LATISSE® (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03% Review coming soon

Imagine having eyelashes so thick and long that you don't feel the need to apply mascara. Well, a few days back I received LATISSE (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03%, an eyelash enchancement product. Latisse is produced by Allergan and is prescription medicine to treat hypotrichosis, a technical term for having too few eyelashes. The  product promises fuller, longer, thicker, and luscious lashes, due to presence of bimatoprost as an active ingredient in the product that is known to promote lash growth.

A few pictures of Before and After. 

Ingredients:

Active ingredient

Active ingredient in Latisse is bimatoprost, 0.3mg/mL, which is an FDA approved drug used to treat glaucoma and manage ocular pressure. Latisse is a is a synthetic prostaglandin analog. Its chemical name is (Z)-7-[(1R,2R,3R,5S)-3,5-Dihydroxy-2-[(1E,3S)-3-hydroxy-5-phenyl 1-pentenyl] cyclopentyl] -N-ethyl-5- heptenamide, and its molecular weight is 415.58. Its molecular formula is C25H37NO4. Bimatoprost is a powder, which is very soluble in ethyl alcohol and methyl alcohol and slightly soluble in water. LATISSE® is a clear, isotonic, colorless, sterile ophthalmic solution with an osmolality of approximately 290 mOsmol/kg. One of the side effects of using this drug is hair growth, which is effectively used by Allergan in Latisse to promote eyelash growth. 

Inactive ingredients

The inactive ingredients include benzalkonium chloride,0.05 mg/mL, sodium chloride, sodium phosphate, dibasic, citric acid and purified water. 

Application: 

Prolonged use of Benzalkonium chloride may cause allergic reactions in sensitive users. Latisse has to be applied once a day to the base of the upper eyelashes with a sterile, disposable applicator for a minimum of eight weeks before expecting to see any noticeable difference in the appearance of the eyelashes.

A few pictures for you: 

The Package

 

Contents of the Package 

Applicator Brushes

Before starting to use Latisse, I did a bit of research on the internet about its effects and side effects. The official website of Latisse provides extensive information on the product, its usage, and the probable side effects and how to treat them. The product priced at $120 which is quite expensive. 

The website also lists a few side effects of the product : 

• Redness of the eye, itching sensation at the application site, eye irritation, and dryness in the eyes
• Darkening of the skin (hyperpigmentation) around application site.
• Falling out of lashes and discoloration of the eyes (iris)
• The product takes a long time to work, as long as 4 months, to see any noticeable results.
• Once use of product is discontinued, lashes immediately go back their original state.

The above side effects were reported in a very small percentage of users i.e. 4%. Well, honestly, the side effects scared me a bit and I have not been able to make up my mind whether to use Latisse or not. What do you say?

 

Product provided by Brand for consideration, but has not affected my opinion in any manner. I am still in a dilemma whether to use this or not. Have you tried Latisse ?