Eyelashes serve two main purposes: they keep debris and foreign objects out of the delicate eye area, and add three-dimensional definition to the eyes, making them appear larger and more beautiful. While mascara, considered a cosmetic, can make lashes appear longer or thicker, true lash growth treatments--those that actually cause lashes to grow--are considered drugs by the Food and Drug Administration.
Home Treatments
Preventing lashes from breaking can be the best treatment towards getting longer, sweeping lashes. Mascara is meant to enhance the appearance of the eyelashes. However, mascara can harden and dry out lashes, causing them to become brittle and break easily. If the goal is longer lashes, preventing them from breaking should be the primary task, which means removing all traces of mascara before going to bed. Beauty expert Bobbi Brown warns not to tug or rub when removing mascara, as that can irritate eyes and cause lashes to fall out.
Additionally, the physical act of sleeping on your side or stomach can put pressure on delicate lashes and, if they are dry or brittle, they can easily break during the night. Coating lashes with a moisturizer can prevent breakage and encourage growth. Many makeup companies market lash conditioners, while home remedies include coating clean lashes with petroleum jelly, olive oil or baby oil.
Non-prescription Treatments
Cosmetic lash conditioners coat eyelash hairs with various substances designed to moisturize or infuse lashes with added proteins. Most are little more than moisturizing mascaras. However, two major cosmetics companies are touting a "motorized mascara" that purportedly causes lashes to grow longer due to the ability of the applicator to coat the lashes with more of the nourishing ingredients. While companies can't technically claim that the product grows lashes, Gracemarie Papaleo, Lancôme's assistant vice president of new product development, told "Elle" magazine that ophthalmologists who examined the lashes under a microscope noted a difference in their density after one week.
Prescription Treatments
The FDA approved a lash-enhancing drug called bimatoprost that is applied to the upper eyelids daily for up to four months. The FDA report states that at the end of the 16-week treatment period, "a statistically significant higher percentage of subjects in the bimatoprost group compared with the vehicle group experienced improved eyelash prominence, length, thickness/fullness, and darkness." The product is available by prescription only, and is marketed under the names Lumigan and Latisse.
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