Your lashes need shampoo. Here's why.

What builds up between your lashes

By the end of a day, your lash line is holding more than you'd think. Mascara residue is the first layer: the film that makes lashes look longer is designed to stay put, and it clings to the lash shaft long after you think you've removed it.

Then there's oil. Your lids make their own, and it collects at the base of the lashes along with sunscreen and skincare that drifts up from your face. Add dust and debris (catching it is what lashes are there for) and the sleep crust that settles at the lash line overnight.

Leave that layer in place and lashes look dull and clumped, and new mascara goes on over old.

Why your face wash misses the lash line

Face cleansers are made for the broad, flat surfaces of your face. Most people instinctively keep them away from their eyes, because they sting. That leaves a thin strip right along the lashes that never gets properly cleaned, and it's the strip that collects the most build-up.

What a lash shampoo is (and isn't)

An eyelash shampoo, or lash shampoo, is a gentle foaming cleanser made for the lashes and the lash line. Think of it as shampoo for the smallest hair on your body. Good ones are pH-balanced so they don't sting, and free of the harsh detergents found in many face washes.

What it isn't: a growth serum. No cleanser makes lashes grow. What it does is keep them clean and free of build-up, so they look their best and take mascara better.

How to wash your eyelashes in 60 seconds

Wet the lash line with warm water, then pump a little foam onto your fingertips or a soft lash brush.

With your eyes closed, massage gently along the lashes and lid in small side-to-side movements, working from root to tip. Rinse with warm water until the foam is gone.

Pat dry with a clean towel. Don't rub: tugging at the lash line is how lashes get pulled out. Do it at night after removing your makeup, or as part of your morning routine.

If you wear mascara or lash extensions

If you wear mascara, take off the bulk of it first, then follow with a lash shampoo to clear what's left at the base of the lashes.

If you wear extensions, clean lashes help them look their best. Use a lash-extension-safe formula and a soft brush, and keep oil-based removers away from the bond. There's more in our guide to cleaning eyelash extensions.

Five habits for healthy-looking lashes

Take your mascara off every night, gently. Press and lift rather than dragging a pad across the lash line; rubbing is the habit that costs you lashes.

Replace your eye makeup regularly. The American Academy of Ophthalmology advises throwing away eye makeup after three months, and right away if you develop an eye infection while using it. And never share eye makeup, even with family or close friends.

Finally, dry your face with something clean. A towel reused for days isn't what you want at your lash line, which is why we pat dry with a fresh disposable face towel.

The lash shampoo we make

Our Foaming Lash Shampoo & Eyelid Cleanser is gentle enough for daily use, including around lash extensions. It's pH-balanced, sulfate-free and paraben-free, and lifts mascara and the day's build-up without harsh rubbing.