Eyelashes are the cherry on the top of the cupcake of fashion. There are many options for those that want to augment their eye lashes ranging from false lashes, extension, and mascara. But what if there was a way to grow your own longer thicker lashes? Well, it turns out there is, and it is called bimatoprost or by the commercial name Latisse.

What Is Bimatoprost?

Bimatoprost is better known by the trade name Latisse in the United States, and it is the first FDA-approved medication to increase the length and fullness of eye lashes. A little background… Bimatoprost is actually a glaucoma medication used to normalize the pressure of the eye. Patients that used this medication noticed that after regular use their eye lashes began to grow longer and become fuller. This pleasant side effect was noted by Allergan, who then bought Latisse and began the safety testing for FDA approval. Bimatoprost is a prostaglandin analog, which basically means “kind of the same shape as a hormone”. Because it has a similar shape it can act like a fake hormone key and can unlock some doors that hormones can. One of those in this case are longer, fuller lashes. There have been other products with prostaglandin analogs which have previously been available in some cosmetics in the past. However, these have been pulled by the FDA because they are technically medications that have never been tested for safety.

How Do I Get Bimatoprost and Does It Work?

Unfortunately because it is a medication you will have to see a medical provider in order to get a prescription. Bimatoprost aka Latisse is applied daily at night to the upper lash line with disposable brushes that hold about 1 drop each on the brush. I have known others that have used an eye liner brush for application instead of the disposable brushes but just remember that disposable brushes are there to keep your eyes clean. Never touch the tip of the dropper to the brush as you do not want to contaminate the bottle.

To tell you the truth, when I first heard about Latisse I had my reservations about if it could really work. Typically things that sound too good to be true usually are, and with a price of ~$120 depending on the pharmacy it was a little steep to just try it out. But curiosity killed the cat and I eventually gave in and gave it a try given my sad, short, blond lashes.

When I first started using Latisse I noticed a bit of a tingle sometimes along my lash line just after application, but it was very tolerable and only lasted until the solution would dry. I used it religiously, and for the first week I did not really notice much change. I was starting to feel that it was a bit of a gimmick, but continued on. At around 3 weeks I started to notice that my lashes were starting to look darker and maybe longer or more full. This was an improvement but not really worth the cost at that point. But, I had bought the bottle, so I was going to at least use it until it ran out. Then something magical happened around 5-6 weeks. Some lashes started to grow longer, much longer, to the point that some would tickle my eyebrows and, these lashes were dark which was different from the light brown/blond lashes I used to have. At about 3-4 months I had a full set of long, dark, and–dare I say–luscious lashes, which I was starting to get regular compliments on. This is also around the time that I was running out of product, but I was hooked and had to have more.

Potential Downsides?

As with all things, you cannot get something for nothing. One of my friends that had used Latisse developed very itchy eyelids and ultimately stopped using it. Personally I developed a very minimal darkening of my upper eyelid at my lash line but I did not mind and actually like this look. There is a potential for eye color change, which was seen when the medication was used several times a day dripped onto the eye for patients with glaucoma. There have been studies that show that with use on the lash line there is minimal risk of eye color change. I have green eyes and did not notice any changes to my iris color after 3 years. Because bimatoprost is a medication originally used to reduce the pressure in the eye this is potentially a risk for changes in eye pressure but clinical studies did not show any problems with normal use on the lash line. Latisse can also stain soft contact lenses so just make sure to take your contacts out before you apply at night.

Recap:

1. Bimatoprost, aka Latisse, use causes significantly longer, fuller, and darker lashes and is worth the price
2. Takes about 3 weeks to notice any changes and ~4 months to get full effect but worth the wait
3. There can be side effects but these are typically tolerated by most

Additional Reading:

HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION

Retrospective Evaluation of Topical Bimatoprost and Iris Pigmentation Change.