How to Take Eyelash Progress Photos You Can Actually Compare

By KT Apps · Updated October 17, 2026

A note first

This article is about taking photos, not about whether any product works. If a product applied near your eyes causes redness, itching, swelling or pain, stop using it and talk to a doctor or pharmacist.

Why consistency matters more than quality

Small differences in setup can look like big differences in lashes. Light from above makes lashes look longer and darker; light from the side can hide half of them. Holding the camera a little closer makes everything look bigger. A slight head tilt changes how much of the upper lash line you see.

A slightly blurry photo taken the same way every time is more useful than a perfect photo taken differently. The goal is to make the lashes the only thing that changes between pictures.

A repeatable setup

1. Light: stand facing the same window at the same time of day, or use the same lamp every time. Avoid mixing daylight and indoor light.
2. Background: stand in the same spot so the colours behind you do not change the exposure.
3. Distance: hold the phone at the same distance, for example with your elbow resting on the same surface.
4. Angle: look straight ahead for the front view. If you also want a side view, take it every time from the same side.
5. Eyes: photograph the left and right eye separately, one after the other, in the same order.
6. Camera: use the same camera, front or back, and no beauty filters or zoom.

Bare lashes, every time

Mascara, curling and lash primers all change length, colour and curl. For progress photos, shoot clean, dry lashes with no makeup, ideally at the same point in your routine, such as just after washing your face in the morning. If you want photos with makeup too, keep them as a separate set.

How often to take photos

Lashes change over weeks and months, not days. A photo once a week is plenty for most people. When you compare, look at photos several weeks apart, such as a month or more. Comparing today with yesterday will almost always show nothing, or show differences caused by light rather than lashes.

For background on why change is slow, see how long eyelashes take to grow back.

Rating what you see

Photos show the change; ratings help you notice it. A simple 1 to 5 scale for a few qualities works well:

• Length: how far the lashes extend.
• Density: how full the lash line looks, and whether there are gaps.
• Curl: how much the lashes lift without a curler.
• Strength: how many lashes you are finding on your cheek or pillow.
• Overall: how happy you are with them.

Write a one-line note with anything that might explain a change: a new product, extensions removed, a cold, rubbing your eyes. Rate before you look at older photos, so you are not just matching what you expect to see.

Taking progress photos in LashLog

LashLog is set up for consistent photos:

1. Open the camera screen, allow camera access, and capture the left eye and then the right eye. You can also upload existing images.
2. Use the overlay slider to show your last photo faintly over the live view, and line up your eye with it before you shoot.
3. On the confirmation screen, give 1 to 5 stars for length, density, curl, strength and overall satisfaction, add a note and save.
4. Register your product in serum management with its start date if you are using one, and mark morning and night applications on the calendar.
5. Open the compare screen to view two dates side by side or with a slider, using quick picks such as one week or one month apart, or play a timelapse of one eye.

Ratings are your own judgement; LashLog does not measure lashes or evaluate products. On the web, photos are stored only in this browser. The iPhone and Android apps add morning, night and photo reminders.

Frequently asked questions