Why Your Eyelashes Feel Brittle Even When You're Using Serum

If you’re doing everything right with your lashes but they still feel brittle, it’s easy to wonder what’s going on. You might be using a lash serum consistently and still not seeing the soft, full look you're after. And that can feel frustrating.

Lashes, like the rest of our skin and hair, are affected by more than just a product. They respond to changes in routine, heat, weather, and how we use other beauty products too. So while a good serum can help boost eyelash growth, it won’t reach its full potential if it’s not supported by the rest of your routine.

Let’s have a look at why your lashes might still feel dry and fragile and how small tweaks can get you back on track.

Not All Lash Serums Are Made the Same

One of the biggest reasons your lashes might still feel brittle, serum or not, comes down to what’s in the bottle. Not every serum brings the same kind of support or nourishment. Some only focus on growth, while others forget to help keep lashes moisturised and strong.

Here’s what to look for in a serum that works harder:

• A formula that supports not just growth but repair

• Ingredients that condition and moisturise instead of drying over time

• A focus on the full lash cycle, not just one stage

That’s where something like our peptide formula comes in. LashViva works by caring for all three stages of lash growth, not just encouraging new ones to appear. It supports the lashes you already have while helping new ones come in stronger and fuller.

Using a serum with ingredients like biotin, ginseng, and peptides can mean the difference between lashes that grow fast but feel brittle and lashes that grow long and stay soft. LashViva is a vegan, peptide-based serum that uses Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1 with Panax ginseng and biotin to nourish natural lashes and support thicker, longer-looking growth in around 8 to 10 weeks.

Seasonal Stress Can Make Lashes Feel Drier

With summer settling in, December starts to bring longer days, hotter weather, and more time outdoors. While that can boost your mood, it can also dry out your lashes. Hot winds, sun exposure, salty water from the ocean, and even chlorine at the pool can affect how your lashes feel.

Even with daily serum use, summer stress can undo some of the softness and flexibility you normally notice from your lashes.

When that dryness kicks in, it’s helpful to focus on a serum that offers added hydration and calm. Think of it as a barrier between your lashes and the outside world. The right formula can work behind the scenes, still helping to boost eyelash growth, while also supporting lashes that might be getting a bit more daily wear and tear.

Skipping Steps in Your Routine Can Cause Breakage

Sometimes it’s not the serum itself, it’s the steps we miss just before using it. Applying a lash serum to skin that’s not freshly cleansed means it might sit on top of oil or makeup instead of soaking in like it should.

Before using any serum, a clean surface is key. Here’s what helps:

• Use an oil-free makeup remover to take off all traces of mascara

• Let the lash line dry fully before applying serum

• Use one smooth sweep of the applicator across each lash line

And while it may be tempting to use the serum more than once a day or apply too much, a lighter hand is better. The lash line is delicate, and overload could make things worse. Consistency wins over quantity, so stick to one daily application.

Could Other Products Be Interfering?

Your serum might be working perfectly fine, but if it’s clashing with something else in your routine, your lashes might not get the full benefit.

Makeup products, especially waterproof mascara and some heavy-duty removers, can make lashes feel stiff, dry, and more likely to snap. If you’re using a serum and still relying on long-wear eye products, you might be cancelling out progress without realising it.

A better approach is to think about how each item in your makeup bag works together. Try keeping things light around the eyes while the serum is in use. This gives your lashes time to respond without added pressure from layers of product.

Sometimes, it’s not about starting from scratch. It’s about making room for the serum to actually do its work.

How to Tell If It’s Time to Make a Change

If your lashes still feel harsh or brittle after consistent weeks of serum use, it can be a sign something needs adjusting. Maybe it’s the formula, maybe it’s the way you’re applying it, or it could be something else in your daily routine interfering.

Watch for these signs:

• Lashes that feel stiff or snap easily

• Uneven growth or lashes falling out more than usual

• No noticeable softness or condition, even after weeks of regular use

Keep in mind that lash growth takes time. It’s common to wait 8 to 12 weeks before you start seeing major changes. But if you're past that and still unhappy, it might be worth rethinking either the serum or the steps you’re taking around it.

Sometimes, a quick chat with a skincare or beauty pro can help spot what’s missing.

Give Your Lashes the Care They Deserve

Lashes respond best when they’re supported by more than just a single product. A consistent, thoughtful routine is what helps them look and feel their best. As an Australian-made, cruelty-free and vegan brand, Eastern Curlew focuses on natural ingredients and Australian botanicals that care for your lashes while respecting the environment.

What we do daily, from how we clean our face to which products we pair together, can make a big difference. Hot weather, summer plans, and heavy makeup use all affect lash health in ways we don’t always realise.

If you’re using a serum to boost eyelash growth but still feeling like something’s off, it might be time to zoom out and look at the bigger picture. Paying attention to the small details in your routine can go a long way toward helping your lashes grow stronger, longer, and healthier.

After months of heat, makeup and daily wear, your lashes may need extra care. We have put thought into every step of our formula to help condition, repair and support natural lash cycles through each season. For those looking to gently strengthen and soften while encouraging fullness, now is the time to try a serum that helps boost eyelash growth in a more balanced way, and at Eastern Curlew we are here to help you care for your lashes with confidence so send us a message if you have any questions.