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During aging our eyelashes tend to become less full. Along with eyebrows, our lashes start to lose pigment and get thinner. A new mascara claims that it can thicken and darken eyelashes.

The area of eyelash aging had not received much attention, until it was found that Latisse (bimatoprost), which is prescribed for glaucoma, improved the eyelashes of those who were using the medication. For more information about Latisse and potention problems, see the post Latisse eyelash enhancer.

The new mascara by Lancôme is called Hypnose Precious Cells mascara. The advertising campaign is fronted by Julia Roberts. It is available in the UK, but not in the US until the summer. There was a waiting list for it, at Harrods and other stores when it launched at the end of March in the UK. It is available in black, brown and blue.

The ingredients that are supposed to help your lashes thicken and darken are apple stem cells (found in the celebrity used products by 3Lab – see post skin Care – apple stem cells, healthiest skin cells, vending machines), an extract from Centella asiatica (which is probably madecassoside – see the post madecassoside: effective anti-aging for skin) which has been suggested to be anti-hair loss, and the amino acid arginine.

Lancôme claims that the mascara stimulates epidermal stem cells at the base of the lashes (How? – see last paragraph.).

A study by Lancôme apparently had the following results, “After four weeks of use, 62 per cent of women perceived that their lashes were in better condition, while 77 per cent reported a reduced loss of lashes during make-up removal. “

There was positive press in the UK, about the application of the mascara and the brush. The new brush was generally well liked, and the mascara was reported as easy to apply and had very little clumping.

We will see if the mascara helps lashes, but just as a mascara it sounds like a good easy to use product.

The problem I have is that eyelashes, like hair, is only living at the roots. The bit that sticks out above the skin is “dead”, so how can anything on the lashes affect the roots? Do you have to rub it round the roots for it to work?

photo credit: Beautiful Insanity Photography