Can vaseline makes your eyelashes grow longer? It’s a question I get a lot. It’s not hard to see why. Vaseline is super moisturising. Highly versatile. And dirt cheap. It was only a matter of time before women slathered it onto their lashes in an attempt to make them grow longer. It seems to work, too. Those who tried it swear their lashes have never looked this long and thick. Are they onto something? Mmm… before we all go slathering our eyelashes in vaseline, let’s take a look at what the science says here:
What Is Vaseline?
A staple in American homes Ince 1859, Vaseline is made of 100% purified white petrolatum. A lot of people are scared of it because of its origin, but vaseline is NOT petroleum. It’s derived from it, but it undergoes a strict purification process to remove all impurities from it. Forget what the natural brigade is telling you, there’s simply no proof it’s bad for your skin. Vaseline is a brand name, but there are other brands you can buy. Just know that some of them may contain added ingredients, like water or fragrance.
Does Vaseline Help Grow Eyelashes?
Wouldn’t it be great if something as simple as vaseline could make your eyelashes grew longer and thicker? Sadly, it can’t. I scoured the scientific literature for days, but could find no proof that vaseline makes eyelashes grow longer.
I guess it makes sense. If vaseline really worked, eyelash growth serums like Latisse would have been invented much sooner. Instead, we had to wait for the discovery of bimatoprost, a molecule that helps prolong the hair growth circle.
Thanks to bitamoprost, lashes don’t fall out as quickly as they naturally would, so they have the time to grow longer and thicker. Vaseline doesn’t contain anything like that, so it can’t work as well. Bummer!
Related: 22 Surprising Beauty Uses For Vaseline
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Why Do People Think Vaseline Helps Your Lashes Grow Thicker And Stronger?
“Wait a minute, Gio,” I hear you say. “So what if you couldn’t find any scientific proof it works? The proof is in the eyelashes. If so many people swear vaseline works – and they’re seeing results – it must be true.”
Not so fast. Just because something looks longer and thicker, it doesn’t mean it is. Let me explain. Here’s what we know for sure: vaseline is a wonderful moisturiser. It coats the eyelashes, creating a protective barrier that keeps moisture in.
When lashes are well moisturised, they don’t break as easily. So, they get to grow that little bit longer. But, they only grow as long as they naturally would if they didn’t fall off prematurely. You need something with bimatoprost to make them grow even longer than that. Plus, the extra layer of Vaseline coating your lashes makes them look a little thicker, too.
So, there it is, the secret: moisture. That’s what makes your lashes appear longer when you use vaseline.
Vaseline Benefits For Eyelashes
So vaseline doesn’t help your lashes grow thicker and longer. But that doesn’t mean it’s useless. Here’s what vaseline does for your budget:
- Enhances appearance: Vaseline may not make your eyelashes thicker and longer, but it does give them a fuller and thicker appearance. It’s an optical illusion, but one that makes your eyelashes look amazing.
- Moisturising: Vaseline is an occlusive emollient, a fancy way of saying it creates a barrier on the surface of your skin (or eyelashes, in this case) that locks moisture in, keeping it hydrated. It does the same thing for eyelashes.
- Prevents breakage: By moisturising your eyelashes, vaseline also helps prevent them from breaking off.
- Sensitive skin-friendly: Vaseline is highly purified + it’s just ONE ingredient (as opposed to natural that can contain hundreds of compounds). This means the chance of irritations are much, much lower. Allergies to vaseline are very, very rare.
- Affordable: Ok, this may not strictly be a benefit for your eyelashes, but it is one for your wallet. Compare to most eyelashes treatments, vaseline is super affordable. Plus, a little goes a looooooooong way.
How To Use It
Want to apply Vaseline to your eyelashes and get that thicker look? Here’s how to do it the right way:
- Wash your hands thoroughly, so that no dirt or bacteria can end up in your eyes. Your eyelashes need to be clean and makeup-free too.
- Put a small drop of Vaseline on a cotton swab. Remember, a little goes a long way.
- Apply it along the upper lash line and the lower lash line too.
- With the other end of the cotton swab, apply vaseline over your eye by blinking a couple of times, holding your lashes against the cotton swab.
- Use a spoolie or a clean mascara wand to brush through the lashes and separate them.
WARNING! Vaseline is thick and can easily get into your eyes and blur your vision. If that happens, don’t panic! Just use some eye drops to clear it away.
Cons Of Using Vaseline On Your Eyelashes
You now know vaseline can’t make your eyelashes grow thicker and longer. But that’s not the only drawback. Here’s what you need to be aware of:
- Thick consistency: Vaselien is thick and sticky. It’s not bad for your eyelashes, but it’s not pleasant to use.
- Blurred vision: If it gets into your eyes, it can blur your vision. Be careful!
- Greasy residue: It can leave a greasy residue all over the eye area. You can easily remove it with a cleanser. It’s just a bit of an annoyance.
- Can trap dirt: Vaseline is sticky, so it can trap dirt and bacteria onto your eyelashes. Clean your hands super well before you apply vaseline.
The Bottom Line
Vaseline may not make eyelashes grow longer, but it keeps them well moisturised and prevents them from breaking, which is the next best thing. So, if you want your lashes to appear longer, and don’t fancy splurging on Latisse, vaseline may be worth a try. Appear is the key word here.
I tried using Vaseline for lash growth. All it did was irritate my eyes and become a lint magnet. I tried to stay true to the cause. Nevertheless, I knew I needed to stop when my cousin squinted while looking at my eyes and attempted to dust them off. Lesson learned.
Tam, oh no! So sorry you had such an awful experience! You have to be really carefully when using vaseline around the eyes. It could so easily go wrong.
I love Vaseline and it will always be a staple in my home – just not for the eye area.
Tam, vaseline is wonderful, isn’t it? But, yeah, better not use it for this.
You are doing amazing work! Thanks for sharing your wonderful posts. I could never go back to my normal lashes now. I loved Latisse, but it is very pricey. So I decided to purchase the generic version of Latisse which is the Careprost. So happy 😊 I finally found ‘GETLASH24’ ❤️ in Google and got careprost (same as Latisse, but it’s a way cheaper, thanks girls ). There is no difference to me. Latisse and Careprost are the same thing. I have had phenomenal results with it. It is well worth the money for me. After trying it, I will never be without it! My lashes are twice as long and thick and I am already being asked if they’re natural, to which I can happily respond ”Yes”!
I have spent a lot of money on eyelash serums, and honestly, serum of dermalmd one works as good as the more expensive brands! I’m truly impressed with the results! I have also had NO irritation from using this serum! I’m very happy with the results!
Rezia, thanks for sharing your experience. Glad you’ve found something that works for you.