Guest Blogger: Sarita Saltanovitz

Lash Enhancers

There is a new innovation in lashes that I've been using that is making my lashes longer, thicker and it's called Latisse.  I've been waiting for this product to finally come out and now it's available to everyone who wants thicker longer lashes!

Latisse is a solution that is a prescription treatment used to grow lashes, making them longer,thicker and darker.  Unfortunately thin short lashes are not yet covered by insurance and Latisse costs $120 for a months supply.  It is painted on the skin at the base of the lashes once a day, like liquid eyeliner.  

The catch about this product is the side effect known as increased iris pigmentation in light-brown and hazel-eyes since they have more pigmented cells in their iris.  Also darkening of the skin along the lash-line, redness of the eyes, or itchy lids.  A lot of people think that the more product the better results but in this case if you put too much you have more chances of getting it in your eye, which puts you at a higher risk of your eye color to darken.

Personally I have had no bad side effect but I have only been using the product for 1 week and I need a few more weeks to really notice a difference.  The brushes that come with Latisse are a little large and many people I know are complaining about the brush and are using their own eyeliner brush instead.  If you are one of those people using your own brush remember to always clean before and after use with a disinfectant.

Most people say that it takes 8 weeks to see a difference but 16 full weeks to notice a dramatic difference but the growth eventually plateaus.  What Latisse is believed to do is affect the growth (anagen) phase of the eyelash hair cycle and in 2 ways: 1st it increases the length of this phase and 2nd, it increases the number of hairs in this growth phase but the exact way it works is unknown.  Only Latisse has been approved by the FDA as a prescription treatment used to grow eyelashes.  After discontinuing use of Latisse I have heard from quite a few people different time periods on which their lashes stayed long and thick which ranged from 2 months to 6 months.

If you aren't ready to try Latisse, there are more over the counter options.  Most claim to work because of peptides, vitamins or conditioners.  Revita Lash conditioner $150, Talika Lipocils $40, Peter Thomas Roth Lashes to Die For $125 and Rapidlash Eyelash Renewal Serum $49.95 just to name a few popular ones.  If you are using one of these over the counter options you are still going to have to keep using them daily to keep up your lashes.

-Sarita Saltanovitz - Hair Stylist & Makeup Artist