Women like me with lashes that are barely there should start rejoicing. Finally, there’s a drug marketed to grant our wish- Latisse,   a treatment for sparse eyelashes!

Gone are the days when we would dab castor oil to our lashes to make them fuller. The opthamologic safety of the Castor oil has long been in question, so try it at your own risk. Latisse, on the other hand, has passed the scrutinizing eyes of the US FDA, earning its seal of approval.

Apparently, glaucoma patients were not only getting well from their condition but were growing thicker, longer and darker lashes, as the active ingredient of Latisse is bimatoprost, a prostaglandin analog which was approved for the treatment of eye disorders like glaucoma. The side effects created fuller lashes. This time, the drug is officially approved to address the cosmetic concerns of enhancing the eyelashes.

To use it, apply nightly to the upper lash line using the accompanying applicators. It was specified that the product shouldn’t be used on the lower lash lines due to possible lid pigmentation. Continued use for 8 to 16 weeks is advised, for best results. Once disrupted, you’re back to square one.

Don’t get too excited as this isn’t available in the market yet. It has just been approved by the FDA but is expected to hit the US drugstores by 1st quarter of this year. This will be sold by prescription only. Suggested retail price is $120 for a month’s supply (ouch. why do i feel like reaching for the castor oil instead? ).

Aside from the steep price, be wary of possible reactions for those with hypersensitivity issues. Be very careful not to instill it  beyond the recommended areas of application to avoid lowering you intraocular pressure (remember, this was used for glaucoma) and producing iris pigmentation if applied directly to the eye. If you’re not careful enough you could end up joining the furry friends league. There is potential for latisse to stimulate hair growth wherever it comes repeatedly in contact with, so you could be growing hair on the wrong places.  Also, if you’re on the family way, delay the use of this after pregnancy because this isn’t safe for the fetus.

So are you ready for longer, fab lashes?

Model: Nicole Floirendo
Photography: Dustein Sibug
Makeup: Grace Pamparo-Bandoy