What Is It Like to Use Latisse for Eyelash Growth? Here’s What 3 People Want You to Know
Key takeaways:
Latisse (bimatoprost) is an FDA-approved, prescription-only treatment that promotes eyelash growth.
Those who use Latisse say it’s a convenient way to enhance your eyelashes, but it requires nightly application and patience to see results.
The generic version, bimatoprost, is a cheaper alternative to brand-name Latisse.
Access savings on related medications
They say the eyes are the window to the soul — and lashes help frame them. For people who want longer, fuller eyelashes, Latisse (bimatoprost) is the first FDA-approved serum for eyelash growth. But the prescription-only treatment, which is applied nightly to the upper lash line, isn’t without potential side effects.
Some people who use Latisse experience dry eyes, redness, and even eyelid or eye color changes. Latisse can also be costly, leading some to choose the more affordable generic version, bimatoprost.
Here, three people discuss what it feels like to use Latisse, if it works for eyelash growth, and how it has affected their confidence and daily routines.
Latisse gave her lashes a youthful boost
About 10 years ago, Donna Drost noticed her eyelashes were thinning. She considered getting permanent lash extensions. But her cousin, a cosmetologist, suggested Donna see a dermatologist instead.
The dermatologist prescribed her Latisse. And within 2 months, Donna noticed a dramatic difference in her lashes. She now says the treatment transformed the way she felt about aging.
“I try to use it every night,” says Donna, who is 70 and lives in Cleveland. “I think [my eyelashes] look even better than when I was younger.”
She also started using the serum on her eyebrows. While some studies suggest that Latisse may promote eyebrow growth, it’s not FDA approved for this purpose, which is considered off-label.
“Trust me, I look at people’s eyebrows all the time, and everybody my age has them drawn up,” Donna says. “I’m going to be 70 in January, and I still have my eyebrows. In fact, I have to trim them.”
Donna, who has sensitive eyes, says she hasn’t experienced side effects from the medication. She visits her dermatologist regularly to check in and get her prescription renewed. She now uses bimatoprost, the generic version of Latisse, and hasn’t noticed any difference in results.
“It works the same as the name brand,” she says of the cheaper, generic form.
What are the side effects of Latisse? Read more about Latisse’s potential side effects, Including dry eyes, redness, and eyelid darkening.
Does Latisse really work for eyelash growth? Clinical studies indicate a large majority of users see longer, thicker lashes within 16 weeks.
Can eyelash extensions ruin your eyelashes? Experts say some eyelash extensions cause damage if they aren’t properly applied.
Donna always checks GoodRx to figure out where to get the best price for her prescription. While Latisse can go for up to $150 per bottle, she’s been able to get a bottle of the generic versions for $22.
Consistency and care help her save money
Carey Gaynes discovered Latisse a few years ago. Her mother had been taking a different form of the medication to treat high eye pressure related to glaucoma. Carey read an article about it that mentioned its eyelash-boosting effects and wanted to know more.
“So I asked my skin doctor about it, and he gave me a prescription,” says Carey, who’s 62 and lives in Chicago.
Within 3 to 4 months of using Latisse, Carey noticed her eyelashes were longer and fuller. She stresses, however, that the medication only works while you’re using it, which is why you have to be consistent.
As part of making sure she’s using Latisse consistently, Carey is strategic about how much she spends on her prescriptions. She uses GoodRx coupons to buy the generic version, which saves her more than $100 per prescription. By applying the medication cautiously, she can make a bottle last up to 6 months — much longer than the typical 1-month estimate.
“I’m very cautious when I flip the bottle upside down. I put a gentle pressure on either side, and let one drop just fall. I don't force that little drop out. I just encourage it,” she says.
“You’re typically doing this prior to bed, and you’re going to close your eyes,” she says, explaining that if you put too much on, it could also start dripping down your face. “Be very judicious about it. Make sure you’re not wasting it.”
If your eyes are your focus, little details matter
Lorraine Ladish has always been self-conscious about her thin eyelashes.
“I’ve never had great eyelashes in my life — or eyebrows, for that matter,” says Lorrain, 61, from Sarasota, Florida.
She considered using fake eyelashes but worried about damage and upkeep. Then, 10 years ago, she decided to try Latisse after consulting her dermatologist.
Within a month of treatment, Lorraine noticed improvement in the way her eyelashes looked. Now, she applies Latisse every night before bed and hasn’t noticed any side effects — except for a boost in her confidence.
“Sometimes, it’s just the little things,” she says, adding that during the COVID-19 pandemic, when “eyes were everything” because of masks, her eyes became her focus.
Lorraine also appreciates the flexibility Latisse offers. Specifically, she likes that the effects are "reversible" if she changes her mind and wants to stop using the medication.
“When people microblade their eyebrows and they don't like the result, you're stuck,” says Lorraine, who has authored nearly 20 books on women’s issues. “With this, you can stop using it and start using it again whenever you want.”
What does the doctor say?
Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH
Senior Medical Editor
Latisse — and the generic version, bimatoprost — can help people get fuller, longer and darker eyelashes. The discovery of Latisse was a happy accident.
Lumigan, another form of bimatoprost, is a glaucoma treatment that can help lower eye pressure. People using Lumigan eye drops noticed that their eyelashes looked quite different after starting the medication. That led to new clinical trials that discovered applying bimatoprost to the eye lid margin improves eyelash growth.
As these stories show, it can take time to see results from Latisse. The medication affects how your eyelashes grow, and eyelashes grow slowly. In clinical trials, people saw results after 8 to 16 weeks of nightly use.
The good news is once you hit that 16-week mark, you may not need to use Latisse every day. Some people switch to every other day or even weekly applications. That’s because eyelashes, like all hair, have a natural growth and shed cycle. And not all your eyelashes grow and shed at the same rate. So you may notice that you can maintain your eyelashes without daily help from Latisse. Over time, Latisse users come up with a plan that works best for them.
It is important to know that if you stop using Latisse for good, your eyelashes will eventually go back to their normal state. But that process is gradual, too, and can take weeks to months.
Latisse is a generally safe medication with few reported side effects. But it is important to follow application instructions. Only apply Latisse to your upper eyelid. Don’t apply it to your lower eyelid. This can lead to unwanted hair growth on your face caused by tiny amounts of the medication dripping down naturally.
Also, make sure to use the daily applicators that come with the medication and discard them after each use. Using a clean applicator will help prevent eye infections.
Make sure you keep the cap on the Latisse bottle at all times. Avoid touching the tip of the bottle or the inside of the cap with your fingers or any other object, including an applicator. Turn the bottle upside down and allow a drop to fall onto the applicator. This will prevent bacteria and other germs from growing on the bottle, which can lead to eye infections.
Why trust our experts?
Was this page helpful?
Related Articles
Browse medications
View AllResearch prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.