The desire to draw attention to the eyelashes has been going strong since around 4000 BC, when ancient Egyptians used kohl to darken lashes and eye areas. Fast-forward thousands of years later, and the mascara industry brings in over an astonishing one billion dollars a year. That's not even including other eyelash-enhancing products such as extensions, false eyelashes, and now Latisse, an eyelash-growth drug approved by the FDA last December. Take a look at my chart below to compare products available on the market now. How much would you pay for long and full lashes?
| PRODUCT | PROS | CONS |
|---|---|---|
 Mascara |
Easy to find and come in a wide variety of styles from vibrating, scented, colored, thickening, and lengthening. Cheap — ranging in price from $5 to $10 at the drugstore. Assuming you keep your mascara around three months, it's mere pennies per use. | Can run and smudge, doesn't always look natural, and very temporary. |
 False Eyelashes |
Very accessible, easy to apply (see my attempt here), and relatively cheap, ranging in price from inexpensive like E.L.F. False Eyelashes ($1 to $3) to moderate/slightly expensive such as Shu Uemura ($16 for accent lashes to $95 for fantasy lashes). Also, they're just plain fun — bedazzled lashes, anyone? | Can fall off easily, don't last very long, can't always be reused, and can look, well, fake! |
 Eyelash Extensions |
Natural looking, long lasting (around two to three months), and doesn't take very long to apply by a spa professional (around 80 minutes or so). Check out my experience with eyelash extensions here. | Expensive, averaging around $200 to $600. |
 Latisse |
Effective, easy to apply — similar to putting on eyeliner, treats hypotrichosis (sparse eyelashes), long-lasting (several weeks to months), and looks very natural because it's your own hair growing out. | Available by prescription only, expensive ($120 for 30-day supply), needs to be applied daily, and side effects can include skin darkening, irritation, dryness, and redness of the eyelids. |
3.1 Phillip Lim
Penhaligon
Beyond The Valley
Mascara is all I'll do and it's just fine for me. My eye doctor went to a place just south of Boston and only paid $125 for lash extensions and touch ups are $60. They looked amazing but I'm set with that kind of money.
1I don't have a problem with length I have a problem with color. My lashes are so light you can't see em, but man put on mascara and its a brand new ballgame
2I wouldn't...I already have some serious long lashes that I'm very thankful for!
3I'm fine with mascara, although I am curious about wearing false ones.
4I would do extensions if they were not that expensive
5I'm a student, so for now I'll stick with my LashBlast mascara and occasional false lashes. In the future I'd be curious about trying Latisse, but the side effects make me a bit wary.
6I have naturally pretty long eyelashes, so I definitely don't need that.
7Mascara is all I need and all I'll spend the money on.
8Mascara is all I need. I'm considering lash-tinting for my travels, just so I don't have to worry about my mascara smudging on a transatlantic-and-then-some flight, but that's more for definition than for length.
9Nothing. My lashes are full, black, plenty, very long and very curled. I always get asked what mascara I'm wearing...when I'm not! I am thankful for them.
Bigger eyes, now that's something I would pay for! Mine are too small imho. But then again, I'm too scared of cosmetic surgery...
10try using castor oil on eyelashes and eyebrows lots of people claim it makes their eyelashes/eyebrows longer and thicker. just dip a q-tip into it and put on base of lashes. you can also use vaseline on them to condition them and make them stronger.
11check this link out for more info:
http://www.makeupalley.com/product/showreview.asp/ItemId=100766/castor_o...
I'm content with my lashes. I naturally look like I'm wearing mascara.
12No way to this drug. It was originally for glaucoma which is when the lash effect was noticed. But the researchers also noted that your eye color could change. So blue and green eyes became brown. No thanks.
13I've only used mascara. Although I've been meaning to try out fake lashes for a while now. They just seem so complicated to apply to me, lol.
14I'll just stick to my fabulous mascaras
15coletta you're absolutely right; castor oil and vaseline both are very very good for your lashes. One should not over-apply castor oil as it can cause dark spots if they fall into your skin, but some careful applying a few times a week can really help!
16Long lashes are a pain in the toosh. I have them and they constantly turn inside out. Just last week, my eyelash turned inside out and scratched my eye. So I had to take eye drops to prevent infection and walk around constantly blinking for the week.
17My lashes are already so long and dark. But they're much lighter at the end, so mascara is a must for "longer" lashes.
18I have long lashes... I just buy mascara. I have one pair of false lashes, that I would only wear for the holidays or party nights.
19I want that glaucoma treatment that grows them way longer and thicker.
20My lashes are already pretty long and dark so i'm fine with using the latest in mascaras. I've used falsies too on special occasions but only on the outer corner of my eyes.
21My lash length doesn't bother me. Mascara works wonders.
22I already have long thick eyelashes. My only problem is they they're very light, so a quick run over with some black mascara and I'm set!
23I wear false lashes when going out and I have no problems applying them, etc. I really love Shu Uemura lashes. They have some that look very natural and some that are very dramatic. I love them!
24I use Lumigan (same as Latisse, but with a different name) that I get from a co. that sells prescription drugs cheaper than most places. I put it on my lashline every night before bed. It has doubled my lashes, adn I love it. I still use mascara, though I probably don't need to....I can't help it!
25It can also lighten the colors of your eyes. Lumigan, the same active ingredient but is FDA approved for cataracts, was found to sprout hair growth as a side effect. So the good thing is, it'll work, but the effects of Latisse will stop if once it is discontinued; your lashes will be back to how it was before you started using it.
260. i'm fine with what i have. and castor oil works on my well enough.
27i wanna try that latisse one! wow
28I have the same problems as most of you...I have very long, blonde lashes that only need a few swipes of mascara to make them visible. Ever since it came out I've used Colossal and I am in LOVE! They are so long that I, too, have the problem of them curling under my eyelids! I have scratched my eyes more times than I like to remember! I would totally try the new rx drug, but I am WAY too afraid of my bright green eyes changing to ANY other color!
29I got eyelash extensions at a spa in bangkok last month for dirt cheap and they were amazing. After three weeks though, when they began to fall out, I noticed that my real lashes were falling out as well. My lashes have always been short and thin but now it's a true issue.
After freaking out for a while, followed by searching google, I stumbled upon this latisse situation. I am seriously considering the product but I want some more feedback from people who have taken it. I have blue eyeballs- are they gonna go brown? Is my fair skin gonna turn brownish too? Are there other side effects? And are the brush applicators really as bad as people say?
Also, since I am in Thailand I am almost positive i can get the prescription over the counter-- would this product be a bad idea to take without consulting a doctor?
thank you, anybody
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