The Absolute Best Vitamins for Eyelash Growth for 2024

If you’re looking for the best vitamins for eyelash growth you’ve come to the right place.

I’ve done a ton of research to learn which nutrients are essential for lash growth and compiled a list of the absolute best vitamins you should be taking to encourage healthy eyelash growth.

This article may include affiliate links. Read full disclosure here.

What causes hair loss and Loss of Eyelashes

According to a study published in the journal Dermatology, eyelash loss is usually caused by genetic conditions, aging, illnesses, medications, and trauma.

Other causes of eyelash loss include hormonal changes associated with pregnancy or menopause, nutritional deficiencies, blepharitis (eyelid inflammation), and contact dermatitis.

In addition, certain cosmetic treatments, such as harsh makeup removal or overuse of mascara and false eyelashes, can also contribute to eyelash loss.

(Source: Dermatology, “Eyelash Loss: Causes and Management”)

Common causes of eyelash loss, thinning, and breakage:

• Aging.
• Medical treatments such as chemotherapy
• Medical conditions such as Dermatitis, Blepharitis and
• Trauma or injury to the eye area
• Hormone fluctuations: Pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Eyelash extensions
• harsh cosmetic products such as waterproof mascara.
• Eyelash curlers
• Seasonal allergies: causing rubbing of the eyes and eye irritation

The Importance of Vitamins For Skin, Hair, and Nails

Vitamin intake is essential for healthy body functioning.

However, most of us don’t realize that vitamins are also important for healthy skin, hair, and nails including eyelashes and eyebrows.

Without the right balance of vitamins every day, our hair can become brittle, split ends can occur, skin can dry out and become dull, and our nails can break or discolor.

Vitamin Deficiency and Eyelashes

Vitamin deficiencies can cause eyelash thinning and loss.

Deficiencies of vitamins B12, biotin, and other essential nutrients can lead to thinning of the eyelashes or even complete lash loss.

The Best Vitamins for Eyelash Growth:

Vitamin A

Vitamin A (retinol, retinoic acid) is a nutrient important to vision, growth, cell division, reproduction, and immunity. Vitamin A also has antioxidant properties. (source)

A is essential for your cells to grow, which, in turn, helps your hair grow. Your skin glands also benefit from vitamin A, using it to produce sebum. The sebum (oil) keeps your scalp moisturized and keeps your hair healthy. (source)

Biotin (Vitamin B7)

Biotin supplements help promote healthy hair and strong nails

Biotin is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin that helps promote healthy hair, strong nails, and eyelash growth.

It increases keratin production—a protein found in the skin, hair, and nails—which strengthens and thickens the lashes and gives them a fuller appearance. (source)

Folic acid

Folic acid is a B vitamin. It helps the body make healthy new cells. Everyone needs folic acid. 

Folic acid assists your body with cell repair, which helps fortify your lashes and keep them strong. Foods high in folic acid include beans, broccoli, spinach, and whole wheat bread.

Niacin (vitamin B3)

Niacin, also known as Vitamin B-3, is an essential nutrient that helps promote healthy eyelash growth.

It increases circulation to the scalp and skin, which can stimulate lash growth. Additionally, niacin helps to strengthen the hair follicles and protect them against damage caused by free radicals.

This can lead to thicker and fuller-looking lashes.

Finally, niacin helps to regulate hormones and increase the production of collagen, which is essential for healthy eyelash growth. All in all, niacin can be a great tool for those looking to achieve fuller and healthier lashes!

Vitamin B5

Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) strengthens hair follicles and keeps lashes thick and healthy.

Pantothenic acid can be found in brewer’s yeast, whole grain cereals, egg yolks, organ meats, milk, peanuts and legumes.

Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6, or pyridoxine, is a water-soluble vitamin found naturally in many foods, as well as added to foods and supplements. (source)

Vitamin B6 supports healthy hair growth because of its role in protein metabolism. Vitamin B6 also ensures that hair cells have access to the amino acids needed to make hair proteins.

