#156: Is Lash Lengthening Mascara Safe for Dry Eyes?
These days, there are lots of beauty trends focused around eyelash length. It seems to be, the longer the length the more glamourous or more beautiful. As women, we may want to follow the fad. But when you suffer from dry eyes, is it safe to follow it?
What is the ideal eyelash length?
Eyelashes play and important role in protecting the eye. Length is important. Your natural length is designed to suit the level of the brow bone. They are intended to deflect wind, debris, and allergens. Lashes that are too long can be just as detrimental to your eyes as lashes that are too short.
The actual ideal lash length is one third of the width of your eye. This is the best length to ensure your eyes are properly protected.
How does the mascara lengthen the lashes?
There are 2 ways to achieve longer lashes with mascara:
#1) Lash growth serum:
Lash lengthening serums contain chemicals called Prostaglandins. This is the ingredient that causes the lashes to grow. Prostaglandins act by prolonging the growth phase of the hair follicle.
All hair has 3 stages of growth: anagen is the active phase where the cells are replicating quickly, catagen is the regressing phase, and telogen is the resting phase. When, the hair remains in the anagen phase longer the result is an increase in length.
This sounds great for many different types of hair. Women who wanted longer hair would be pouring it over their heads and getting that longer length they desired. However, lots of products have side effects. And the side effect of prostaglandins is inflammation.
On the eyes, the problem with a product that promotes inflammation painted on the thinnest skin of the body will result in redness and irritation. And, if you get the product into the eye, it will also make your eyes red. Overtime, this inflammation can cause permanent damage to the oil glands inside the lids.
#2) Fibers added to the mascara which attach to the lashes
Mascaras containing tiny fibers are added to the formula which cling to lashes for extra length. However, these tiny fibers can fall into eyes during the day and cause irritation.
Some of these mascaras contain extra waxes and oils. These build length and volume to lashes. However, the waxes can be difficult to remove. And, the oils can clog the delicate meibomian glands that line the margins of the lids.
Is there an Alternative?
There are 2 alternatives to using lash lengthening mascara:
#1) Use a CLEAN Mascara instead
Using a mascara without toxic ingredients will act to nourish your dried out lashes and prevent them from breaking. With continued use, your lashes will be more healthy, stronger, and perhaps even longer.
Last month, twenty/twenty Beauty launched their first clean mascara. The Clean Sweep mascara contains hyaluronic acid which binds moisture to the hair follicle.
#2) Use a CLEAN Lash Growth Serum
Get Growing Lash and Brow Serum from twenty/twenty Beauty is a safe way to nourish your hair follicles and help them to increase their length. Utilizing a blend of Castor, Argon, and Coconut oils to bathe the hair follicles in nourishing moisture is the best way to keep them healthy and strong.
CONCLUSION
Lash lengthening Mascara contains ingredients which can irritate dry eyes. Some lash lengthening mascara contains prostaglandins which keep the lashes in the growth phase longer to promote longer lashes. However, the side effects of prostaglandin containing mascara are redness and inflammation in and around the eyes. Over the long term, permanent damage can be done to the oil glands of the eyes as well as the skin of the eye lids.
Some lash lengthening mascaras contain waxes or fibers to cling to the lashes and promote longer length. These can flake off into the eyes during the day or clog up the oil glands of the eyelids.
The best way to get longer looking lashes is to nourish your eyelids and lashes using the Get Growing Lash and Brow serum. This serum contains a blend of argon, coconut, and castor oils to encourage the health of the lash follicles and allow them to grow longer without breaking off.
Keeping your eye makeup CLEAN is the best way to wear makeup when your eyes are dry. Find out how to make the switch to clean makeup by taking my CLEAN Makeup Manual Course. You'll be so glad you did when you are rocking the latest makeup trend at your next big event.
