Mar 13, 2008
I'm feeling as though I may need an Arthur Murray dance class or two to keep up with all the moves and shuffling going on in the eyelash arena. I came across a video for Revitalash on YouTube (see below) and it reminded me that Revitalash was recently reformulated...
It's now been a couple of months since Athena Cosmetic's Revitalash was re-formulated and re-launched and I'm curious whether anyone has tried the new version. I haven't, but considering the "older" Revitalash version (which some enterprising folks still have for sale on Ebay, and which Athena must be more than aware of given the "buyer beware" disclaimer on their site) was highly touted across the blogosphere as creating--and fluffing, lengthening, thickening--lashes where there were few or none, well, one wo
nders what the new version--sans the controversial ingredient bimatoprost--is like.
Alongside Revitalash, Jan Marini's Age Intervention Eyelash Conditioner claims similar results: "Age Intervention Eyelash Conditioner can produce dramatic improvement in the appearance of volume, texture and density". The "old" version of Jan Marini's eyelash conditioner was also under fire not long ago as it, too, contained the ingredient bimatoprost. FYI, it no longer does. However, a quick visit to the Jan Marini site led to this, in a mice-type italic footnote:* Age Intervention Eyelash Conditioner is not intended to stop, prevent, cure, relieve, reverse or reduce eyelash loss or to promote the growth of eyelashes.
So what's the deal with bimatoprost (brand name "Lumigan")? From my online exploration, seems bimatoprost (which I stress is no longer in the current version of Revitalash or the Jan Marini one) is primarily used for ophthalmologic purposes in the treatment of glaucoma. As a result, it falls into that grey area of is "it a cosmetic?...or is it a drug?" Additionally, some of the concerns involved potential side effects which I found at the FDA site. While there is some fun in changing your eye (iris) color with colored contact lenses, the possibility--even if remote--of changing them to brown (mine are currently blue) in a non-voluntary way doesn't appeal to me. So it's a good thing Revitalash and Jan Marini have reformulated.
Now, if you've been following the lash-dance shuffle, one additional thing to point out: Athena Bioscience also has an eyelash formula--Athena Lash Serum--which is just launching now. Not to be confused with the Athena Cosmetic version above! The press release (2/28/08) for Athena Lash Serum states:
"Athena Lash Serum is the new generation of eyelash conditioner. Its revolutionary formula boasts gentle conditioners and the essential active ingredients scientifically proven to improve lash health. Within weeks healthy lashes appear longer, thicker and fuller.
“Athena Lash Serum is unique because of its advanced active ingredients, improved conditioners and non-irritating formula,” said Gary D. Lorge, founder and president of Athena Bioscience."
QUICK TAKE: Revitalash and Jan Marini recently reformulated their eyelash enhancers to remove the ingredient bimatoprost, while Athena Bioscience just launched an eyelash serum as well. So who's getting lashes to lash-out to the greatest of lengths?
Tell us which eyelash enhancers you've tried. Which ones work? Which ones are worth it? Share your experience at Revitalash, Jan Marini and Athena Bioscience.
posted by skintoxicated
Return to Beauty Cred
4/16/08
Since the reformulations, none of the lash conditioners seem worth it. I'm waiting for Lumigan to be approved for cosmetic use. I tried Athena Lash Serum (as did several of my friends) and none of us saw results. One friend got an eye infection in both eyes and my lashes actually got thinner. I heard that they are being sued by Athena Cosmetics and Revitalash. I heard that MD Lash Factor is the best of the bunch left.
4/16/08
The only lawsuit I'm aware of is the patent infringement one filed by Allergan, maker of Lumigan Ophthalmic Solution. Bimatoprost, the ingredient in question in the lash serums, is used for treatment of glaucoma, and it's the active ingredient in Lumigan. I pulled this from Ophthalmology Times:
The seizure followed the Nov. 7 filing of a lawsuit by Allergan Inc. in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, CA, against seven companies it said sell products containing prostaglandin analogues such as bimatoprost and promote them to grow eyelashes. Allergan makes a glaucoma medication (Lumigan) that contains bimatoprost and maintains that the other companies are infringing on a patent related to the prostaglandin analogue’s ability to help eyelashes grow. Allergan does not make a product specifically for eyelash growth.
