BellaSugar

The Latisse Diaries: Week 3 - Catch the Red Eye

BellaSugar — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 06:00:10 -0700

Hi everybody. I'm continuing with Latisse and thought it was time for another installment because I've run into my first real gripe about the product. It's my eyes. And no, they're not changing color, still the same baby blues; they're just noticeably bloodshot, especially after I apply my nightly treatment. Mr. Bella has jokingly begun referring to me as Ol' Red Eyes.

My doctor told me that there could be some minor irritation, but I find myself repeatedly using Visine, and my contact lenses certainly aren't helping things. I was worried about it, so I stopped in at the doc's to make sure I hadn't contracted conjunctivitis or something similarly unpleasant, and he recommended I flush my eyes with saline in the morning before I put in my lenses. That way, any Latisse still on my lashes doesn't get into my eyes and trapped under my contacts. It's so common-sense that I'm a tad embarrassed it never occurred to me. Let's just hope it actually works.
Photo by care_smc

The Latisse Diaries: Week 2, Part 2 - My Latisse Secret

BellaSugar — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 07:00:14 -0700

I'm at the end of my second week with Latisse, and I'm going to tell you all a secret: I've been putting it on my eyebrows as well, and though I haven't seen much lash difference yet, the patches I had from over-plucking in high school are almost gone. My eyebrows look amazing, and they're almost back to the perfect, natural arch I had when I was 13 and didn't realize how good I had it. A woman at my dermatologist's office told me about this little off-brand use, and then later a couple of helpful readers mentioned it, too. So I decided to try it, and it's worked like a charm so far. I'm not seeing any bad side effects, and I'm still really happy I stopped using the brushes - I'm definitely way less than halfway through with the bottle. Hopefully there'll be some noticeable lash growth by next week, so I'll post a picture of that, and my newly lush brows, in the next few days.

The Latisse Diaries: Week 2, Part 1 - Ouch!

BellaSugar — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 06:00:09 -0700

Why am I in pain? I'll tell you. I've been using Latisse for a while now, and though I haven't seen results just yet, I do know one thing for sure - the brushes that come with the product are terrible. For the dish on one of the worst things about Latisse, just keep reading.

The Latisse Diaries: Week 1, Part 2 - In Which I Learn Some Important Things

BellaSugar — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:00:24 -0700

OK, I've had my Latisse for a couple of days now, and I have to say that it's expensive. Not as expensive as lash extensions, which I've also tried, but $130 for a one-month supply. My wallet hurts, long story short. It could also take up to eight weeks for me to begin seeing results; hopefully, that won't be the case. I usually respond pretty quickly to treatments anyway. Here's a pic of my lashes as they look without mascara now, for reference. I'll update after I've applied it a few more times and tell you all how it works.

The Latisse Diaries: Week 1, Part 1 - In Which I Take the Plunge

BellaSugar — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:00:51 -0700

Latisse, the liquid that the FDA recently approved to lengthen and thicken eyelashes, has fascinated me since it hit shelves a couple months back. The before-and-afters on the website are impressive, and the fact that it has a guarantee from the government is no small feat, but I'm still leery of the whole thing. (I don't love weird chemicals, as you all know.) So I've decided to use myself as a guinea pig for the greater good of Bellas everywhere and document my experience with Latisse as accurately, and with as many photos, as possible. Join me here, in the Latisse Diaries, to see real pics of what "Latisse lashes" look like and get an unbiased take on the Latisse experience. Wish me luck, and meet me back here shortly for pics and a breakdown of my first week with Latisse.

How Much Would You Pay For Longer Lashes?

BellaSugar — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:00:04 -0800

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.

Source

Beauty Byte: FDA Approves Eyelash-Growth Drug

BellaSugar — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 10:59:09 -0800

Back in June, the maker of Botox was seeking FDA approval of its eyelash-boosting drug. Now, Allergan got its wish: the FDA has approved Latisse, an eyelash-thickening agent meant for people who have hypotrichosis of the eyelashes - in other words, too few lashes.

Latisse's active ingredient is bimatroprost, which happens to be the same ingredient used in glaucoma treatments. Side effects may include itchy eyes, eye redness, a change in skin color, and a potentially permanent darkening of the iris. For people who have serious eyelash problems, it's probably worth a shot - but considering the possible side effects, I'll stick with my mascara for now.

Source

Do You Use Prescription Beauty Products?

BellaSugar — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0800

Last week, I had one major case of sticker shock when I went to fill my prescription for a facial cream. "Do you still want it? It's $200," said the aide at the register. Two hundred Benjamins even with insurance? Yikes. Luckily, I was able to have my doctor call in a generic equivalent.

Whether you have a prescription for an antidandruff shampoo, a medicated facial cleanser, antibiotics for acne, or even the eyelash-enhancing Latisse, do you get some of your beauty-related products from the pharmacist?

Brooke Shields Shares Advice on Looking Great in Photos

BellaSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 07:00:43 -0700

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to sit down with Brooke Shields to discuss her role as a spokeswoman for Latisse, the eyelash-enhancing drug. More on her involvement with the product later, but in the meantime: since she's been in front of the cameras since she was in diapers, who better to ask how to appear your best in photographs? I asked Brooke what advice she could give us on looking more photogenic in snapshots. If ever there was a Miss Photogenic of all time, Brooke would win, no? And after meeting her, I'd say she'd also be up for Miss Congeniality and Miss Sense of Humor.

View 5 Photos ›

To find out her five tips, read more.

Lashisse Offers Longer Lashes, Side Effects Galore

BellaSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 04:01:24 -0700

Move over, Latisse. There's a new eyelash-enhancing drug in town. Lashisse features all of the over-the-top endorsements (including Molly Sims's) that you'd expect from a lash-lengthening serum. Plus, there are some very interesting side effects - to the easily squeamish, you've been warned.