Shop The Best Vitamins for Eyelash Growth

Vitamin C

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is necessary for the growth, development and repair of all body tissues.

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect your cells against the effects of free radicals

Vitamin C helps protect against free radicals that damage hair follicles, preventing them from becoming weak and brittle.

It also helps stimulate collagen production in the skin, which can help keep eyelashes looking full and lush.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D helps the body absorb essential minerals and nutrients, which can help promote healthy eyelash growth.

It also boosts collagen production in the skin, which keeps lashes looking thicker and fuller.

Vitamin D is important for creating keratin proteins, which make up a large portion of our hair and nails—including lashes—and are necessary for strong, healthy growth.

Additionally, Vitamin D helps regulate the hormones that control hair growth, which can help promote longer lashes.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E supplements can help to promote healthy cell turnover and prevent dryness.

It also increases the circulation of blood to the eyes, which can help stimulate lash growth and keep lashes looking full and lush.

Additionally, Vitamin E prevents breakage by strengthening the hair follicles and protecting them against damage caused by free radicals.

Iron

Iron is used by red blood cells to carry oxygen. But iron is also important for hair growth and health.

Iron helps boost circulation and carries oxygen to your hair’s roots, which helps the hair grow faster and longer. An iron deficiency can lead to hair loss.

Magnesium

According to WebMD, magnesium is a mineral that’s crucial to the body’s function. Magnesium helps keep blood pressure normal, bones strong, and the heart rhythm steady amount other things.

Magnesium also is said to have a direct impact on hair growth.

It regulates hair follicle production and the overall hair growth cycle, making it an essential mineral for healthy hair growth.

When magnesium levels are low, hair follicles go into a resting phase and stop producing new hair, leading to hair loss.

Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are an integral part of cell membranes throughout the body and affect the function of the cell receptors in these membranes.

They provide the starting point for making hormones that regulate blood clotting, contraction and relaxation of artery walls, and inflammation. (source)

These fatty acids provide essential proteins and nutrients to hair follicles and skin and prevent hair follicle inflammation — a factor that can directly contribute to hair loss.

Zinc

Zinc plays an important role in maintaining oil production in the skin and hair follicles, which can help keep lashes looking full and healthy.

It also helps to protect against free radicals that can damage the cells of the eyelashes.

Additionally, zinc encourages cell regeneration, which can help promote faster lash growth.

Collagen

According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, collagen is the most abundant protein in your body, helping strengthen bones, skin, muscles, tendons, cartilage, and more.

Collagen is type of proteins that make up the structure of everything from hair, skin, and nails to tendons, ligaments, and muscles. (source)

Supplementing collagen is beneficial to skin, hair, and nails, especially as we age, because natural collagen production decreases with age.

Foods for Eyelash Growth

A balanced diet incorporates leafy greens, legumes, fatty fish, and nuts, all of which are good sources of vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids.

When following a healthy diet, don’t forget to drink plenty of water too – hydration is just as important for the renewal and regrowth of the cells.

Healthy foods for eyelash growth:

• Fatty fish like anchovies, herring, mackerel, black cod, salmon, sardines, bluefin tuna, whitefish, striped bass, and cobia are high in omega-3 fatty acids. (source)
  
• Beans and legumes are excellent sources of dietary fiber, protein, B vitamins, and many other important vitamins and minerals. 
  
• Leafy greens such as spinach, swish chard, kale, and broccoli are packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
  
• Avocados contain several nutrients including carotenoids, monounsaturated fats, potassium, and fiber that have been associated with a reduced risk of chronic diseases.
  
  Avocados are also rich in vitamins B (biotin) and E, which work at the cellular level to protect and strengthen hair and are essential for healthy hair growth. (source)
  
• Nuts like almonds, pistachios, walnuts, peanuts, and hazelnuts are great sources of nutrients, such as protein, fat, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. (source)
  
• Eggs are a great source of protein, which is important for preventing hair loss. Eggs also contain biotin, which is essential for hair, skin, and nail health. (source)
  
• Greek Yogurt is a great source of iodine, which supports healthy thyroid function and a strong immune system.
  
