Thumb through the pages of any beauty magazine or simply scroll through your Instagram feed, and it’s clear. Long, lush lashes and thick, natural-looking brows are a trend that isn’t going out of style any time soon. While well-formulated mascaras and a little brow contouring can work wonders, nothing compares to waking up with naturally thick lashes and brows. If you’ve been blessed with ample lashes and brows but have noticed that over the years they aren’t as lustrous as they once were, you’re not alone. We’re sharing a few reasons why they could be thinning, plus a new, breakthrough lash and brow kit that provides professional-grade results without the prescription.

Why are my eyelashes falling out?

Reason 1 - Your age.

It’s important to know that lash fallout is absolutely normal and everyone experiences it, no matter your age. However, if you suspect your lashes are thinning more quickly with each passing birthday, you’re not wrong. Eyelash growth has four stages, known as the growth, resting, shedding and re-growth stages. As we age, changes in hormone levels can cause lash growth to slow down or in extreme cases, stop growing all together.

Reason 2 – You’ve removed your eyelash extensions incorrectly.

Eyelash extensions are a quick and easy way to achieve full, voluminous lashes. If applied the correct way by a professional, they don’t typically damage natural lashes, but if they aren’t allowed to fall out in tandem with your natural lash loss cycle, they can cause increased lash loss. Extensions are attached to the root of each lash with medical-grade glue, and if they are yanked off before they are ready, the tension it creates on your natural lash can cause thinning.

Reason 3 - Not thoroughly cleansing your lashes.

Hopefully, we don’t have to remind you the importance of removing your makeup each night for the health of your skin. However, if you’re guilty of letting your head hit the pillow before completely removing your mascara, you can bet on experiencing some lash breakage. We checked in with board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO, Dr. Joel Schlessinger, on why removing mascara each night is so important:

“Mascara stiffens eyelashes. It’s what keeps the individual hairs separated and looking lush. However, similar to hair styling products, it can cause increased lash breakage if left on overnight. It’s also important to note that while the ingredients in mineral mascaras are typically harmless, it can flake during the day. If you don’t remove it every night before you sleep, it has been known to flake into the eye and cause irritation or even harm to the eye.”

Why are my eyebrows thinning?

Reason 1 – Your diet is lacking.

As with your lashes, aging hair follicles can lead to eyebrow hair looking thinner and sparser. But perhaps even more importantly, just as with hair loss at the scalp, a nutritional deficiency can cause hair volume to go by the wayside. Diets lacking in vitamins A, B, D and E or minerals like iron can speed up hair loss, as well as other negative side effects for your health.

Reason 2 – You’ve over-plucked.

Lush, thick, natural-looking eyebrows haven’t always been in. Taking a peek at photos from about ten years ago will certainly verify that thin, overly manicured brows were all the rage and tweezers were every gal’s best friend. If you’re trying to grow your sparse brows back to a more natural state but are having trouble even with your best efforts, there could be some damage to the hair follicle from years of plucking.

Reason 3 - It could be medical.

If you are noticing a substantial loss of hair in your eyebrows, it may be time to call your physician. Thyroid deficiencies, postpartum hormone changes and even atopic dermatitis and eczema can lead to thinner-looking brows due to itching and inflammation around the brow bone. Check in with a board-certified dermatologist if you feel your brow loss is due to a skin condition. They can prescribe topical treatments to relieve itching.

Want to learn how to fill in your brows the correct way? Check out this makeup tutorial to achieve the appearance of thicker brows in a matter of minutes.