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Have you ever tried an eyelash growth or enhancing product?
Nope! It is the one type of product that I just say “no” to, as I’m just not personally comfortable with potential side effects!
— Christine
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My lashes are pretty pathetic, so I’ve thought about it, but same here, worried there might be some unknown side effects down the road.
I pamper my lashes with a mixture of pure oils coconut almond castor olive I wrap in warm cloth before apply at night I mix into a mascara tube and apply with wand. My lashes are beautiful! Any of products where people have adverse reactions scare me. I like to strengthen them naturally. Talika lipocils conditioner is only safe one. I use on/off with the oils. Maintain fallen lashes. Keep full. Very long. Recommend! I was taught treat lashes like hair so I do.
Or I use only Camelia oil pure cold pressed unrefined. This oil maintains and grows hair like weeds. Keeps glossy and color healthy. It so totes is a HG item in my life for skin an hair etc.
I should have stated that I have very long thick curl lashes naturally. This is why I maintain them. There are no life cycles of growth and fall out for me. I use nothing invasive. I researched. It’s a job. I’m fortunate to work where I do with connections to reports from side affects people aren’t allowed to see by the FDA. Talika is most effective and safe. For any to work, must have live follicles already. Nothing will grow otherwise but conditioning them with nutrition feeds them and can make follicle health improved! I try not get technical but I work in the industry for the reason of what bad things FDA causes and people don’t know to teach and help find alternative means for their care. I’d not bash anyone for their choices. I respect what they choose. After reading comments I felt this type of disclaimer about my comments necessary. I don’t want to give wrong idea. We have a team that works synergistically with the body and looks at everything regular docs don’t. We have to see people in person to make recommendations. We are only allowed to give examples of situations if asked outside. Many are skeptics yet what they do is harming them more than they know. It’s hard to see so many suffering. Research research research further than YouTube and blogs into medical files and documentation that is real. Safety first. Not all prescriptions have side effects percentages down correctly. We are fighting that for those who believe if it prescribed it must be safe because that is not true. Google prescription truth.
If good ol’ pure castor oil counts, then yes I have. That was the only one I ever intentionally used during 3-4 different stints in my life. It did work, but took time.
Now for the unintentional! An eyedrop I was prescribed for glaucoma made my lashes bloom like mad! The first year or two, it was the name brand, but when that got replaced by a generic, I began to have severe itching, redness and burst vessels, so I stopped it. And I also noticed that my weird gold flecks had become darker, like a honey shade? As far as I know, only those with hazel or with a mixed shade iris get darkening, but not 100% sure.
Hi Nancy, (I’m a regular lurker here). I just wanted to comment on your mention of stopping your prescription for glaucoma when you did not like the side effects of the generic version. I’m hoping that means you went back to the original prescription, not that you stopped using the drops altogether. Glaucoma is a serious medical condition, and untreated can most definitely cause blindness! If you DID stop them, have you consulted with your doctor about this? It’s really important. Sight is one of the most precious senses we have. All the best to you.
I tried the L’Oreal one ages ago! I actually really liked it — it was a nice lash conditioner with zero creepy side effects, and I definitely feel like it helped encourage lash growth while I was using it!
Yes I used the l’oréal too before it was discontinued, nice stuff indeed.
No I have not. I know there’s a prescription product that’s FDA approved for lash growth (I think it’s called Latisse) and it’s the only one that I would be willing to try. But I’d have to know more about the potential side effects before making a decision.
FDA approved ones have caused most terrible reactions. Larisse is the worst. Talika is 100% safe and works never side affect reported. The FDA does what makes them money not what’s in best interest. Research further than fda approval. Research fda. That’s why I work where I do. It’s saving people who are sick from following FDA medicine and getting sick.
Yes! It’s part of my night time routine! I use just a cheap drugstore product (that happens to be discontinued just now, so I went looking for another one that’s even cheaper, lol) and it does wonders! I am blessed with long dark lashes, but with this product they grow even a bit longer. With this stuff I do not need to use mascara unless I want to go glamourous. For every-day-fast-in-and-out-looks, I use a lash gel from the Body Shop. I’ve been using it for years now and I haven’t experienced any negative side effects.
