This time of year, everyone is busy making resolutions, committing to new hobbies and habits, and trying to become their best selves. As you build your list, consider adding a few beauty resolutions – after all, who couldn’t use a boost of confidence heading into the new year? Looking and feeling your best doesn’t have to take much time – by focusing on boosting your lash health, you’ll help your lashes grow longer, healthier, and make your eyes appear more open and awake.

How To Take Better Care Of Your Eyelashes

1. Get Rid Of Old Makeup Products

Beauty products have expiration dates, so if you have old products lying around or haven’t replaced your eye makeup lately, now’s the time. Continuing to use expired eye products can put the health and safety of your eyes at risk. Your eyelashes naturally have bacteria on them, so as soon as you use your mascara wand, bacteria is transferred to it. Bacteria thrive in cool, dark, and moist environments –  making your mascara or eyeliner tube the perfect place for them to accumulate. When too much bacteria accumulates, it can lead to bacterial infections like a stye, pink eye, or just general eye irritation. Some products may not have expiration dates printed on the tube, so follow these general rules of thumb:

• Replace your mascara every 3-4 months
• Replace liquid liner every 3-6 months
• Replace eyeliner pencils every 2 years, but sharpen after every use to keep them fresh

2. Invest In A Lash Growth Serum

Are you dreaming of naturally long, thick lashes? You can have them! A high-quality lash serum can help moisturize and condition your lashes to help facilitate growth. NovaLash’s award-winning Lash+doctor® is specially formulated to condition, strengthen, and nourish the hair follicle and encourage healthy growth. It’s packed with natural plant peptides and multivitamins. Best of all, Lash+doctor® is an eyelash extension-friendly lash serum that can be used on natural lashes and extensions.

Related: Help! My Lashes Are Too Short!

3. Try High-Quality Lash Extensions

Tired of applying a coat after coat of mascara or fighting your eyelash curler to get the long lashes you crave? You can get the long lashes you love without sacrificing your lash health with NovaLash extensions. The lab-tested, physician-approved products are immediately waterproof, oil-proof, sweatproof, and life-friendly. NovaLash extensions completely eliminate the need for mascara and make eyeliner optional, making expired products a worry of the past. And best of all? Since NovaLash extensions can be used with Lash+doctor®, you can enjoy long lashes while you let your natural lashes gro

4. Commit to Good Lash Hygiene

Eyelashes are hair, and just like the hair on our heads, they need a good hygiene routine to keep them healthy and clean. If you have lash extensions, committing to good hygiene is even more important. Practicing aftercare can help your lashes stay healthy and help your lash extensions last longer.

Read More: How to Clean Your Eyelashes

5. Try Something New

Every great New Year’s Resolution list has at least one thing that’s just for fun – and this is ours! This year, we challenge you to try something new with your eyelashes and see how you like it. Maybe it’s trying eyelash extensions for the first time, adding some glitter to your lash line, or playing with mega volume looks. In the end, beauty is all about bringing out your confidence, so do whatever makes you look and feel like your best self.

Is getting eyelash extensions on your to-do list this year?