SWEED EYELASH SERUM REVIEW
Do natural, prostaglandin-free eyelash serums actually work?
I put Sweed’s Pro Eyelash Serum to the test…
Have you ever wondered how someone has such expressive, mega-watt eyelashes – more Anime character, than human?
Well, they’ve probably been lacing on the eyelash serum by nightfall. Now a key player in the beauty kit, eyelash serum transforms your lashes, making them longer, fuller and darker — in a matter of weeks.
To be specific, eyelash serum has become the bedrock of ‘low maintenance beauty’ — the underpinnings of the ‘no make-up’ make-up look — the ‘looksmaxxing’ effect personified… Can you tell I have TikTok? Bypassing the need for eye makeup, these serums will give your eyes both definition and enhancement without a drag of eyeliner or a slick of mascara.
It is, however, nothing new.
Lash serum was first invented back in the noughties (the halcyon days of Lancôme Juicy Tubes, belly chains and frosted tips). According to beauty folklore, it was the brainchild of a doctor in New Zealand: he formulated the first lash serum to help his wife grow her lashes after radiotherapy. That’s love.
Originally, lash serum was used to care for the eyelashes of cancer patients. But, in 2006, RevitaLash entered the chat – becoming the first commercial eyelash serum to debut on the market. This created a brand new category in the beauty industry – one that, today, is valued at $1.25 billion… and growing. But is it too good to be true?
Recently controversy has hit the eyelash serum world – with reports that the key growth ingredient (prostaglandins) causes major side effects. These include eye redness, irritation, dryness, skin discolouration, iris pigmentation, periorbital fat loss, sunken eyes and excess facial hair (not ideal). In fact, the adverse effects of eyelash serums have led to several malpractice lawsuits (the brand, Rodan + Fields, was a part of three class action lawsuits).
What are ‘prostaglandins’?
Prostaglandins are naturally occurring chemicals in the body. Like hormones, they regulate vital bodily functions – including hair growth, menstruation, digestion and the inflammatory response. (Any science buffs among us may notice I said ‘like hormones’. Prostaglandins aren’t legit hormones because your endocrine glands don’t release them into the bloodstream, as they do hormones. Instead, your cells make prostaglandins directly on-site, wherever they’re needed for action.) In healthcare, synthetic prostaglandins are used as medication for a range of conditions, from erectile dysfunction to inducing labour (quite… diverse).
What are prostaglandins doing in my eyelash serum?
When applied topically to the eyelashes, prostaglandins stimulate hair follicles to grow longer, thicker and even darker lashes — giving you a more dramatic appearance. It’s undisputed: products like RevitaLash and UKLASH work (the latter is sold every 10 seconds). And prostaglandin-based serums will achieve noticeable improvements within a few weeks, if used consistently.
Is there an alternative?
With the rise of clean beauty and more awareness about the undesirable side effects of prostaglandins, consumers are chasing more natural alternatives. Brands such as Augustinus Bader, Kosas, Benefit, and Sweed have stepped up to the mark — each launching their own natural eyelash growth serum.
But, do natural, prostaglandin-free eyelash serums actually work?
In a new study, published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, scientists found that non-prostaglandin formulas do indeed work. Natural ingredients like peptides, ginseng, panthenol, proline, pumpkin seed oil and Jarilla Coffea extract all “present promising mechanisms for eyelash enhancement.”
Photographic assessment showed that a response was most evident in patients at 24 weeks; and they found the herbal extract to demonstrate comparable efficacy to the chemical-based solution (minoxidil 3%). What’s more no adverse events were reported from using the herbal alternative.
And so, with that in mind, I decided to embark on a little experimentation of my own…
I put Sweed’s Pro Eyelash serum to the test:
About the product:
Main ingredients: A nutrient-rich serum formulated with peptides, hyaluronic acid, biotin, pumpkin seed oil, and vegan keratin.
