There are a lot of things women will do for beauty. From the minor, such as letting fish loose on your feet to eat dead skin, to the major, like injecting chemicals into their foreheads or lips, it seems like there isn't one beauty treatment out there that some women won't try.
While the use of Botox and other minor medical cosmetic procedures are becoming borderline acceptable, some things just seem a bit extreme.
Like using a prescription medication to get longer, fuller darker lashes? That's a bit much. Realizing that the words "success" and "celebrity" can be linked if done properly, the makes of Latisse enlisted Broke Shields as their spokesperson.
Latisse promises that in 8 weeks, you'll have noticeably longer, fuller, and darker lashes. And in 16 weeks, it won't just be noticeable: it'll be obvious, and amazing.
I recognize that some people have legitimate medical conditions that prevent them from having eyelashes, and that there may be a medical reason for the use of a product like Latisse. My problem is with the commercial and advertising of the product.
Brooke Shields is pushing this just like Botox is advertised: it's not medically necessary, it's purely cosmetic. Put it on, go to a party, and eat some cake. You'll have fun, I promise!
Sparse eyelashes aren't like wrinkles - you can actually do something about a lack of lashes. You can use loads of mascara, or find nice fake lashes. While it's never an adequate substitute for real lashes, you can't always get what you want.
We all do crazy things for beauty - I'll be the first to admit that. But what about the side effects? The list of side effects for Latisse is long, and a little disturbing. Among them are the risk of staining your eyelids, growing hair where the product is applied (disconcerting since it is applied on your eyelid), and staining your irises brown (problematic for those not of the brown eyed persuasion).
The line between what's ok to do for beauty and what's not is one that feminists will never stop debating about. So what do you think? Is Latisse ridiculous? Or will it become an acceptable beauty treatment, like Botox?
Image from Latisse.