Slightly different from a hair growth spray that you spritz on your scalp to help your hair grow longer and stronger, growth serum is typically applied to eyelashes and eyebrows to help them grow thicker for longer lashes and bolder brows.
Overall, growth serum does seem to work. However, there are many different kinds of brow and lash serums out there, some with prescription-grade strength and others using gentle botanicals.
Here, we’re going through the basics of growth serum, how they work, whether or not they’re actually safe to use and a few top-rated growth serums you can try at home. Let’s get started!
What is growth serum?
Growth serum is usually used on brows and lashes to help them grow to be longer or fuller. Longer lashes give your face an instant, brightening lift and bushy brows are definitely “in” these days.
In some cases, hair growth spray and foams can be formulated with some kind of growth serum to help give you longer, more luscious hair but, again, in most cases, they’re used for eyelashes and eyebrows to help them grow.
How does growth serum work?
The way growth serum works depend on the ingredients used. Some are medically formulated to stimulate your hair follicles while others are made with natural botanicals to promote hair growth.
Some prescription-strength growth serums include ingredients like bimatoprost (Latisse) or prostaglandins (Rodan + Fields). While these more intense growth serum ingredients definitely show profound results, they do often come with risks. For example, in some cases, these powerful ingredients have turned light coloured eyes brown and brown eyes darker brown. Not a great sign…
On the other hand, vitamins and nutrients that make up other types of growth serum include amino acids to strengthen the building blocks of the protein found naturally in your hair, brows and lashes as well as collagen, zinc, biotin and other botanical ingredients like jojoba oil and various plant extracts.
Is growth serum safe?
In most cases yes, growth serum is safe. However, some are safer than others.
Similar to hair growth spray, the safest growth serums depend on their ingredients. In most cases, natural products are safer than prescription-strength lash and brow growth serum.
However, bimatoprost found in products like Latisse seems to be safer than prostaglandins found in Rodan + Fields’ popular Lash Boost product. In fact, Rodan + Fields was sued for failing to disclose potential side effects such as eye sensitivity, eye infections, eyelash hair loss, and, at worst, vision impairment.
Overall, if you’re worried about the safety of growth serums, first of all, speak to your healthcare professional. Then, you can start with natural hair serums, especially around your eyes.
Top Growth Serum Products
Hair Folli Natural Eyelash Growth Serum
To give your eyelashes a natural boost while nourishing them with fortifying Vitamin C, Hair Folli Natural Eyelash Growth Serum is an amazing option.
Formulated with powerful Vitamin C-rich Kakadu Plum, this safe, effective natural eyelash growth serum offers a noticeable difference in the length and thickness of your lashes in only four to eight weeks or your money back!
Safe if you wear contact lenses, fragrance-free, paraben-free and hormone-free, vegan and cruelty-free, as well as non-toxic and free from harmful chemicals, Hair Folli Natural Eyelash Growth Serum is the go-to choice for a natural, effective lash growth serum that’ll have you saying goodbye to your mascara and falsies once and for all.
Latisse
Latisse is a prescription-strength lash boosting serum that’s formulated with bimatoprost to stimulate the growth of your hair follicle.
However, while Latisse has certainly offered undeniable results, there are side effects as are with any type of medication and Latisse has, in some cases, caused eye colour to change and other adverse effects. So, be sure to speak with your healthcare professional before use.
Grande Cosmetics GrandeBROW
Formulated with antioxidants, vitamins and amino acids, Grande Cosmetics GrandeBROW is another popular growth serum made specifically for created thick, fuller-looking, bold brows in as little as four months.
Cruelty-free with countless positive reviews, it’s no wonder that Grande Cosmetics GrandeBROW is a fave among beauty writers and customers alike. It’s made with hyaluronic acid, known for its hydrating effects and Vitamin E to fortify your brows. You’ll have brows like Lily Collins in no time.
(RELATED: Top 8 Hair Growth Products in 2021)