I absolutely slayed in my teens, 20s and 30s with my eyelashes: long, thick, full & black. I didn't even need to wear mascara! But today at 54, it's a very different story. The bad news: as we age - and there are a number of reasons why - eyelashes can often thin or shorten with age. The good news: you can avoid a lot of the breakage and thinning, and even grow your lashes back - without toxic products. 

Let's dive into the reasons why our lashes thin, break and shed with age:

1. Hormonal changes

• Estrogen supports healthy hair follicles, including those at the lash line. As estrogen declines during perimenopause and menopause, hair growth cycles shorten, and lashes can grow back thinner or slower after they shed. 

2. Natural changes in the hair growth cycle

• Eyelashes have a shorter growth phase (anagen) than scalp hair. With age, that phase gets even shorter, and the resting/shedding phase (telogen) gets longer, meaning you’re losing more than you replace.

3. Decreased oil gland function

• Meibomian and sebaceous glands around the eyes produce less oil with age. This can lead to dryness and breakage of lashes.

4. Inflammation and eye conditions

• Chronic blepharitis (inflammation of the lash line) or meibomian gland dysfunction can damage follicles over time.
• Allergies and frequent eye rubbing can also weaken or dislodge lashes.

5. Nutrient deficiencies

• Low protein, iron, zinc, biotin, or omega-3 intake can slow lash growth and make lashes brittle.

6. Beauty habits

• Long-term mascara use without proper removal, lash extensions, or harsh makeup removers can cause traction and breakage
• Toxic ingredients in conventional mascaras - like alcohols, hardeners, preservatives - can make lashes brittle and prone to breakage
• Overuse of lash curlers can weaken or snap lashes.

7. Certain medications & medical conditions

• Chemotherapy, thyroid disorders, autoimmune diseases (like alopecia areata), and some blood pressure meds (e.g., beta blockers) can lead to lash loss.

Okay... So what to do about it?

Here are some strategies I'm deploying to support healthy, gorgeous lashes naturally:

• Be mindful of beauty routines—always REMOVE mascara gently. Don't over curl your lashes and skip chemical makeup removers! Opt for clean beauty oil-based formulas that remove makeup but don't strip your skin. I can recommend Botanical B Enzyme Cleansing Oil from One Love Organics - it's phenomenal and a good value at $45 (code Juliana15 for 15% savings).
  
• Say goodbye to falsies and lash extensions. Most come with adhesives that are not only irritating and toxic, linked to a host of health issues, but they also pull at your eyelashes and can cause lash loss. I wear falsies only if I absolutely have to - when I'm modeling and on set and the make up artist is insisting. Otherwise, it's not worth it. 
  
  
• Ditch the toxic mascara. Conventional mascaras contain a host of toxic chemicals like alcohols, preservatives, heavy waxes & hardeners, microplastics & PFAS chemicals (for waterproofing!), and other petroleum and heavy-metals based ingredients which can irritate eyes and damage lash follicles. Skip all this and opt for a clean beauty version that not only looks beautiful, but it can nourish your lashes and help them grow. (What! Really?! Keep reading!)
  
  
• Consume protein-rich food - your body needs the essential amino acids found in (animal) protein in order to build keratin and other essential proteins related to hair growth and vitality. Adequate protein intake means your body's getting the appropriate building blocks for strong, resilient lashes. A protein-rich diet nourishes hair follicles and supports overall lash health, leading to longer, thicker, and healthier lashes. 
  
  
• Add collagen peptides to your daily coffee or tea. Collagen is broken down into amino acids that that are used to build new proteins like keratin, which is the main component of hair. Studies suggest that collagen can stimulate hair follicle cells, promote hair regrowth, and increase hair follicle numbers. I like Truvani Collagen Peptides because it's 1 ingredient (bovine collagen) from grassfed cows in Argentina, free from hormones, dairy, gluten, and artificial flavors, and no other fillers, thickeners, sweeteners or other ingredients you don't need. And every serving = 20g of protein. 
  
  
• Supplement with Biotin and Omega 3s. Biotin is  a coenzyme crucial for the body to utilize amino acids to produce keratin, the protein that grows hair, nails and skin. I take a daily supplement for hair growth. I also take Omega-3 fish oil daily. These can promote hair growth by nourishing hair follicles, improving scalp health, and potentially reducing hair loss. These fatty acids like EPA and DHA in Omega 3s have anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe scalp inflammation and improve blood circulation to the hair follicles, leading to healthier hair growth (and eyelash growth!). 
  
  
• Keep inflammation in check—managing allergies or irritation can reduce lash fallout! It seems so simple but avoiding processed foods or foods that trigger inflammation (culprits include dairy, gluten and processed foods) can go a long way to restoring hair & lash resilience.  
  
  
  

What about Lash Growth formulas?

Eyelash growth serums are having their moment in the sun. But like all beauty care and skincare products in the US, they are unregulated, opening up a Pandora's Box of potential side effects because the safety and efficacy of different formulas vary. Many trending serums contain prostaglandins, which can cause side effects like darkening of the eyelids and iris, not to mention lash loss. If you want to go this route, I've been experimenting with MayaChia's Power Fol Eye Brow and Lash Care, which a clean formulation with no toxic ingredients. It's really helped my lashes and brows look thick and healthy. Code Silver15 for 15% savings. 

I'm also a big fan of Castor Oil (yes! I'm a Castor girlie!). Beloved for thousands of years for its skin and hair benefits, it's inexpensive and you can purchase a brow and lash applicator to apply. Castor oil's main component is ricinoleic acid, a type of fatty acid that makes up about 90% of the oil. This coats the lash shaft, locking in moisture and making lashes appear thicker and glossier. And, given its superior hydrating and moisturizing qualities, it reduces dryness and brittleness, and may prevent breakage — which can give the appearance of longer, fuller lashes over time.

Ricinoleic acid also has mild anti-inflammatory effects, and some animal studies suggest ricinoleic acid might reduce levels of prostaglandin D2 (a compound linked to hair loss), but it hasn't yet been proven to work on humans. I still believe in the healing properties of Castor oil. Make sure to use an organic, cold-pressed, hexane-free castor oil; I like this one, because it comes with a lash and brow applicator. 

What mascara is good for my lashes?

Ten years in the making, FitglowBeauty launched their new Lash Care Mascara this summer. Skincare for your lashes... and it's amazing. This beautifully black-pigmented mascara not only looks pretty stunning - it feeds your lashes with peptides for strength, has plant-based fatty acids for flexibility, and uses botanical extracts for hydration.

I've been using this mascara for about a month now and it's one of my 2025 Clean Beauty Favorites. It lasts all day, never smudges, smears or flakes, and it's good for my lashes! It's not overly heavy like some mascaras, so it looks really natural - like someone could be mistaken and think you won the genetic lash lottery (see photo at the top of this post). Plus, this formulation helps fortify your lashes - and it encourages lash growth! - which is something I never thought a mascara could do. It's well priced against other premium mascaras at $28, and for all that it delivers, having tried this for over a month, this is a great buy. Code Silverhighlights20 for 20% savings. 


In closing, if your lashes are thinning, know that there's always something we can be doing to improve, strengthen and fortify our lashes. Eating right, avoiding toxins (in your beauty products AND in your food) and using products that repair, nourish and grow are great strategies to bring back your lashes, with love. 

Let's age well naturally, lovelies-

x
Juliana

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