The lawsuit names JMSR as well as Athena Cosmetics Inc., Cayman Chemical Co., Civic Center Pharmacy, DermaQuest Inc., Intuit Beauty Inc., and PhotoMedex Inc.
6/3/08
In November 2007, the Company filed a complaint captioned "Allergan, Inc. v.
Cayman Chemical Company, Jan Marini Skin Research, Inc., Athena Cosmetics
Corporation, Dermaquest, Inc., Intuit Beauty, Inc., Civic Center Pharmacy and
Photomedix, Inc." in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of
California. In its complaint, the Company alleges that the defendants are
infringing U.S. Patent No. 6,262,105 (the "'105 patent"), licensed to the
Company by Murray A. Johnstone, M.D. On January 7, 2008, Photomedix filed a
motion to dismiss the Company's complaint. On January 23, 2008, the Company
filed a motion for leave to file a second amended complaint to add Murray A.
Johnstone, the holder of the '105 patent, as a plaintiff and to add Global MDRx
as a defendant. On March 3, 2008, the U.S. District Court for the Central
District of California denied Photomedix's motion to dismiss and granted the
Company's motion for leave to file a second amended complaint. On April 28,
2008, the Company filed a motion for leave to file a third amended complaint to
add patent infringement claims relating to U.S. Patent No. 7,351,404 against the
defendants, and to add Athena Bioscience, LLC and Cosmetic Alchemy, LLC as
additional defendants. The court has scheduled a trial date for November 3,
2009.
6/3/08
Please note that we can not validate this user is in fact "Allergan Legal". Allergan may have a differing view.
6/4/08
Where did you find this? My friend uses one of these and I'm sure she'd like to see this
6/5/08
Regarding DermaQuest cited above:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DermaQuest Skin Therapy’s Eyelash Product is Drug-Free
Skincare Company Says Lash Conditioning Product Has Been Drug-Free Since Its Launch in July 2007
Hayward, CA, November 20, 2007 – In response to the current press regarding the lawsuit filed by Allergan, Inc. against certain skincare companies selling lash conditioners as well as the recent news released by the FDA regarding Jan Marini Skin Research’s Age Intervention Eyelash product, DermaQuest Skin Therapy informs the public that DermaLash, their lash conditioning product, does not contain prostaglandins and is completely drug-free.
DermaLash was released in the skincare market earlier this year as a drug-free alternative to some of the other lash conditioning products on the market. DermaQuest Skin Therapy’s DermaLash contains ingredients from naturally-derived sources to strengthen and condition the lashes such as copper, biotin and amino acids. DermaQuest Skin Therapy has promptly sent Allergan, Inc. the complete ingredient list of DermaLash, including the ingredients included in the product’s “Eyelash Growth Promoter Complex” to prove the product does not contain prostaglandins, the drug ingredient in question and the basis of their lawsuit.
“DermaQuest Skin Therapy launched DermaLash in July 2007 as a safe and drug-free lash conditioning product which enhances the appearance of eyelashes,” said Sam Dhatt, CEO of DermaQuest Skin Therapy. “We have been pleased with the response from our customers on how effective DermaLash has been and we hope DermaLash will continue to be a popular item in our skincare cosmetics range.”
6/7/08
Allergan drops lawsuit with Dermaquest
Pharmaceutical company Allergan has dropped an alleged patent infringement lawsuit against DermaQuest Skin Therapy's eyelash enhancing product.
The company has challenged a number of companies, including Jan Marini Skin Research, over the active ingredients contained in these eyelash growth promoting products.
The ingredients in question are prostoglandin based ingredients which Allergan felt infringed on its patented drug Lumigan.
However, the pharmaceutical company has confirmed that DermaQuest's product, DermaLash, does not contain any ingredients or drugs infringing on its patent.
http://www.cosmeticsdesign.com/news/ng.asp?n=82630-allergan-national-starch-personal-care-natural
8/31/08
There are so many other products on the market right now. The one from Peter Thomas Roth is selling like crazy at Sephora. Heard the price will be coming down. There is also Neulash and Fastlash. Fastlash is only $49. I think that the formulas containing Bimatoprost are very irritating--cause the ugly redness. Besides, I think that Bimatoprost is dangerous. I was told to avoid the ones containing Bimatoprost. there are at least 15 products on the market right now--many of them are really good.
Not sure what all the litigation stuff is all about.