Could you please give the name of the one you use? Thanks!
Hi Sandy, first I used the one from Etos (a local drugstore chain) and now I have one from Catrice (wich is more international I believe), and I think this one works as well for me.
No way. I won’t risk all the health stuff like my eyelashes falling out (or going friggin’ blind!). Not worth it to me.
I tried the revita lash and it really worked! I would say that my lashes got about 50% longer and much darker. It took about 4 weeks until i started to see results. I feel like you need to stop using it after about half a year and then take a break for a month or so. After that you can start again.
I just applied it in the evening every day and after about 8 weeks i sometimes misses a day or two, which i think is not bad at all.
Only downside of this product is that your lids and waterline might be a bit more red than usual (i have veeery pale skin, so i don’t know how obvious it is on darker skin tones).
My eyes needed a couple days to get used to this product. But after a week or so my lids were a lot less red and so i continued using it.
Highly recommed!
Not yet but I’m seriously thinking about trying something like that. My lashes are tiny and very straight and my lower lashes are so sparce that you can’t barely see them. I don’t know anything about side effects. I’m curious.
Yes I have. The only thing I trust and that surly guaranteed to work is Latisse. I do not trust or believe that a non prescriptive lash growth serum or a lash growth mascara actually works. For Latisse you need a prescription for it, it’s expensive, and must be applied at night. The results were amazing and I got long and thick lashes from using it. But, the lashes have a life cycle and fall out, that is normal even when using a growth serum thus, you have to keep using it. When you use the product, get the lashes you want, then stop, your perfect lashes wont last forever. Overall it’s a hassle to purchase and use.
I dont use the product anymore and will never use a lash growth product ever again because I am content and peace with my lashes even if they are not the longest. Nothing that a pair of false eyelashes or curler+mascara can’t fix.
nope, not really into that kind of stuff. my mom’s gotten eyelash extensions before and she wasn’t the biggest fan of those either.
I actually tried a few. Some of them worked, some didn’t, but none had side effects on me.
Yes. I am using one currently called Neulash. I was skeptical. It wasn’t cheap. But it works! I noticed a difference within a couple of weeks. I am now at the 2 month mark and It’s rather remarkable.
Note: I have terrible lashes. While not exactly short, they are super straight and worse, pointing downwards. They are taupe in colour and have only become sparser and ashier as I have aged.
I now have enough length that the ends curl.
I have to apply my mascara slowly in layers so I don’t end up with mascara everywhere.
I’ve begun to notice lashes on the insides of my eyes which used to be practically invisible without mascara. My outer corners have taken on a fluttery look.
They hold a curl much better than they used to.
I can actually use a curler on my lashes without losing them.
I too use Neulash. It is amazing. It has made my lashes stronger, longer and more flexible. It is pricey but north it.
Yes and I have found them to work. I’m trying a new one out. But surprising the one I got the best results with was Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara.
Yes, I’ve tried Rapid Lash, and while I think that it did give me slightly more lashes, it tended to give me a reddish stain over time wherever I applied it. Both my brows and my lash line. So I stopped.
No. But, I have thought about it lately because I have been loosing lashes form a medication I am on. I would like to get off this medication or lower the dosage. I’m not sue if Latisse or the other lash enhancers work if the loss is from medication though. I will see my doctor next week and go form there. As far as brows, I think not plucking works well.
Trying one now from Peter Roth Thomas. Should be interesting to see if it works .. and hope it does as it was $80 bucks !!
Monica
Never. I heard some freak stories about those serums actually making people’s lashes fall out and even though I am skeptical about those claims I’d rather not risk it.
I’m in the same boat as you, Christine. However a friend of mine used an over-the-counter one from Europe years ago and it really did make them longer, almost extension-like but they were natural.
I use Latisse and have done so for years–no side effect issues. Because I wear glasses, I go in for a comprehensive eye exam every year so I feel confident that if a problem were to arise, it could be nipped in the bud.
