“Overall, eyelash serums can be considered a safe and effective way to improve the length, thickness, and overall appearance of eyelashes,” says Dr. Garshick. But since there are many different eyelash serums out there, it’s important to note that “the prescription eyelash growth product, Latisse, is the only product approved by the FDA to enhance eyelash growth.”
“The main ingredient in Latisse is bimatoprost, which is a prostaglandin analogue,” explains Dr. Garshick. Prostaglandins are naturally occurring lipids in the body that have hormone-like effects. Synthetic forms of prostaglandins have been used in various medical treatments, including the treatment of glaucoma. Bimatoprost, in particular, was initially used in a glaucoma medication called Lumigan, but it made its way into eyelash serums after some patients noticed their eyelashes grew longer and fuller. Here’s where things get a little (ahem) hairy: not all eyelash serums use the same ingredients.
As the American Academy of Ophthalmology explains: “Beauty aisles are filled with over-the-counter serums promising to mimic the effects of Latisse. But there are important differences. Bimatoprost, the prostaglandin analog found in Latisse, is approved by the FDA. But isopropyl cloprostenate, the prostaglandin analog often found in over-the-counter products, is not. Because these over-the-counter serums have not been tested by the FDA, their safety and effects are not known. Latisse is the only eyelash growth serum currently approved by the FDA.