Why Are My Eyelashes Falling Out? 7 Common Causes & How to Fix It
and exactly how to fix each one.
Noticing gaps, shorter lashes or lashes on your pillow? The 7 most common reasons eyelashes fall out, the fix for each one, and how to get longer, fuller-looking lashes again.
★★★★★ 4.5 from 301 reviews · 60-day money-back guarantee*
You take off your mascara and there they are: lashes on the cotton pad, on your pillow, on your cheek. Losing a few eyelashes every day is completely normal, because each lash grows, rests and falls out to make way for a new one. But when you start to notice gaps, shorter lashes or lashes that just don't seem to grow back, something is getting in the way. The most common reasons eyelashes fall out are rubbing your eyes, heavy or waterproof make-up, lash extensions and curlers, stress and hormonal changes, nutritional gaps, eyelid inflammation and certain medical conditions or treatments. The good news? In most cases eyelashes grow back, and with gentle care and a lash serum like Spectaculash, they can look longer, fuller and thicker in as little as 60 days.
Eyelash loss even has a medical name, madarosis, and it's far more common than most people think. Here are the 7 most common causes, the fix for each one, and how to get your lashes looking their best again.
Why are my eyelashes falling out? 7 common causes
Tap the ones that sound like you.
1. Rubbing your eyes
Tired eyes, hay fever, taking out contact lenses: we all rub our eyes without thinking. But the friction pulls lashes out before they're ready to fall and snaps weak, brittle ones. The fix: pat, don't rub. If your eyes itch, a cool compress is far kinder to your lashes.
2. Waterproof mascara and sleeping in make-up
Waterproof mascara is designed to cling on, which means it takes scrubbing to get off, and every scrub takes lashes with it. Sleeping in mascara leaves lashes dry, brittle and more likely to break. The fix: save waterproof formulas for special occasions and always remove eye make-up gently before bed. Our dual-sided face cloths remove even waterproof mascara with just water, so there's no tugging.
3. Lash extensions, false lashes and curlers
Extensions add weight to your natural lashes, and the glue and removal can pull them out at the root. Strip lashes and heated or worn-out curlers do the same. The fix: give your natural lashes a break, and if you do wear extensions, never pick them off. Spectaculash is safe to use with lash extensions, so you can strengthen your natural lashes at the same time.
4. Stress and hormonal changes
Stress can push more lashes into their shedding phase at once, and hormonal changes, from pregnancy and postpartum to perimenopause, menopause and thyroid conditions, can leave lashes thinner and slower to grow. The fix: look after yourself, and if you suspect a hormonal cause, speak to your GP. Here's more on menopause and your lashes.
5. Nutritional gaps
Your lashes are hair, and hair needs iron, protein and plenty of vitamins to grow strong. Crash diets and busy, skipped-meal weeks show up in your lashes too. The fix: eat a balanced diet with enough protein, iron-rich foods and leafy greens, and talk to your GP before taking supplements.
6. Blepharitis and eye infections
Inflamed, itchy or crusty eyelids (blepharitis), styes and infections can all cause lashes to fall out. The fix: keep your eyelids clean and see a pharmacist, optician or GP if your eyes are sore, red or swollen.
7. Medical conditions and treatments
Alopecia, thyroid disorders and treatments such as chemotherapy can all cause lash loss. The fix: always speak to your doctor first. Once you're ready, here's our guide to growing your lashes and brows after chemotherapy.
Can eyelashes grow back?
Yes, and in most cases they do. Every lash follows its own growth cycle: it grows, rests, falls out and is replaced by a new one. As long as the follicle isn't damaged, a lost lash will grow back. Once you've dealt with the cause, the right care helps every new lash grow in as long, strong and full as possible.
That's exactly what Spectaculash is for. Our award-winning Spectaculash Advanced Eyelash Growth Serum combines clinically studied Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17 in a hormone-free formula, so your lashes look longer, fuller and thicker in as little as 60 days with consistent daily use. Once you love your lashes, just three applications a week keeps them looking that way.
Real Spectaculash results: before, during and after consistent daily use.
