Lashes Wilt As You Get Older, But Here Are 5 Ways To Help Them Stay Lifted

Wilting lashes isn't only an aesthetic gripe: It also goes hand-in-hand with dryness and breakage. To save your flutters from their impending droop, here are five ways to help keep them young and spry: 

Many reach for fatty-acid-rich castor oil, due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. "It's super hydrating, so lashes don't become brittle and dry or break, which happens as we age," notes board-certified dermatologist Ava Shamban, M.D., founder of SKINFIVE. (While broken lashes do typically grow back, assuming there's no scarring of the follicles, moisturizing them can effectively keep them full and lifted.)  

Apply a moisturizing oil to your eyelashes, and there you have it—an effective lash treatment. But for those looking for a market product, there are tons of serums available for your flutters. Some options promise length and strength (by actually extending the growth phase of hair), while others simply coat the tiny hairs with moisture. The former tends to come in synthetic, FDA-approved options, but you can find the latter in a number of natural formulas: Look for serums with aloe, vitamin E, glycerin, and fatty-acid-rich oils to encourage a doll-like lift. 

If you're looking to go internal, consider a collagen or biotin supplement. That's because your eyelashes are structurally made of the same proteins as the hair on your head—namely, keratin1. In other words, lash hairs are hairs—tiny, fine hairs but hairs all the same. 

And for your body to build that keratin, it needs several types of amino acids, many of which are part of collagen peptides2. The theory is that if you ingest these amino acids, they can help support your natural levels of these essential ingredients.* Biotin is also involved in keratin production, and it's believed to naturally promote healthy hair growth.* In fact, one small study showed that women with thinning hair had significant regrowth when supplementing with biotin as compared to those given a placebo.* Another double-blind, placebo-controlled study showed that taking both biotin and collagen supplements supported increased hair growth3 in women.* 

At the very least, you might want to invest in a silk or satin pillowcase—these don't cause as much friction as you toss and turn, so they're much gentler on your delicate lash hairs.   

This targets more of the aesthetics, but if you need an immediate oomph, a little mascara now and then doesn't hurt. Just make sure you're doing it right: Sheena Yaitanes, the founder of Kosas, recommends swiping on an extra coat of mascara after your lashes are almost (note: not completely) dry. That finishing touch helps your lashes look full and fluffy, and it also keeps them from drooping throughout the day. Because nothing is more aggravating than smudged, raccoon-like mascara midday. 

Lashes lose their curl as you get older, but there are ways to slow down the process before those hairs completely flatten out. The overarching theme is to follow standard lessons of lash care: Coat them in hydrating ingredients, avoid physical stress, and support fullness at the internal level—you know, all good things.*