, and it wasn’t sticky or messy.
Pros of Luna Nectar Moon Boost:
- Fragrance-free.
- 100% organic & vegan ingredients.
- Really easy to apply.
- pH balanced.
- Works within two weeks and lashes KEEP growing, even after we stopped using it.
- Housed in fair trade bamboo tubes with recycled paper box outers.
- Lasts slightly longer than Plume’s tube—Luna Nectar’s tube is estimated to last 3 months.
- Can be used on lash extensions, lashes and brows.
Cons of Luna Nectar Moon Boost:
- Price—this is the Mama Bear (cheaper than Plume but more expensive than Papillon).
- May cause irritation for some people.
Most luxe: Maya Chia: POWER FOL Multi-Correctional Eyelash & Eyebrow Growth Serum | $110
I’m going to say this is a full-speed-ahead purchase for me. If you’re struggling with thin or holey lashes or brows, or are in the hi-my-name-is-Lisa-and-I-suffer-from-90s-overplucking boat, this is the most effective lash/brow growth serum I’ve used. Here’s the proof.
I see darker, thicker, more defined brow hairs thanks to the conditioning agents in this formula.
And I think my hair is growing faster. I have several wicked long rogues that I want to trim so badly but I’m leaving them for the sake of this experiment.
Also note how the hole in my brow right where the arch starts is filling in. Again, AFTER JUST 20 DAYS.
Pros of Maya Chia: POWER FOL Multi-Correctional Eyelash & Eyebrow Growth Serum
- A gel-based serum that…
- Dries down all the way
- You can layer makeup over
- You can apply both day and night for faster results
- A dedicated lash brush and a dedicated brow brush—we haven’t seen this in other formulas, and we love it
- Very mild, barely there smell
- Adds instant volume
- Doubles as a brow and lash primer
- Uses clean, science-forward ingredients
- Effective—I saw results and new growth within 20 days!
- Has a shelf life of about 18 months, according to Susanne—that’s so much better than the 12-month shelf life of many mascaras
Cons of Maya Chia: POWER FOL Multi-Correctional Eyelash & Eyebrow Growth Serum
- Price: This is a little more of an investment than other brow products we’ve reviewed, BUT we’ve seen more results, so it’s a little bit of six of one, half dozen of the other if you need brow or lash growth support.
Which brow and/or lash growth serums have you tried?
TNK Team Note: This article contains affiliate links. TNK uses affiliate links as a source for revenue to fund operations of the business and to be less dependent on branded content. TNK stands behind all product recommendations. Still have questions about these links or our process? Feel free to email us.
FAQ
Yes, it took less than 30 days to see new growth using these natural growth serums. Learn more here.
Natural eyebrow grow serums can help to grow your eyebrows. Learn more here.
It took less than 30 days to see new growth using these natural growth serums. Learn more here.
References
1. Final report on the safety assessment of Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glyceryl Ricinoleate, Glyceryl Ricinoleate SE, Ricinoleic Acid, Potassium Ricinoleate, Sodium Ricinoleate, Zinc Ricinoleate, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Ethyl Ricinoleate, Glycol Ricinoleate, Isopropyl Ricinoleate, Methyl Ricinoleate, and Octyldodecyl Ricinoleate. Int J Toxicol. 2007;26 Suppl 3:31-77. doi: 10.1080/10915810701663150. PMID: 18080873.
2. Law, K Simon; Bimatoprost in the treatment of eyelash hypotrichosis; Clinical Ophthalmology, April 26th, 2010.
3. Kwon, O S; Han, J H; Yoo, H G; Chung, J H; Cho, K H; Eun, H C; Kim, K H; National Library of Medicine, Phytomedicine, August 14th, 2007; Human hair growth enhancement in vitro by green tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG).
M.
May 21, 2021Do you have an opinion on the Fitglow brow & lash serum?
Lisa
May 25, 2021Hi! We haven’t finished testing it yet but so glad you asked! xo, Lisa
Cathleen
August 21, 2023Hi, do you know if any of these products have been tested to help prevent or minimize chemo brow/lash loss? Thanks.
Lisa Fennessy
August 22, 2023Hi Cathleen! I don’t know if any of these have specifically been tested for that. If you find out, please report back! I know this information will be helpful to others as well.