If you are using a serum to help grow thicker, longer lashes and/or brows, this post is for you. I’ve always been an advocate of natural ingredients and always vetted my beauty products leaning mainly on DIY recipes but I will admit I’ve cracked in the last year and tried out a few viral products making huge claims and speaking straight to my insecurities on aging.
One of those products I fell for was a lash serum. An influencer was showing before and afters of her lashes. The growth was incredible and I clicked the link in 2 seconds flat. I used the serum and I will say, it worked. However, my eyes burned while applying it and something in my gut made me uneasy about continuing using it.
Turns out, my gut was right and upon further research I found that most lash serums contain a class of ingredient called prostaglandin analogs or PGAs. There are several different ingredients that fall under this class of drug. This type of ingredient causes the fat cells around your eyes to shrink which gives a sunken in, hollow appearance causing a deep shadow all around the eye. PGAs can also cause permanent color changes to the iris, darkening of the eyelid and chronic eye irritation.
PGAs Commonly Found in Lash/Brow Growth Serums:
- Isopropyl Cloprostenate (IPCP): The most common prostaglandin analog used in over-the-counter (OTC) brow and lash serums including the one I fell for.
- Ethyl Tafluprostamide (DDDE)
- Methylamido-dihydro-noralfaprostal (MDN)
- Bimatoprost: The active ingredient in prescription Latisse, and a prostaglandin derivative.
- Latanoprost & Travoprost: Primarily used in prescription glaucoma eye drops, but sometimes utilized in off-label serums.
Popular Lash/Brow Growth Serums That Contain PGAs
- GrandeLASH-MD: Contains Isopropyl Cloprostenate. This is one of the most widely used over-the-counter growth serums on the market.
- RevitaLash Advanced: Contains Dechloro Dihydroxy Difluoro Ethylcloprostenolamide, a synthetic prostaglandin derivative.
- Babe Original (Essential Lash Serum): Contains Isopropyl Cloprostenate. Note that they also make a separate “Renewing” SKU which is prostaglandin-free.
- RapidLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum: Contains Isopropyl Cloprostenate.
- NeuLash Lash Enhancing Serum: Contains Isopropyl Cloprostenate.
- Latisse: Contains Bimatoprost (0.03%). This is a FDA-approved, prescription-only lash treatment.
There Is Good News….
Luckily the side effects of PGAs are fully reversible after a few months of not using the serum. Unfortunately, some side effects of beauty products aren’t reversible.
More good news is that there are other lash and brow serums that do not contain these ingredients. Including my Big Brow Serum I sell on my Etsy shop! My serum contains only plant based ingredients and it works! I use it regularly to keep my brows in tip top shape. Having hypothyroidism causes my brows to thin so using my serum has really kept that at bay. Plus, every time I wax my brows, too much hair gets removed every single time!
My brow serum won’t work for lashes because it contains essential oils. Some eyes can take a small amount of essential oils, mine cannot so I don’t recommend it for lash use. However, if you are a DIYer, you can find my brow serum recipe HERE and omit the essential oils or use THIS DIY recipe.
Alternative Lash Serums That Do Not Contain PGAs:
If you’re a brow gal like me, you might want to check out my Brow Post Round Up. This post contains every brow post I’ve ever written including how to shape and dye brows. Dying brows can make a HUGE difference. I don’t go a month without doing it.
My brow serum is 30% off for a very limited time so grab one while they’re on sale and in stock!!
xx, Jenni