Claims: According to the blurb, 97% of users report longer lashes, 94% notice their lashes are fuller and 82% have received compliments on their lashes since using the serum. Now those are some stats I can get behind…
But, after casting a discerning eye over the small print, I see this is a trial group of 38 women. Umm not a great deal of data there? I am, however, instantly distracted by the news that for every mascara sale, Sweed will rescue one sea turtle!! (a collab with the rescue project, ‘Billion Baby Turtles’). So, if it all goes awry, at least my disastrous lashes will benefit a baby turtle. What a world.
Application:
Respectfully, I’m more of a ‘learn on the job’ type of gal. Instruction manuals bore me and, like any self-respecting Leo, I don’t take naturally to being told what to do. Case in point: you’re explaining board game rules, I’m eyes glazed over, contemplating the meaning of human existence. Insert discombobulated cat meme:
But that cavalier attitude will not fly in the world of eyelash serums. Read. The. Manual. Revelations were made on day 15, that really should have been ingrained knowledge at that point.
I’ve condensed the key advice, so you don’t have to:
Use the serum daily, at night, for 4-6 weeks. Then twice a week thereafter. Applying it at night will optimise growth and, frankly, you’re less likely to rub it off.
Don’t overuse the serum or fit in a cheeky sesh — it’s counterproductive as the eyelashes won’t grow exponentially. There is a limit, don’t push it.
The product takes 2 minutes to dry once you’ve applied it.
Don’t inadvertently apply any product on the eye area, it will likely sting and cause minor irritation. It goes without saying — do not get it in your eyes! Apply carefully using a mirror, and not in a slapdash manner. Don’t play fast and loose with an iPhone front camera in the half dark (a guilty conscience needs no accuser).
Evenly space the serum along the lash line — moving from the outer corner, to the inner corner of your eye. You want the most amount of serum at the outer corners.
Try patch-testing a small area of your skin before using any serum on your eyelashes.
Do not leave the tube open on your counter, always keep the lid on — it is very fluid/transparent in colour, and unlike like mascara, it will flood out the tube. I lost about 1ml of serum this way — nearly went the way of my serum and totally lost it.
You can also apply the serum to your eyebrows, should you so wish.
Before and After - Images from Sweed’s website
The Verdict:
Disclaimer, this is my personal opinion — these observations won’t necessarily be matched by everyone. Ethnicity, pigmentation and age affect the appearance of eyelashes and, consequently, how they respond to the serum.
So did I achieve mega-watt lashes in 30 days? There’s not a doubt in my mind that the product actually works. It certainly promotes lash growth and, most importantly, without any of the extreme side effects caused by prostaglandin-based serums.
Here are a few conclusions I’ve drawn:
You’ll start to see results from around 3 weeks (some reports have suggested it takes just a few days to see growth - which, in my view, isn’t realistic).
Lash growth from the natural serums is not as extreme as with the prostaglandin-based serums — you may need to adjust your expectations.
There is not a great amount of uplift in the eyelash growth. You really need an eyelash curler and mascara to reap the full benefits. Once the lashes are lifted you can really see the huge difference/the impact of the Sweed serum.
You may experience some irritation, but this is due to getting the product (inadvertently) in your eye.
In terms of cost and investment — I believe the Sweed eyelash serum is good value when compared with the alternatives. RevitaLash, for instance, is three times the cost of Sweed (£139 vs £42). I estimate you’d require 2-3 of the 3ml Sweed eyelash serum per year. Additionally, the serum could reasonably replace beauty treatments — such as lash lifts, tinting and extensions — which are notoriously costly, time consuming and require top ups every 6-8 weeks.
Personally, I wasn’t as interested in applying the serum to my eyebrows — I tend to leave my brows to do their own thing, preferring a boyish, very natural look. I did apply some of the excess serum on the applicator (after applying to my eyelashes), but I can’t say that the serum had much of an impact on my brows.
The design of the applicator could be improved — the plastic wand always seemed to be dripping with the serum, whereas the tiny brush was relatively dry. Perhaps, a better design could be a smaller bottle where only the brush tip is in contact with the serum, or even a brush pen like a liquid eyeliner/touche éclat situation.
Do your homework before using any eyelash growth serum.
