Latisse vs. RapidLash & Others: Which Is The Best Lash Growth Serum?

Full, long lashes never go out of style. And if you’d like to give yours a boost, there are plenty of lash growth serums available on the market today? But which serum should you choose? Let’s explore the promises, pros, and cons of popular brands like Latisse® vs. RapidLash®, RevitaLash®, Lash Boost®, and more.

While a good mascara or lash extensions can work wonders for an immediate boost, neither are permanent. Lash treatment serums, on the other hand, are said to promote natural lash growth, leading to thicker, longer, darker lashes.

Latisse is one of the most popular lash enhancement serums. A prescription-only product, it’s currently the only treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for eyelash growth.

But the cost might send some looking for a Latisse dupe that provides quality results for a lower price tag. And there are dozens of Latisse alternatives out there.

Below, we’ll compare Latisse to some of its most popular alternatives, including:

• RapidLash®

• RevitaLash®

• Lash Boost®

• neuLASH®

• Show Lash®

We’ll break down the science behind all these eyelash-growth products so you can understand the right choice for you: Whether you end up going with a Latisse dupe or the real deal, this guide will help you choose.

Latisse is currently the only FDA-approved treatment for eyelash growth. You apply the liquid solution twice a day to the base of your upper eyelid for thicker and longer lashes.

Latisse is available in a 0.03% solution to treat hypotrichosis of the eyelashes, a disorder characterized by a less-than-normal amount of eyelashes. It’s only available by prescription.

Latisse comes in two sizes:

• The 3-milliliter bottle contains enough liquid solution for about one month of use and comes with 70 single-use applicators.

• The larger 5-milliliter bottle comes with 140 applicator brushes and is designed to last for roughly two months.

The 3-milliliter bottle of Latisse and sterile applicators runs about $110, while the 5-milliliter bottle is around $160.

Each bottle comes with a sealed pack of sterile applicators. To use the medication, all you need to do is apply one drop of Latisse to the applicator brush, then carefully apply it to your upper lash line — similar to how liquid eyeliner is applied.

After you’ve applied Latisse to one eyelid, repeat the process on the other lash line, then dispose of the applicator.

Avoid re-using the applicator to prevent transferring germs from your eyes into the bottle of Latisse. This could cause an eye infection or irritate the sensitive skin around your eyes.

The active ingredient in Latisse is called bimatoprost. Bimatoprost belongs to a class of drugs called prostaglandin analogs.

Bimatoprost was initially used to treat glaucoma. When ophthalmologists noticed that glaucoma patients tended to have thicker, darker lashes, it was discovered that bimatoprost stimulates hair follicles and encourages lash growth.

While researchers aren’t entirely sure how this drug works, bimatoprost is believed to cause eyelashes to spend more time in the anagen phase (or growth phase) of the hair growth cycle.

But don’t let the scientific words or exact mechanism of bimatoprost set you back — the effectiveness speaks for itself.

In clinical trials, 79 percent of people who used Latisse daily for 16 weeks experienced an increase in eyelash prominence. Their results were measured with the Global Eyelash Assessment (GEA) scale.

In a small 2010 scientific study of just 19 people, researchers treated participants using either normal saline or a solution containing bimatoprost. Eyelashes treated with bimatoprost grew an average of 2 millimeters versus just 1.1 millimeters with the saline gel.

Our Latisse FAQ guide includes results from several other studies, all of which found that regular use of Latisse is associated with increased eyelash length and thickness.

In short, the claims made about Latisse aren’t just marketing — they’re real, proven results are backed up by studies and clinical trials.

But Latisse, as with every other medication, can have side effects.

The most common side effects of Latisse include:

• Eye irritation

• Itching

• Redness and discoloration

• Darkening of the eyelids

• Hair growth outside the treatment area

• Eye infection

Now that you know how Latisse works, let’s take a look at various Latisse copycat products and how they stack up.

Keep reading to learn more about these eyelash growth treatment alternatives, and find out which one might be best for your needs and goals.

Along with Latisse, another popular eyelash-enhancing serum is RapidLash. It’s formulated to strengthen thin or weak lashes.

Here’s what to know about RapidLash:

• You can buy RapidLash at several drugstores, online retailers, and beauty stores like Ulta. You can also purchase it directly through the company’s website.

• While Latisse is a prescription treatment, RapidLash is an over-the-counter product

• Unlike Latisse, RapidLash is not an FDA-approved lash growth treatment, but rather a beauty product.

• The six main ingredients listed on the product site include amino acids, biotin, pumpkin seed extract, soybean oil, panthenol, and polypeptides. The formulation claims to hydrate, condition, and strengthen eyelashes.

• Unlike Latisse, RapidLash doesn’t come with sterile applicators. Instead, there’s an applicator brush built into the product’s packaging, which could pose a risk of eye infection from potential bacteria growth.

Though customer testimonials give the product high ratings on the site, there aren’t any medical studies reviewing whether RapidLash works for eyelash growth.

When it comes to Latisse dupes that contain prostaglandin, RevitaLash might be a choice worth exploring.

Here’s what to know about RevitaLash vs. Latisse:

• While Latisse contains 0.03% bimatoprost, a prostaglandin, RevitaLash contains a smaller amount of latanoprost, another prostaglandin.

• RevitaLash can be purchased over-the-counter. Unlike Latisse, it’s not an FDA-approved eyelash growth treatment.

• RevitaLash is generally a bit cheaper than Latisse. While you can expect to pay $110 to $150 for a one-month supply of Latisse, a similar supply of RevitaLash costs $50 to $150.

• Because it contains a prostaglandin, similar to glaucoma medication, RevitaLash does seem to promote lash growth. However, it hasn’t been studied as extensively as Latisse.

