Latisse vs. Peptalash


Posted on January 11th, by Helen in Products, This vs That. No Comments

Latisse vs. Peptalash

Winner: Latisse

I almost wish I could report otherwise, because at $150 per 1-month supply, with a prescription, Latisse isn’t cheap nor convenient. And you need three bottles to get grow your lashes as long and thick as nature will allow. Additionally, applying the topical solution before bed using a single use applicator adds another five minutes to your night time skin care routine.

But it works, and that’s the bottom line.

If you’re seriously aching for longer thicker lashes, don’t waste your chump change on Peptalash –  a $25 liquid liner that uses peptides to supposedly stimulate growth and fortify lashes. Peptides are used in anti-aging skincare products to promote collagen production, so in theory, they may encourage growth at the follicle level. Results will vary from person to person; After 3 months of testing, I can confidently report it’s a dud, for me.

I’ve been using Latisse off and on since 2010. Coincidently the first time was after meeting Dr. Lisa Kellett: I was at her Yorkville clinic to interview her for a story on nanotechnology in skin care products and noticed that she and her staff all had doll-like lashes. The clinic had advertisements up on their windows for Latisse then, so I inquired about it the next day via email. I dug up the old email from Kellett:

“Latisse is the only product to be reviewed by Health Canada as a drug to increase eye lash growth is Latisse. It contains bimatoprost, an active ingredient for treating hypotrichosis (inadequate or not enough eyelashes). This product is a great addition to any skin care regimen and can increase thickness, length, and darkness of eyelashes. Our patients have achieved amazing results so far, and many of them have made the product application part of their regular skin care regimen. With 106 percent increase in eyelash thickness (over the course of 16 weeks), the results really do speak for themselves.”

I used Latisse for three months and couldn’t believe my results. My lashes grow straight downwards, typical of asians. But after the second month of use, I’d wake up the morning with long, sometimes curled up lashes. And mascara made them really pop. Some days, my lashes were  so lusciously long, I would skip eyeliner and mascara altogether.

After my 3-month supply ran out, out of sheer laziness, I cheaped out and put my faith in Peptalash. It did diddly squat in terms of growth. It did keep my lashes well conditioned, though. But I never got the doll-like length from Latisse.

I went back to Latisse in September of last year after interviewing Dr. Kucy Pon, a dermatologist at Sunnybrook Hospital. I couldn’t believe how long her lashes were either. Pon (also asian) told me she used Latisse for a year and half and loved the results, but got lazy afterwards with the nightly application. Her patients, she said, reported seeing darker, fuller lashes after 12 weeks. That’s when I started seeing results too.

How does Latisse work? According to Pon, “The exact mechanism of action is still not entirely understood, but it is believed to extend the duration of your lash’s natural growth phase (a.k.a. the Anagen phase) which is generally 45 days.”

Pon then explained the side effects: “The most common side effect of using Lattise is an itching sensation in the eyes, dry eyes, and/or eye redness. This was reported in less than 4% of patients in the clinical studies. This usually lasted for a short period of time and resolved when Latisse was discontinued. Iris hyperpigmentation or darkening of eye color has been reported when bimatoprost solution is applied directly into the eye for the treatment of glaucoma. This side effect was not noted in the clinical studies of Latisse. While Latisse delivers only 5% of the dose of the bimatoprost glaucoma drop; there is still the potential for Latisse to cause iris hyperpigmentation. This side effect is likely to be permanent if it occurs.”

I have not experienced any negative side effects with Latisse  – unless you count the fact that sometimes my long lashes hit against my reading glasses. But it’s a minor nuisance for a fabulous flutter.

Purchase Latisse at DLK on Avenue. Prescription required.





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