Bimatoprost
Also known as Latisse, lash serum
The only prescription treatment proven to grow eyelashes, with a couple of genuinely permanent side effects to weigh.
$80–180 per bottle, lasting roughly 1–2 months.
How it works
A prostaglandin analogue that extends the anagen phase of the eyelash follicle and increases the number of hairs in active growth, producing longer, thicker and darker lashes.
How it's used
Applied nightly along the upper lash line with a single-use applicator — never into the eye itself. Results require continuous use; lashes revert to baseline within a few months of stopping.
Trade-offs
In favour
- The only lash treatment with genuine regulatory approval and trial evidence
- Visible, substantial lash growth
- Simple nightly application
Against
- Requires indefinite use
- Expensive
- Prescription-only
Risks and side effects
- Permanent iris darkening if the solution enters the eye — irreversible
- Periorbital fat atrophy causing a hollowed eye appearance, which may not fully reverse
- Darkening of the eyelid skin
- Conjunctival redness and itching
How good is the evidence?
Randomised controlled trial evidence supporting regulatory approval for eyelash hypotrichosis.
Sources
Sources point to guideline bodies and literature searches rather than single papers, so they stay accurate as the evidence moves.