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Almost 4 months ago, I started using The Ordinary lash serum to see if it would do anything to my stubby lashes. I have previously used a stupidly expensive lash serum that I admittedly saw amazing results with; however, that lash serum contained prostaglandin analogs. In finding a new lash serum I wanted one that wasn’t going to cause me to file for bankruptcy, avoid prostaglandins and their analogs, and actually do something for my lashes.

The Ordinary has some really amazing products that I frequently re-purchase. Not only are they solid products, but they are really fairly priced. I had postpartum hair loss on my head, and I do think it affected my eyelashes too. In order to try to get my eyelashes back, I went on the hunt for a prostaglandin-free lash serum. When I was investigating lash serums, I had several Instagram followers recommend The Ordinary lash serum to me. Since I already knew I liked a lot of their products, I figured why not give it a shot! And because I blog, I figured why not take some before and after pictures to really figure out if this stuff worked for me.

Prostaglandin Analogs in Lash Serums

Last year, I was using the Rodan & Fields Lash Boost serum, that I really was seeing amazing results with; however, I came to learn that it uses a prostaglandin analog. Currently, the only FDA approved lash growth serum on the market is Latisse (which you can obtain through prescription). Latisse contains bimatoprost, a prostaglandin analog which is FDA approved. Most over-the-counter lash serums contain another prostaglandin analog, isopropyl cloprostenate, which is NOT FDA approved.

So why was I on the hunt for a lash serum that did not have prostaglandin analogs? A couple of reasons:

1. Women who are breastfeeding or pregnant are advised to avoid using products with prostaglandins or prostaglandin analogs. I’m not currently either, but when I initially started searching for one, I was still breastfeeding my son.
2. When I was using the Rodan & Fields Lash Boost serum, I occasionally got a bit of redness and discoloration along my lash line. It was never severe, and after I would stop using for a few days, it would go away. But it bothered me enough that it contributed to me not wanting to continue using the product. This video from a dermatologist shows how this is a known side effect of lash serums containing prostaglandin analogs:

@dermdoctor CAUTION WITH EYELASH GROWTH SERUMS @bouje elephant #dermdoctor #eyelashgrowth #eyelashserum ♬ Keep Dat Clean Radio Edit By iCandy – Soap Radio. 🧼

3. I feared I was losing orbital fat due to lash serum. I already have dark circles around my eyes and kind of sunken eyes. Latisse is more-so known to be associated with orbital fat loss; however, I decided it wasn’t worth the risk. Here is a video with a good explanation of orbital fat loss and lash growth treatments:

@drdrayzday #stitch with @Devon Kelley lash growth serums have prostaglandin compounds, similar to bimatoprost in Latisse. They can cause similar side effects, including eyelid irritation, hyperpigmentation, & eye color changes. Orbital fat atrophy has been reported with bimatoprost for glaucoma, but is rare & not common with lash or brow serums. The few cases that occur in those using bimatoprost for glacima are typically reversible once stopping or switching to a different medication. #lashserum #lashgrowthserum #orbitalfatloss #dermatologist ♬ original sound – Dr Dray | Dermatologist

Does The Ordinary Lash Serum contain prostaglandin analogs?

Nope! The Ordinary Lash serum contains things like peptides, trifolium pratense flower extract, camellia sinensis leaf extract, larix europaea wood extract, and zinc chloride all to support hair density and thickness.

The Ordinary Lash Serum Results

Before (October 17th, 2023)

After 17 Weeks of using The Ordinary Lash Serum

In case you need a clearer side by side comparison of before and after, here is a before and after:

Thoughts on The Ordinary Lash Serum

I don’t care for the brush applicator of The Ordinary lash serum. I wish it was a little bit less stiff, it would make application a little bit smoother. I also wish the brush had more of a tip. The brush is kind of chunky (comparatively) so it doesn’t result in the smoothest application.

I would say to make sure you wipe off the excess into the bottle before applying it on your lash line. If I ever did a little bit too much, it would sometimes get in my eye a bit and make my eyes itch or be irritated.

That said, this serum never irritated my lash line or caused any redness on my eyelid like the Rodan & Fields one did!

Results

I definitely see a change in my lashes from the before and after pictures. Is the change as drastic as it was when I used a lash serum with prostaglandin analogs? No. When I used Rodan & Fields, my eyelashes were so long that they looked like fake eyelashes.

But this serum definitely seems to be helping my lashes a bit and I’ll take what I can get. Plus for the price, I plan on continuing to use it!

If you want a place to see all of my favorite beauty products, I frequently update this list here!

If you enjoyed this post, you may enjoy this one about how I tint my eyebrows using beard dye:

DIY Eyebrow Tinting with Beard Dye