A few months back, I started using Latisse, the drug approved to make your eyelashes longer and thicker. I reported on it for a few weeks, but then dropped off — for which I apologize — and later quit using it. Why did I go through all the trouble of going to my dermatologist, spending hundreds of dollars on the product, and reporting on it to then just quit? I've got a bunch of reasons it didn't work for me, so if you'd like the lowdown from someone who went through the entire Latisse process, just keep on reading.
It's not that Latisse didn't work; it worked pretty well. My lashes were noticeably longer, thicker, and darker. But I used it for a full 16 weeks, and even at the end they weren't voluminous enough to really go without eye makeup. You have to keep using Latisse to maintain the results, and I couldn't imagine going the rest of my life shelling out $130 every other month just to find myself putting mascara on to get the same results I'd always gotten.
What really made me stop using it, though, was the lid discoloration. There's been a lot of talk about Latisse being able to turn blue eyes brown permanently. Although I'm blue eyed, I never experienced anything of the sort. What I did get, though, was a reddish-purple tinge to my upper eyelids that had never been there before. Initially I thought it was irritation, because I'd been getting red eyes from the product, but even once the redness abated, the strange discoloration remained. And then it started getting worse, darkening to the point where my lash line looked almost bruised. I'm absurdly pale, so I'm sure the appearance was much worse than it would be on most people, but still — not something I cared to live with. So I quit using it. After a few weeks, the lid discoloration started to lessen (I'm really, really glad it wasn't permanent and I feel pretty lucky). Now, five months later, my lids are back to their normal shade.
Your appearance is a very personal means of self expression, so I'm sure this is worth it for some people. And I realize that my experience isn't going to be exactly like anyone else's. But as a person with an average income who just wanted to be able to go without mascara, I felt a little put off and a lot impoverished by the entire experience. Latisse sells a very appealing concept, but the reality — for me, at least — just wasn't as charming. If you have any questions about the product, just leave them in the comments and I'll be glad to answer them.
Isotoner
Charlotte Olympia
High
eeeek! sounds pretty scary! glad to know the discoloration wasn't permanent
1Thanks for the update! Was wondering what evenutally happened with the test.
2I totally agree with you Bella...paying that amount of money to still have to use mascara seems like a waste...and we still don't really know the long-term effects of using this product so close to our eyes!!
3I'm super fair with light eyes too. I also have mild allergies/sensitive eyes....my doc gave me a great big "no" on this. I'm happy you had no permanent damage. Thank goodness!
4My mother in law uses the glaucoma product that this originated from-Lumigan. Shes 65 and more concerned with not losing her sight than her eyelash length, but as a result of using that version of the medication, she has eyelashes so long that she actually has her hair stylist cut them becasue they interfere with her eyeglasses. In addition, she also has the lid discoloration which is fairly obvious since she doesn't wear makeup. Her blue eyes have NOT turned brown, but the dicoloration is rather distracting. Again, she's more concerned with blindness obviously.
5I was wondering what happened with the test. It does seem like a lot of money to spend and still have to use mascara. I have a friend who used it for glaucoma who now has the most beautiful eyelashes and didn't have the lid discoloration but unfortunately didn't help her glaucoma enough.
6thanks for updating! I'm happy you stopped before it got serious. There's no way i'm trying this. I'm sticking to my castor-oil treatment, it's working for me!
7Shaima -- I'm curious...exactly what is that treatment?
If I had the money I *might* consider trying this. I am literally white as a ghost but I have brown/black lashes and dark brown eyes. The lid discoloration would be the only major turnoff there.
Then again I'll most likely stick to what I have since I don't ever need to wear mascara...and I never do.
8@ laura220: some people say that castor oil helps lashes grow. A friend of mine said it was a myth since it didn't work for her, but after hearing the pros and cons, i decided to give it a try. I use it at night and honestly, i DO see a difference after 5 weeks. I'm stopping it in few days and hope my lashes will remain strong and thick. My friend, as i said, had a terrible experience with castor oil, eye redness etc. So for precaution, i put a very little of the oil on the extremity of my lashes.
9I'm so glad no harm was permanent. I'm pretty sure I'll never try latisse. The risk of permanent change of eye color is enough to dissuade me from using it, even if it didn't cost so much.
10I was wondering bella, in the picture you posted of your eye, it looks like at the outer corner of your eye you put a couple of fake eyelashes, or are you completly bare and if not, could you post one?thxs
11Yeah I'll probably just stick with mascara. $130 is just too much if you still end up using mascara! Plus I have blue eyes and would be terrified of them possibly changing color because of using this. I also already have a sort of dark look to my eyelids (in conjunction with my dark circles) so I don't need anymore eyelid discoloration! Pass. Speaking of dark circles, whatever happened to the series by Bella on remedies for that? Did she find that any one method works best?
12Anon11, it's a stock photo.
This is a shot of the lashes in progress: here
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