Lashes thin and lose length with age, but a few smart habits can make them look noticeably longer and fuller — no extensions required. Makeup artist Nikol Johnson shares her routine for maximizing mature lashes, from a growth serum to the curling-and-mascara technique that opens up the eye.
Key Takeaways
- Lashes naturally thin and shorten with age — but targeted habits genuinely help.
- A lash growth serum, used consistently, can improve length and fullness over time.
- Curling before mascara instantly opens the eye and creates the illusion of length.
- The right volumizing mascara and technique maximizes every lash you have.
What actually grows lashes over time?
Consistency with a lash growth serum. Applied nightly to the lash line over several weeks, a quality serum can improve the length and density of what you've got — it's the only step here that changes the lashes themselves rather than their appearance. It's a slow play, so patience and daily use are the whole game.
What creates instant length and lift?
Curling before mascara. A good lash curler — heated ones give an especially lasting bend — lifts the lashes up and back, which instantly makes them read longer and opens the whole eye. This single step does more for a mature, hooded eye than almost anything else, and it takes seconds. Curl first, always, then apply mascara.
How do you maximize with mascara?
Technique plus the right formula. Wiggle the wand at the base and pull through to the tips to deposit product along the full length, and build in thin coats rather than one clumpy layer. A lengthening-and-volumizing mascara like VOLUME UP Mascara defines and fans each lash for maximum impact. Concentrate a little extra at the outer corners to elongate the eye.
Some third-party products, including the lash serum and curler, are linked in the video description on YouTube.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make my lashes longer over 40?
Use a lash growth serum consistently over time, curl lashes before mascara to create length and lift, and apply a lengthening-volumizing mascara with a wiggle-and-pull technique.
Do lash growth serums work?
Used consistently over several weeks, a quality lash serum can improve length and fullness — it's the one step that affects the lashes themselves. Results take patience.
Should you curl lashes before or after mascara?
Before — always curl first, then apply mascara. Curling after risks breaking lashes and clumping the product; curling first opens the eye instantly.
How do I apply mascara for maximum length?
Wiggle the wand at the base and pull through to the tips, build in thin coats rather than one heavy layer, and add extra at the outer corners to elongate the eye.
