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BEAUTY
? g n i h s a L A g n i k Ta
ARE YOUR LASHES
By Natasha Creasey
Finding an eyelash or two on your cheek is no cause for alarm if it is only happening every now and then. However, if you are noticing several eyelashes falling out at a time or bald patches appearing in your lash line – the sirens should start wailing. So much of our beauty routine is centred around maintaining full and fluttery lashes; we curl them, add extensions onto them, enhance them with mascara and put falsies on top. It is no wonder we are quick to panic if our lash line starts to thin with unusual sparseness. Similarly, to the hair on our head, our eyelashes go through phases of shedding, rest and growth. It is when the shedding phase starts to overpower the growth phase that we begin to feel concerned. If the problem persists, it is time to closely examine your beauty routine and overall health so that you can identify any potential triggers. There are a number of reasons your eyelashes may be falling out: · Bad beauty habits. Going to sleep with your makeup on isn’t only costly to your skin, leaving mascara on for long periods of time can actually damage your eyelash hair follicles. Mascara can make your lashes more brittle and prone to breakage, which when rubbing against your pillow throughout the night can be a recipe for disaster. · Lack of proper cleansing. Allowing the buildup of product around your eyes and lashes causes pore blockages, which can lead to infections, bacteria issues, and more. This results in lash loss. · Ageing. Similar to the hair on your head, your eyelashes will naturally thin as a part of the ageing process. · Aggressive face washing. Excessively rubbing your eyes when you are cleansing your face or removing makeup could also be causing your lashes to fall out. · Stress. The hormones in our body that are associated with increased levels of stress can trigger a reaction that leaves our lashes looking thinner. · Allergies. The products in your beauty routine could be causing an allergic reaction that can lead to eyelash loss. Eyelash glue and extensions are common causes for allergic reactions. · Medication. Some medications affect your body’s natural processes causing issues such as hair loss including lash loss. · Hormone changes. Hormone changes affect the body in different ways. Monthly menstrual cycles and life changes such as menopause cause significant changes in hormone levels – all of which affect hair growth and loss. Estrogen levels are at their lowest when your period first start and as they dip, the level of 42
Beauty Biz Year 14 Issue 3
iron in your body dips too, causing you to lose more hair than normal. In fact, in some cases, heavy bleeding triggers hair loss and thinning. · Medical and health conditions. Alopecia, thyroid disorders and inflammatory diseases can all cause your eyelashes to thin and should be treated with the help of a general practitioner. Chemotherapy and radiation are also known treatments that can negatively impact your lash count.
As we know, eyelashes follow a natural pattern of growth, rest and shredding at a regular rate, and although this can cause concern, they generally will grow back. However, if you’d like to speed up the growth process, there a number of at-home remedies, and lifestyle and beauty changes that you can implement to promote eyelash growth and combat eyelash loss. If you are experiencing any unusual symptoms and are concerned that your eyelash loss may be a sign of something more serious, please consult your GP. Doctors can work with you to determine the exact cause of your eyelash loss and advise you on medicinal treatments. Vitamin deficiencies and other underlying issues can also cause hair loss. Here are number of tips for achieving naturally luscious lashes: 1. Stop rubbing your eyes. A blotting technique is much gentler on our sensitive eye region. Rubbing, scrubbing and dragging are not required to cleanse your eye area – you just need a gentle eye makeup removing product and patting with a towel after washing your face. Your eye area is delicate. Not only will rubbing your eyes lead to irritating your lashes, it can also escalate the ageing process that will result in wrinkles. 2. Be cautious when curling. Medical eyelash curlers are safe to use in small doses, but you must ensure that you are using them correctly. Heated eyelash curlers however should be avoided at all costs – otherwise they will cost you your lashes. When looking for a medical eyelash curler, look for one that is curved to the natural shape of your eye and has a generous pad to press against your lashes. When you clamp down on your lashes you must ensure that you gently squeeze and only lightly pulse for no more than 10 to 20 seconds. Excessive force and tugging can put your lashes in dire shape. Use makeup remover or soap regularly to get rid of any makeup left on your curler and replace the pads every three months.
3. Keep track of your product inventory. Every makeup and skincare product in your collection will have a use-by date clearly stipulated on its packaging. A general rule of thumb, however, is that your mascara should be renewed every three to six months. Products that are not fresh will transfer bacteria from the tube to your lashes, which can lead to lash loss. 4. Never rip off your false lashes. Picking out your lash extensions and ripping off your falsies will traumatise your lashes and take out natural ones along with the faux ones. The best at-home technique for removing lashes is gently tapping an oil-based, eye-safe cleanser onto your lash line and massaging it in. Using a warm cloth, pat the area with water to gently loosen the glue and break down the adhesive. 5. Review your diet. Good nutrition and a balanced diet supports eyelash growth and health. There are a number of specific nutrients that may help boost your lash count: · Protein – A diet that is high in protein is vital to help your lashes remain healthy and strong. · Iron – Eating foods that are rich in iron can help to prevent a number of lashes all entering their resting phase at the same time, which can stagnate growth. Dark, leafy greens, beans, iron-fortified cereals, and dried fruits are all great sources of iron. · Biotin – Nuts, broccoli, onions and wholegrains are all foods that are naturally high in biotin, which support the production of keratin that supports eyelash strength. · Vitamin A and C – Fruits and vegetables support cell and collagen production, which are responsible for eyelash growth. Berries, avocadoes and rich citruses are all high in Vitamin A and C. Natasha Creasey is an Australian entrepreneur based in Sydney, Australia and she is the founder and owner of revolutionary skincare brand, AGENCY Skin, a company with a passionate approach to the enhancement of natural beauty and skincare, boasting a women’s and men’s range of skincare. www. agencyskin.com.au