I got a fuller lash line just from using the Physician’s Formula Eye Booster + 2 in 1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner. I was using the Dark Brown in the thicker, marker type eyeliner. Then I started using the Shiseido Nourishing Mascara Base. I felt like the two of them made my lashes healthier. About 5 months, ago, I started using the Shiseido Full Lash Serum. My lashes are longer. Not incredible longer, but long & pretty & healthy. I don’t have any side effects. No redness. No itchiness. No burning. I use the serum once a day at bedtime. In the last month or so, I only use it every other day or 3rd day.
I’ve never used a prescription one. I worry about side effects.
My left eye had damaged lashes due to severe eye allergies and rubbing. Even after getting allergies more under control and training myself not to rub, they weren’t growing back. I used L’Oreal Renewal Eye Lash Serum, and it worked amazing well. I started growing lashes back in sparse areas within a week, and now they’re pretty much back to normal.
Per L’oreal: “The Lash Boosting Serum and Double Extend with Lash Boosting Serum Mascara are cosmetic products which contain conditioning properties for the eye lashes. These products do not contain ingredients which will change eye color.”
Yes, it only last as long as you use the product
I use Latisse and have on and off for years. I feel that it’s very safe and there are *no* side effects. It was originally a treatment, at higher concentrate, for glaucoma. What is there to be afraid of? I use it on my aging brows as well : )
I’ve also used most of the OTC ones. But I see no reason to go back.
Nope! I don’t want to end up losing my lashes. I’m good with false eyelashes. 🙂
A few months ago I decided to learn how to apply individual lashes to myself, and in the process I lost lots of my own lashes, and also my lashes got very delicate and thin. At the beginning of December I started applying Revitalash every night after removing my makeup and washing my face and I can’t believe the results!!! My lashes have never been so full and long ??? I’m thrilled. Now I just apply a normal coat or two of any mascara and people ask me all the time if I’m wearing falsies.
Hi there,
yes, I have been using it for about 2 years now. I tried Rapidlash but after 6 months of using it, I noticed the area along my lash line was darkening so I stopped applying it. I read about Latisse but frankly, I was not going to spend 150 dollars on an eyelash serum so I took it upon myself to do some research on the ingredients and to see what was out there that was comparable. One of the main ingredients in the Latisse product is Lumigan/Bbimatoprost. I found a reputable American company (that I’ve used for over a year) that sells a product comparable to Latisse and it’s only 39 dollars. I get compliments all the time for my eyelashes and I swear by this product.
I’ve done extensive research on all the various products out there. The best article I found on the subject is on Beautypedia (Paula’s Choice review site.) It explains the difference between Latisse, competitors, and otc drugstore products. If you’re in the market for this type of thing, I high recommend reading this article.
Sorry Sandy, didn’t mean to reply to your post ?
Could you tell me where you get this 39 serum, Sandy? Thanks!
Hi Julie,
here you go http://www.tarasc.com/Careprost-Bimatoprost-Ophthalmic-Solution-s/1883.htm, by the way, it looks like an eyedrop but do not use it as an eyedrop. They will send you a brush with your purchase so what I do is put one drop into the eyedrop plastic lid, dip the brush in and apply it to my lash (one drop is enough to do both eyes).
A former co-worker got a tube “free with breast augmentation”. (It was the one that was prescription only that Brooke Shields advertised) She used it daily as instructed and noticed a big difference. The catch is that once you stop using it, you revert to what you had.
It doesnt make lashes “grow longer”, it just lengthens the life of a lash to allow it to grow. Even with this, she needed mascara so for $100 month isnt worth it.
Another friend got lash extensions. The maintenance is about $60 every 3 weeks and on the day before appointments, she still looks great – no mascara required.
Nope. I want to try castor oil though!
I use Latisse and love it. No side effects, except for gorgeous long lashes. I thought it would be expensive, but I only apply it twice a week now, and I use one drop for both eyes. My bottle lasts a long time!
Yes! I used lilash before it wasn’t allowed to be sold in the states. It was amazing! My lashes were ridiculously long. However, I did have ultra sensitive eyes because of it and I stopped using it before it wasn’t allowed.
I think it’s interesting that people keep commenting about chemical ingredients in the serums, but continue to use adhesives for lash extensions that are not meant to be used near the eye area. I think it’s because no one is informed about these products and what’s in them. But that’s a random side note!??
