Unveiling the Risks: Why We Avoid Recommending Lash Serums with Prostaglandins for Healthier Eyelashes
Hey everyone,
If you’ve been thinking about trying to grow your lashes and take a more minimal approach to beauty, then it's likely you’ve come across some of the viral lash serums that seem a little too good to be true… well, we hate to be the bearer of bad news, but a few of them are! Of course, this is not to take away from the products that work successfully for some, but instead shed light on the potential implications.
In this blog, we will share what you need to look out for in the ingredients list so you can make informed and safe decisions for your health while growing long and luscious natural lashes.
With the rise of ‘the clean girl’ aesthetic, many women have been opting for a ‘simple and fresh’ make-up look and have been stepping away from the heavy make-up look they once flocked towards. Opting for flushed cheeks, brushy brows and natural, long lashes to tie the look together.
What are prostaglandins, and why do you want to avoid them in lash serums?
Prostaglandins are lipids naturally found in the body with properties similar to hormones; they signal to the body what to do and when to do it. Prostaglandins are made from fatty acids called arachidonic acid and carry out essential jobs throughout the body, such as regulating hormones, helping the body to start a fever, decreasing acid in the stomach, reducing pressure in the eye, and so much more.
In 1996, a synthetic prostaglandin was created, known as prostaglandin analogues, and has since been used in medicine to help treat glaucoma. With this eye condition, the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain, becomes damaged. In the midst of this work, it was discovered how powerful this ingredient is at growing long lashes.
Bimatoprost is thought to be the active ingredient and is used to treat hypotrichosis of the eyelashes by promoting the growth of longer, thicker, and darker lashes.
So it sounds helpful. It’s clear that prostaglandin analogues have their purpose. Still, like many things in excess, it can be damaging, especially when it's not being used under the guidance of a medical practitioner.
In some countries, the only way you can get a hold of it is to be prescribed it over the counter by a doctor; this clearly shows just how powerful this chemical is!
Ingredients names
As always, a lot of these big companies do a great job at keeping the keywords we know hidden in the ingredients list to keep us purchasing the product. So, we’ve made a list of prostaglandin analogues for you!
We recommend you keep scrolling if you see any of these written in the ingredients list!
-Isopropyl cloprostenate
-Isopropanol Phenyl-hydroxyl-pentene -Dihydroxy-cyclopentyl-heptenateDechloro Dihydroxy Difluoro -Ethylcloprostenolamide
-Trifluoromethyl Dechloro Ethylprostenolamide
We understand how disheartening it can be to learn that companies are being deceptive when it comes to marketing their products. Sadly, the beauty industry does not have to be regulated like the drug industry does with the FDA. Unfortunately, many of the side effects are only coming to light now, after a few years of these products being on the market.
So, to avoid this from happening in the future, let's keep learning about these potentially harmful chemicals and educate our family and friends. Round about now, you might be wondering what the side effects of prostaglandin analogues are, so let's jump right into it now.
Side effects
- A discolouration of the natural eye colour and increased brown pigmentation in the iris. This will be notably more noticeable if you have lighter eye colours.
-Hyperpigmentation: a darkening of the skin surrounding the eye or along the lash line.
Depending on the individual's ethnicity and skin colour, the colour of the pigmentation will vary. On white/pale skin, hyperpigmentation will look pink/red/light brown. On brown and black skin, hyperpigmentation can vary and have tones of tan-brown, dark brown, grey-brown, blue-grey, purple and black.
-Uncomfortable sensation around the eye;
For some people, they can react by having excessively itchy, dry or flaky skin around the eye.
-Swelling of the eye socket and eyelids. For many, this is also paired with a redness, which will be sore to the touch.
-Unwanted hair growth: this might sound a little strange, but it has been reported that people have experienced unwanted extra hair growing around the eye area.
-Styes/ lumps
Sadly, some individuals who react to prostaglandin analogues can develop an infection leading to styes and lumps.
It is truly scary reading through Trustpilot for some of the trending brands for lash serums and seeing what some people have experienced… not forgetting to take a look at Google images!
What to do if you are experiencing any of these symptoms:
To avoid any of the symptoms worsening, we advise that you stop using the product and, to be on the safe side, speak with a medical practitioner.
If you want to grow your lashes, what should you do?
It’s safer to look for Prostaglandin-free lash growth serums where possible; instead, opt for peptides-based serums; they’re an excellent alternative with fewer negative side effects.
Peptides help build stronger eyelashes and protect them from breakage and damage; a high-performance hydrating peptide will contain a triple Peptide Complex (Acetyl Tetrapeptide, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17)
What products do we recommend?
Good news! There are some fantastic products that use safe and clean ingredients, so you don’t have to run the risk of affecting your eye or lash health. Emmy has trialled and tested products on herself and her clients over the last few years and has compiled a list here.
If, however, you have reached despair and have had no luck with prostaglandin-free serums, there is always the option of reaching out to a medical professional to see if prostaglandin serum would instead be a better fit for your needs. Latisse is a trusted brand that delivers results for people suffering from inadequate lashes.
We know this information is quite a lot to take in, so if you have any questions, please reach out; we’d be happy to help!