Lash Extension Retention and Skincare Products:
What skincare products can you use that won't ruin your lash extensions?
Links to products below.
But first, education!
Aside from proper application, aftercare is the most important factor in good retention. Quite often I see my clients doing their absolute best at washing their lash extensions daily and still occasionally have problems with retention. 70% of the time it can be traced back to a skincare product (the other 30% is usually environmental factors like saunas, heat, steam, sleeping on their face, extreme whitewater rafting trips, ect.). Facial cleansers will get on lashes even if you don't put it directly on your eyes. Rinsing a cleanser off, it will inevitably get on lashes. Many cleansers contain glycols and oils. Moisturizers and serums will migrate to the eye area, and if they're not lash safe they'll weaken the adhesive. Sweating will move these products around even more. And eye cream, don't get me started. I've seen non-lash safe eye cream remove 75% of a set of lashes in 6 days.
So, how do we avoid this?
By using products that have little to no ingredients that weaken the adhesive you get your maximum retention. This saves you money and time.
high to moderate amounts of these ingredients will weaken your lash extensions. These are ingredients that will most often be found in high enough concentrations to decrease retention when you see them on a label. Here's what to avoid:
- Propylene glycol
- Butylene glycol
- PEG (polyethylene glycol)
- Hexylene Glycol
-Paraffin
-Oils (some oils are lash safe, but should never be applied directly to lash extensions as it's difficult to fully wash off before a fill without damaging the extensions themselves and will likely inhibit retention on lashes applied over it)
There are some ingredients, like phenoxyethanol, which can definitely weaken lash adhesive. However, this ingredient is typically used in low concentrations (.5%) as a preservative and not in any amount to have an effect on retention. In fact, its actually found in green tea, though most often you'll find a synthetic version in your skincare.
Another problem I've come across is finding lash safe, high quality, professional skincare products that target aging and reactive skin, and won't cause millia, clogged pores and breakouts. These unicorn skincare products do exist though. Follow the links below for lash extension safe products that are formulated for common skin concerns and won't decrease your retention.
Some products to try:
Lash Safe Eye Cream from Alchemist
Proper aftercare requires gently, yet thoroughly cleansing lash extensions and avoiding products that weaken the adhesive and the adhesive's bond to the natural lash. Along with proper application on your lash artist's part, these are the main contributors to excellent lash retention. If your lash artist hasn't gone over aftercare and how to properly cleanse lash extensions here's my blog post on the subject. Troubleshooting your retention and eliminating products that contain these ingredients will guarantee your lashes stay beautiful longer and its well worth it.
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