No – I would be concerned about the effects on my eyes and as I wear glasses, it is not needed.
I have shied away from the lash products for fear they may cause harm to the eyes. HOWEVER, I have been using the eyebrow enhancing “RevitaLash® ‘RevitaBrow®’ ADVANCED” product for the past several months and I am totally delighted with the results. My skimpy, wispy brows have filled in and I no longer need to use an eyebrow pencil. Downside – is the cost $110 for a tube. Upside – I love my new eyebrows!
I have used three, with varying degrees of success. The first one, SmartLash, that’s a big old NO. It stung my eyes. The second one I used is RapidLash and I had moderate success with it. It did help strengthen my lashes but growth, a bit but only a bit.
At this time I’m using Careprost, which is the generic version of Latisse and I love it. It actually does help with growth and regrowth of lashes and maintenance, but of course it comes with the potential side affects that Latisse does, which do not overly concern me…at all.
I’m having very good success with Careprost and will continue using it. By the way, dark brown eyes, so the eye color change (potentially) isn’t an issue for me.
I’m with you (only my eyes are loden green rather than brown). I love it! I hadn’t heard about a generic version of Latisse–where do you buy it?
You can get it from alldaychemist.Com. That’s where I get mine from. It’s called careprost.
Same question, Glenda. Where do you buy it? I buy my Latisse from a physician in PA @ longlashes.com. Although a prescription is not required, the doctor request completion of a health questionnaire. They are very good at communication, less expensive than the doctors here. I’ve told my dermatologist and ophthalmologist. Both are fine with me using it.
Hi Susan,
I get the Careprost online from Hendricks Scientific @ http://www.hendricksscientific.com or just google them. I also get my RetinA from them but it’s the .5% not the full 1.0% but they have that available now. They also have a ton of other stuff but that’s where I go to get my RetinA (read the instructions if you’re purchasing & use suncreen!) and my Careprost. As a 50+ woman, believe me, it helps!
Thanks!
Hi Kate,
I get the Careprost online from Hendricks Scientific @ http://www.hendricksscientific.com or just google them. I also get my RetinA from them but it’s the .5% not the full 1.0% but they have that available now. They also have a ton of other stuff but that’s where I go to get my RetinA (read the instructions if you’re purchasing & use suncreen!) and my Careprost. As a 50+ woman, believe me, it helps!
I’m using Latisse right now and I LOVE IT!! My eyelashes are super thick and LONG! No complaints .
Yes. I did a lot of research, including what constitutes proven active ingredients (it’s not peptides), and I took the plunge with RapidLash and had AMAZING results with virtually no side effects. They changed the RapidLash formula, removing the active ingredient, so I switched to Revitalash and have continued to have great results with no side effects. I now have extremely long, thick eyelashes—people comment on them constantly—and the only side effect I’ve had, maybe, is a little itchiness. And that might’ve been hay fever. A tube is $50-$60 on Amazon and I buy it twice a year. I’m super protective of my green eye color so I was nervous about that potential side effect, but have had no change whatsoever. All in all, I’ve had a totally positive experience with it.
Yes!
I used the L’oreal version, it comes in a clear mascara type tube with a blue top.
It worked! Almost too well, I was using it every day and one of my lashes on the outer end of my eye started to become ingrown.
I stopped it for a week then went down to only using it 3-4x/week.
It kept my lashes strong, less prone to breaking or falling out and they got noticeably longer and thicker!
It works on brows too. No bad effects. I’m actually keeping my eyes open looking to repurchase it BC I ran out almost a yr ago.
No, I may be one of the few ladies who really doesn’t take issue with my natural lashes. Would I like them to be fuller or longer? Sure, I suppose that would be ok. But any dramatic look I want to achieve can be easily done with falsies. I have fairly sensitive eyes and as such I wouldn’t risk the side effects reported with most lash serums.
Yes, for years, and it’s amazing. I love the results and will never go without. I’ve used both NeuLash (good) and Latisse (much better). On and off I’ve used lash extensions, but I always end up back to my regular routine with Latisse.