  It’s also an excellent source of Vitamin A and Vitamin B12. These are all key ingredients necessary for healthy hair, skin, and nails. Including eyelashes!
  
• Sweet Potatoes are high in fiber and antioxidants, which protect your body from free radical damage and promote a healthy gut and brain.
  
  They are also incredibly rich in beta-carotene, which is converted to vitamin A.

Eyelash Serums to Promote Eyelash Growth

If you’re looking for ways to help your eyelashes reach their true potential, there are some simple solutions.

Lash serums are designed to help promote the growth and strength of eyelashes. There are both prescription lash growth serums and over-the-counter growth serums.

Prescription Lash Serums

Latisse is an FDA-approved drug (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution, 0.03%) prescribed to lengthen, thicken and darken eyelashes.

It has the same main ingredient as a glaucoma drug called Lumigan.

Side Effect of Latisse

Latisse can cause some undesirable effects.

Some people develop eye redness and irritation, or dark eyelid skin. These effects disappear after discontinuing the drug.

Darkening of the iris (the colored portion of the eye) has also been reported, and this side effect cannot be reversed.

This makes Latisse a hard pass for me. 🙂

Over-the-Counter Lash Serums

Over-the-counter Lash serums are beauty products that claim to help promote the growth and strength of eyelashes.

These lash serums are applied to the lash line to encourage the growth of your eyelashes.

They typically contain ingredients such as peptides, vitamins, biotin, and antioxidants that nourish lashes from the root and provide a protective barrier against environmental stressors.

Lash serums are a great alternative to extensions, false lashes, and other temporary solutions for achieving thicker, longer eyelashes.

Home Remedies for Eyelash Growth

In my research on vitamins that help the growth of eyelashes, I came across several natural ways that claim to help achieve thick, beautiful lashes.

While there is indeed no scientific proof that these natural methods work, the good news there is always hope and no harm in trying a natural way (as long as it isn’t harmful)

Home remedies (not scientifically proven) for eyelash growth:

• Petroleum jelly. According to Healthline.com, Vaseline or petroleum jelly is an occlusive moisturizer that can be used effectively on dry skin and eyelashes. 
  
  It can’t make eyelashes grow faster or longer, but it can moisturize them, making them look fuller and lusher.
  
• Green tea: Some sources claim that soaking a cotton ball with green tea and placing it on eyelashes can encourage eyelash growth. However, this is not supported by scientific evidence.
  
• Olive oil: There’s little research to suggest that olive oil can boost eyelash growth. However, experts say olive oil may help condition the lashes and promote healthy lash follicles function.
  
• Castor oil: According to Healthline.com, castor oil is believed to be extremely nourishing to the skin. Many people report that with regular application, castor oil has helped them to grow thicker, longer eyelashes and eyebrows.
  
  If you want to give castor oil a try, I highly suggest MAJESTIC PURE Castor Oil Eyelash Serum
  
• Eyelid massage: according to this article, massaging the eyelid area and near the lashes helps increase blood flow and circulation, which encourages your lashes to grow! 

Related Article: The Best Eye Lash Serums for Thinning Eyelashes

Conclusion: The Best Vitamins for Eyelash Growth

While there are many factors that contribute to thin or short eyelashes, incorporating foods rich in vitamins into your diet along with taking vitamins and supplements for eyelash growth can be

In addition to dietary changes and vitamins for eyelash growth, lash serums have been said to be the way to healthy, long eyelashes.

All in all, I never think it hurts to make sure you are taking all of the right vitamins and supplements to keep your body as strong, healthy, and as beautiful as it can be.

What do you think? What are you going to do to help your eyelashes grow? Let us know in the comments below!

Until next time,

XO, Christine