Long story, short
- Prostaglandins — a group of fatty acids used in many eyelash serums to stimulate lash growth — can cause serious side effects including dry eyes, styes, eyelid hyperpigmentation, and periorbital volume loss (a sunken, hollow look around the eyes).
- Prostaglandins were originally developed to treat glaucoma; researchers discovered increased eyelash growth as a side effect and the ingredient was quickly adopted by the cosmetics industry.
- The safest way to avoid these side effects is to choose a prostaglandin-free lash serum — effective plant-based alternatives like Redensyl™, Probiometa, bioavailable peptides, and Panax Ginseng Root Extract can deliver visible results without the risks.
- After 8 weeks using Beauty Pie’s Lash Fuel XL: 89% of testers agreed they experienced reduced eyelash breakage, 87% agreed their eyelashes looked visibly thicker, and 85% agreed their eyelashes looked visibly longer.
Last month, a friend came to me for some beauty advice. She’d noticed her eye bags were looking really dark and her eyes almost looked sunken, and she wanted to know if there was an eye cream that might help. My first question was whether she’d been using a lash serum, and specifically, whether she’d been using a lash serum containing prostaglandins.
Prostaglandins are a group of naturally occurring fatty acids found in almost all tissues in the body. They play a role in various physiological processes, including inflammation, blood flow regulation, and cell growth — but they’ve also been used in many eyelash serums to stimulate hair growth. Recently, however, prostaglandins have become a hot topic on social media platforms and online forums, with users complaining that application of serums containing this ingredient has given them dry eyes, styes (caused by clogged oil glands), lash line and eyelid hyperpigmentation and even iris discolouration.
Prostaglandins have become a hot topic on social media... with users complaining of dry eyes, styes and even iris discolouration.
The once-lauded ingredient was initially developed to treat glaucoma (a common eye condition where the optic nerve becomes damaged). During clinical trials, researchers noticed that patients experienced increased eyelash growth as one of the side effects, and the ingredient was quickly adopted by the cosmetics industry.
Prostaglandins work by promoting the growth phase (anagen) of the eyelash hair cycle, leading to longer, thicker, and darker lashes over time. However, this fatty acid can cause periorbital volume loss, which is when the fat deposits around your eyes become depleted, leading to a sunken and hollow look. Prostaglandins can also stimulate melanin production in the iris and the skin surrounding the eye, causing irreversible darkening.
Prostaglandins can cause periorbital volume loss... leading to a sunken and hollow look.
While not everyone will experience these side effects, the best way to avoid them is to steer clear of prostaglandin. And luckily, it’s not the only effective lash-boosting ingredient available: our Lash Fuel XL uses a blend of plant-based ingredients that help condition for thicker looking lashes, including star ingredient Redensyl™ — the same exceptional active we use in our bestselling anti-hair-loss spray.
It also contains Korean Kimchi-derived postbiotic Probiometa to condition the lashes, a bioavailable peptide to enhance length and thickness, and Panax Ginseng Root Extract to strengthen the roots and follicles to prevent thinning and breakage.
After eight weeks’ use, 89% of testers agreed they experienced reduced eyelash breakage, 87% agreed their eyelashes looked visibly thicker and 85% agreed their eyelashes looked visibly longer.
And in the reviews, Stephanie wrote: “For me, this stuff is as good as the $150 eye and brow serum I used to buy” while Loubear said “I never thought I would receive compliments on my eyelashes! Traditionally they have been thin and sparse so I thought I’d give the serum a go. It’s easy to apply and does not irritate. A couple of weeks after using I had the first compliment on my lovely eyelashes and was asked if I had them permed. Needless to say I immediately purchased a second bottle.”