Spectaculash for every lash worry
Whatever's behind your lash loss, here's how Spectaculash helps your lashes look their best again:
Breakage and lash loss
Lashes on your cheek and gaps along your lash line? Spectaculash helps lashes look stronger and healthier, so fewer end up on your pillow and more stay where they belong.
Recovering after extensions
Extensions can leave natural lashes short, sparse and patchy. Spectaculash helps them look longer and fuller again, and it's safe to use while you're still wearing extensions.
Thinning lashes with age
Lashes naturally get finer and sparser with age and through menopause. Spectaculash helps them look fuller, thicker and more defined, so your eyes look brighter and more youthful.
Naturally short lashes
Never had long lashes? Spectaculash helps your own lashes look visibly longer, fuller and thicker, so you can go lighter on the mascara or skip it altogether.
How to regrow your eyelashes: step by step
- Find the cause. Use the checklist above. If your lash loss is sudden, patchy or comes with sore eyes, see your GP or optician first.
- Remove make-up gently. Our dual-sided face cloths lift mascara with just water. Press and sweep; never scrub.
- Apply Spectaculash every night. One thin stroke of Spectaculash along the base of your upper lashes, on clean, dry skin, just like liquid eyeliner. It's lightweight, fast-absorbing and suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.
- Be consistent. Every single night is what makes the difference. Take a photo on day one so you can see how far your lashes have come.
- Maintain your results. Once you love your lashes, three applications a week keeps them looking long and full.
Using a serum but your lashes still aren't growing?
You haven't given it long enough. Lashes grow in cycles, so results build over weeks, not days. Give it a full 60 days of nightly use before you judge it.
You're skipping nights. Four or five nights a week slows everything down. Make it part of your bedtime routine, straight after cleansing.
You're applying it in the wrong place. The serum needs to reach the base of your lashes, so apply it to the upper lash line, not along the lashes themselves. A little goes a long way.
Something is undoing the good work. Rubbing your eyes, scrubbing off waterproof mascara or picking at extensions can pull out new lashes as fast as they grow.
Why lashes look thinner in winter
If your lashes look sparser in December and January, you're not imagining it. Cold wind outside and central heating inside dry out lashes and leave them brittle, while party season means more mascara, more false lashes and more late nights with make-up still on. Keep removal gentle, give your lashes make-up-free days when you can, and keep up your nightly Spectaculash, and your lashes will be looking their best again by spring.
When to see a doctor
Speak to your GP, pharmacist or optician if your lashes fall out suddenly or in patches, if you're also losing hair from your brows or scalp, or if you have eye pain, swelling, itching or changes in your vision. These can be signs of something that needs treating first.
Why choose Spectaculash?
Award-winning and press-loved. Spectaculash has won industry awards and been featured in Vogue, Tatler and Woman's Weekly, and our customers rate it 4.5 out of 5 from over 300 reviews: "My natural lashes were damaged, sparse and very short. Now my lashes look amazing, they are fuller, thicker and much longer, I love them!"
Hormone-free, with no prostaglandins. Many lash serums rely on prostaglandin analogues. Ours doesn't. It's gentle enough for sensitive eyes and safe with contact lenses and lash extensions.
Great value, risk-free. A 3ml bottle of Spectaculash is £24.99 and lasts around 60 days; the 8ml XL is £44.99 and lasts up to 6 months. Choose Subscribe & Save to save 10% and never run out. And our promise is simple: if you use Spectaculash every day for 60 days and don't see noticeable growth, we'll give you your money back. Want fuller brows too? Our Lash and Brow Growth Serum Set gives you both for £44.99.
FAQs
Your questions, answered
Is it normal to lose eyelashes every day?
Will my eyelashes grow back?
How long does it take for eyelashes to grow back?
Can I use a lash serum with extensions or contact lenses?
Do lash serums really work?
Every night, 60 days
Longer, fuller lashesstart tonight.
Made by us, backed by our 60-day money-back guarantee.
5x award-winning · 100,000+ sold · Trusted since 2014
- Mix & match and save up to 15%
- Love it or your money back · 60 days*
*Conditions apply. See our money-back guarantee