Yes I have tried lilash eye lash and eye brow growth serum. They actually work. It has taken about 6 weeks to start seeing a difference and 3 months on I am very pleased. I never thought I would have decent eyebrows again, but I actually need to shape them now. I have dried different products in the past and nothing made any difference. But I was hooked by the positive feed back from YouTube’s I respect, so I gave lilash a try. I’m glad I did.
I also use Lilash, just the lash serum, but will try the brow one next time I order. I think it’s quite good, my lashes are absolutely longer, and I haven’t noticed any sideffects whatsoever.
I have used Revitalash some years ago, also with good results.
I have been using Latisse for about a year and it has worked very well for me. The first time I tried it, I had the side effects of eye irritation and dark circles under my eyes so I quit using it. My doctor friend told me that the side effects usually go away after a few weeks so I powered through the irritation and I have to say that the results are pretty neat. I have never had long lashes before and it is so cool to have lashes that are full and long.
I combine the Latisse treatment with a lash lift (really a perm) and I have to say that this combo is life changing. I no longer use a eyelash curler and my eyes actually feel like they are lifted after the perm. Crazy concept but it’s so cool to watch my long curled lashes right after washing my face. I know it sounds like overkill but if you’ve had short, straight asian lashes all your life, this is really a treat.
I use Latisse for my lashes and eyebrows with excellent results. My brow could be better but have improved greatly.
Latisse is the same medication that has been used for decades for treatment of glaucoma. It has been used for so long and side effects are rare. I’ve had none.
Because I’ve used it so long, my lashes are as long as I want them so only use it about three times per week.
I really recommend it.
Yes, I’ve tried Latisse, PTRoth, Rapidlash, Citilash, and others. They all work okay but take time. Latisse worked the best but it reaches a point within about 3 months where it stopped working. I didn’t experience any side effects thankfully. It’s too expensive for what you get out of it. PTRoth worked just okay but again, stopped working at all after a couple of months. I didn’t get any results from Rapidlash or Citilash.
I think they’re all ultimately a waste of money.
Currently I’m using a lash primer, then after it dries I apply mascara – that’s the best result so far.
One other “trick” I’ve used for years is to put my (metal) curler under some warm (not hot) water, dry it off quickly, curl lashes and hold it for a few seconds while the curler cools down, then apply mascara. It sets your lashes like using hot rollers, and lasts all day.
I really enjoyed reading everyone’s comments. It’s interesting to know that many people have experienced good results from a variety of different products/active ingredients, with only a few in this community having minor side effects.
A bunch of lashes in the center of my right eyelid seem to have gotten on the same growth cycle and fall out together, leaving a gap in my lashes for a few weeks — this has happened a couple of times now. At first I thought maybe it was from curling my lashes every day — I did find out that aging lashes don’t always like that so much, so I switched to just curling them for special occasions. But that wasn’t it. So I decided to try $6 Eye Lash Conditioning Gel from Silk Naturals first. It’s a blend of glycerin, herbal extracts, and castor oil with caffeine and MSM (methylsulfonylmethane). I figure that the castor oil and glycerin will at least condition my lashes. I’ve seen an abstract of an article that caffeine helped hair follicles in test tubes grow hair faster. SN does caution you to apply to the upper eyelid only, as topical caffeine can increase blood supply to the area, and that might not be the effect you want on your dark undereye circles. I thought this was really interesting, as caffeine is a common ingredient in eye creams — used to decrease undereye puffiness. I think SN is more cautious than many when it comes to making claims about ingredients. That said, MSM supplements can apparently prolong the hair growth cycle if taken internally (at least for some people), but I don’t see a ton of support for using it externally. But, I haven’t really done a review of the scientific literature, I just don’t see a lot out there. I’ve only been using it for a week (once a day, at night), but no adverse effects so far. It should take at least three months to see what it does for me. I’ve been more hesitant to try the prostaglandin serums because of possible changes in eye color, but it looks like that they have the most evidence that they work, and, if the Eye Lash Conditioning Gel doesn’t work for me, and the gap in my lashes bothers me enough, one of them is probably what I should try next — just bite the bullet and spend the money. I was interested to find out that Revitalash contains a synthetic prostaglandin similar to the active ingredient in Latisse, although with less research published about it. But it’s also interesting to learn that people have actually had positive results with a variety of formulas!