I don’t know about you, but it seems to me like a good set of lashes is all the rage. And there are options, options, options! You can buy false eyelashes over the counter at Sephora and apply them yourself. Some people decide to get eyelash extensions that are made from several materials including mink, synthetic, human or horse hair. Others, use products to lengthen and thicken their own natural lashes. Any way you slice it, lashes are in. So what’s the best way to go?
The answer to that depends on the person. Lash extensions prove to be a bit tedious and can be expensive. I don’t know about you, but I definitely do not want to worry about how I wash my face or shower due to eyelash extensions. I’m the girl that stands in an extremely hot shower with the water shooting directly on my face. And with two little ones I do not have time to go every few weeks to get them touched up. #momlife. So for me, the best option would be using something topical. And with many over the counter options out there, what is the best topical that will give great results? Enter Latisse.
Latisse (Brimatoprost) was originally a topical treatment for glaucoma patients. The medical community quickly found out that patients using Latisse for their glaucoma were returning with longer, thicker lashes. Further research was done, and the FDA approved Latisse for cosmetic purposes in 2008. All of our lash dreams were solved! Well sort of.
With any medication, there are risks. Latisse can cause inflammation to the eyelids which would result in swollen lids, redness, itchiness, and irritation. A very small percentage of patients (4%) experience this, and if it happens to you, just stop the medication. Although infrequently, Latisse has the potential to darken the colored part of your eye. If this is to happen it is permanent. One way to cut down on the risk of this happening is to make sure the solution does not get in the eye and that you are not applying the medication to the lower lashes. I’ve never seen this during my time practicing, however it is worth mentioning as it is possible!
It takes about a month of applying the medication to start to notice results. If you stop using the medication your lashes are not going to get worse, they are just going to go back to your baseline. So it is an ongoing treatment. You can purchase Latisse from a doctors office or you can be given a prescription for it.
How is Latisse different from other lash products (hello rodan and fields LashBoost)? Latisse is a prostaglandin analogue and has gone through rigorous testing to get FDA appoval. LashBoost and others of its kind have the ingredient isopropyl cloprostenate which is a synthetic prostaglandin analog. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN in non medical jargon? It is the same chemical that is found in Latisse but in synthetic form. Iisopropyl cloprostenate is not FDA approved and companies can get around rigorous testing by calling it a cosmetic product. And side effects can be the SAME. So yes, you may get results with both, but know that Latisse is heavily regulated and tested.
Whew. That was a lot of info. My eyelashes have been falling out since my last pregnancy and this postpartum period so lashes are on my mind! Can not wait until I am able to restart all my products after I am done nursing my little one. Hope this helped give you a bit more information!