The new drug Latisse was recently approved by the FDA for those with dull or thinning eyelashes. The drug contains the active ingredient of the glaucoma drug Lumigan, which was found to cause thicker eyelashes during treatment.
This drug is purportedly meant for those with a real health problem called hypotrichosis, in which no hair grows on the eyelid. It may also be useful for those who've suffered permanent eyelash loss because of chemotherapy or other medical treatments. But doctors can prescribe this drug to any woman who complains of thinning lashes, and headlines like the one in the British Telegraph declaring, "Chemical drug by Botox makers could spell the end of mascara" gives a hint as to its likely real use.
But the drug comes with side effects. It can change the pigmentation of you irises, and can also cause eye itching, irritation, or redness or a darkening of the skin around the eye. You can also experience hair growth around your eyes if you accidentally smear Latisse on areas beyond your eyelashes.