Although RevitaLash isn’t backed by as much scientific evidence as Latisse, it has overwhelmingly positive reviews.

Lash Boost is an eyelash-enhancing serum sold by Rodan + Fields, a multi-level marketing company that launched in 2007.

Here’s what to know:

• Lash Boost contains isopropyl cloprostenate. Isopropyl cloprostenate is a prostaglandin, like the bimatoprost in Latisse, which is said to enhance lash growth.

• Lash Boost also includes biotin and keratin, two popular hair growth ingredients believed to improve lash appearance and help reduce hair loss — albeit in people with existing deficiencies.

• There’s no real scientific evidence that Lash Boost works effectively as an eyelash-growth serum. Rodan + Fields often references “studies” on Lash Boost, but these are consumer studies (rather than scientific studies) — they aren’t peer-reviewed and none appear in any scientific journals.

• While Latisse is a prescription medication, you can buy Lash Boost from Rodan + Fields stores or through the brand’s consultants.

• Rodan + Fields Lash Boost is just slightly cheaper than Latisse. While a 5-milliliter bottle of Latisse costs about $160, 5-milliliters of Lash boost costs $155 a tube.

• Unlike Latisse, Lash Boost isn’t approved by the FDA. This means it hasn’t undergone the same safety testing other medicated hair and skincare products like Latisse have.

Overall, there’s no credible evidence that Lash Boost will cause your lashes to grow thicker or longer. So in the case of Latisse versus Lash Boost, the evidence (or lack thereof) points to Latisse being a safer and more effective option.

Another Latisse alternative is neuLASH, a non-medicated lash-enhancing serum made by Skin Research Laboratories.

How do Latisse and neuLASH compare? Here’s what we can tell you:

• The neuLASH ingredients label includes biotin, peptides, panthenol, sodium hyaluronate, and pumpkin seed extract. These ingredients are all associated with healthy, hydrated hair.

• It also contains isopropyl cloprostenate, the same prostaglandin used in Lash Boost.

• While the listed ingredients likely plump the lashes to give the appearance of fuller lashes, there’s no evidence that neuLASH actually helps you grow longer eyelashes or enhances hair growth in any way.

• neuLASH doesn’t require a prescription and can be bought over the counter at certain beauty stores, department stores, big-box stores like Walmart and from online retailers like Amazon.

• Pricing for neuLASH ranges from around $60 to as much as $150 per 6-milliliter bottle at high-end retail stores. This makes it cheaper than Latisse.

• Like RapidLash, neuLASH has an applicator brush built into the product’s packaging. It doesn’t come with sterile applicators.

Like Lash Boost and RapidLash, neuLASH doesn’t require a prescription. Its wider availability and lower cost from some retailers may make it a favorable Latisse dupe.

However, neuLASH isn’t approved by the FDA and doesn’t have any credible scientific studies on its effectiveness.

GrandeLASH-MD Lash Enhancing Serum is another popular lash growth serum.

Here’s what you need to know about this beauty product:

• GrandeLASH-MD Lash Enhancing Serum also contains isopropyl cloprostenate, the same prostaglandin used in Lash Boost and neuLASH.

• It also contains peptide-rich radish root extract, honey, aloe vera, grape seed extract, and hyaluronic acid.

• It can be bought on the Grande Cosmetics website, which sells other beauty products. It’s an over-the-counter product and not a prescription medication like Latisse.

Although it has many positive reviews online, GrandeLASH-MD Lash Enhancing Serum hasn’t been scientifically studied. As such, there’s no independent, peer-reviewed research on its safety and effectiveness.

Made by a company called LeVaye’ Cosmetics, Show Lash is an eyelash serum that promises noticeably longer lashes in a few weeks, with full results around two to three months.

Here are the basics of Latisse vs Show Lash:

• Unlike Latisse, Show Lash is an over-the-counter product. It’s sold through the LeVaye’ site, on Amazon, and at Walmart.

• Show Lash is cheaper than Latisse. It’s sold for upward of $90 per 3-milliliter tube, which is said to last three months.

• The ingredients are similar to those in other eyelash serums, including sodium hyaluronate, pumpkin seed oil, and peptides, along with collagen and the amino acid arginine.

• Show Lash contains noralfaprostal, a prostaglandin analog used to lengthen lashes.

Like RapidLash, there are only customer reviews and no medical studies or evidence of whether Show Lash is an effective eyelash-regrowth treatment.

With so many eyelash enhancement products on the market, the process of choosing the right product for you can be overwhelming.

Latisse is a science-backed, FDA-approved eyelash growth serum that is available by prescription only. But if it’s out of your budget, there are a few Latisse alternatives worth exploring.

Here’s what you need to know about Latisse vs. RapidLash and other alternatives:

• Latisse contains bimatoprost. This is a prostaglandin that is effective at growing stronger, fuller eyelashes. You apply Latisse twice a day to promote lash growth.

• Latisse alternatives work in different ways. Some contain types of prostaglandins, while others contain conditioning and hydrating ingredients.

• But Latisse is the only FDA-approved lash growth treatment. While Latisse dupes might work for you, Latisse is the only lash growth serum that has a full range of scientific research to back its effectiveness.

Since your eyes are sensitive and delicate organs, it’s important to be cautious when trying new lash products.

It’s a good idea to speak with a healthcare professional, such as a GP or dermatologist, before trying a lash enhancement product. We offer Latisse online, subject to an online consultation and prescription from a healthcare provider, with delivery to your door.

Want the lashes of your dreams? This guide on how to grow longer eyelashes has more information on treatments, tips and eyelash growth help. You can also browse other hair loss treatments if your lashes aren’t the only hairs affected.