As the UK experts in lash and brow growth, we get a lot of questions about the best ways to achieve your lash goals, and about our innovative products. As a result, we’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions to help you get answers as quickly as possible.
If you don’t find what you’re looking for, please contact us. Our team of UK-based doctors are always on hand to help.
Yes, our first of its kind sun protect serum has been clinically tested for safety and stability.
It is unlikely that serum usage will cause discomfort. However, in case of any discomfort we recommend that you discontinue use. If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us.
Opti Laboratories Growth Treatment is the only UK eyelash growth treatment which is clinically-proven to be safe and effective.
Opti Laboratories Growth Treatment is not the same as over-the-counter serums, which typically include ingredients like peptides, vitamins and botanical extracts. These serums can hydrate and condition the lash, but they lack an active ingredient to stimulate growth. Opti Laboratories contains bimatoprost, a prostaglandin analogue which is clinically proven to increase growth.
Our sun protect serum is specially designed to provide a barrier between the individual hairs and the sun. This barrier also works as a primer for mascara, separately and lifting the lash before application.
Opti Laboratories Sun Protect serum is the only serum of its kind, which is specifically developed to target the major cause of lash damage. Opti Laboratories Sun Protect Serum also contains vitamins, anti-inflammatories and conditioners to promote the healthy growth of your lashes and brows.
The serum gives immediate protection from the sun with its UV filter and within a few weeks you will you notice the improved condition and strength of your lashes.
Our serum is best used daily and should last around 3 months.
Yes. This can should be used on eyebrows to protect from sun damage and to promote healthy growth. It also acts as a great primer.
Aka Sulisobenzone, a compound that reduces eyelash damage by absorbing, reflecting, and scattering UV rays.
Sun exposure breaks down protein in the hair, leading to breakage and shedding. Benzophenone-4 absorbs and dissipates UV rays from the sun to protect the hair from sun damage.
Caffeine enhances hair growth by promoting growth factors and prolonging the hair growth cycle.
Caffeine helps hair growth in two ways; it encourages the production of a growth promoting chemical called IGF-1 in the hair follicle and it lowers the production of another molecule called TGF-B which can shorten the hair growth cycle. Clinical studies show that the combined effect of caffeine promotes a longer hair cycle which leads to improved hair growth.
A compound which works to increase the amount of keratin in the hair shaft, prolongs the growth cycle and reduces any localised inflammation of the area.
Additional studies show that Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17 reduces the expression of chemicals that cause inflammation around the hair and preventing inflammation can help promote growth.
Ginseng encourages multiple growth pathways involved with the hair growth cycle and additionally prolongs the hair cycle length, promoting further hair growth.
Ginsenosides, the active compound, help growth directly in two ways. They activate growth pathways to increase the rate of growth to encourage bigger hairs. They also inhibit apoptosis, a process which signals the end of a growth cycle, and by inhibiting this a longer hair is encouraged. Ginseng also improves localised blood flow to support this increased hair growth.
Ginkgo biloba reduces inflammation around the hair follicle and is also an antioxidant. Both of these effects support and promote healthy hair growth.
Aka vitamin E acetate, an antioxidant that helps to mop up free radicals caused by UV light, stopping those free radicals from damaging the proteins in hair.
Free radicals are highly reactive molecules that can be caused in various ways such as UV light from the sun, pollution or inflammation. These reactive molecules can damage proteins which cause photoaging and other damage. Vitamin E acts to cancel out the effects of free radicals and other reactive molecules. Other studies suggest that vitamin E also activates pathways in the hair follicle to encourage natural hair growth.
If you miss a day your eyelashes & eyebrows will not have protection from UV damage that day. Just apply it the next morning as normal and there is no need to apply extra to catch up.
Yes! You can use mascara, eyeliner, brow gels or pencils and any other makeup as normal. Please always apply the serum first to bare lashes & brows, and wait until it is completely dry before applying any other products.
It is entirely safe to have a lash lift or extensions while using the treatment.
This serum has been formulated by doctors to be gentle on the eyes and the only contraindication is allergy to any of the ingredients.
Yes. This serum does not contain any ingredients that would interfere during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Don't worry. This serum has been formulated by doctors to be gentle with the eyes. If you accidentally get some in the eye then it may sting a little. However, if your eye becomes very red, irritated, or uncomfortable, contact your healthcare provider.
No side effects have been reported following continued use of the Sun Protect Serum.
Apply the treatment to the length of your lashes.
The brush supplied with your Opti Laboratories Sun Protect Serum is custom designed to hold a very small amount of liquid for precise and minimal application. It may be that when you run the brush against your skin, it feels dry.
We recommended giving it a shake to prime the brush with serum and running it through your lashes or hair. The wetness will be far more obvious.
If you still don't notice any wetness please contact us.
Yes, bimatoprost, the active ingredient of our Growth Treatment, is approved by the international government health agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use on eyelashes. However, like all medications, it can have side effects.
In rare cases the treatment may irritate the eye. In these cases we usually recommend more careful use of our applicators. If this does not solve the problem, you may have to discontinue treatment. If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us.
You should start to see noticeable improvements in the length and thickness of your eyelashes after 4 weeks, with the full effects seen after 12-16 weeks of daily use.
The sun protect serum takes immediate effect, but it may be some weeks before you notice the improved condition and strength of your lashes.
For best results, we recommend using Opti Laboratories Growth Treatment daily. With daily use, a bottle will last around 3 months.
Opti Laboratories Growth Treatment provides a temporary increase in the length, thickness, and darkness of eyelashes. This effect will persist as long as you continue using the product.
If you choose to stop using Opti Laboratories, your lash length and thickness will gradually go back to normal over a period of 16 weeks.
Many of our clients use Opti Laboratories Growth Treatment for eyebrow growth and report excellent results. There is a growing body of literature from around the world supporting the safe use of bimatoprost for eyebrow growth.
Our Sun Protect Serum can also be used on eyebrows to protect from sun damage and to promote healthy growth.
Prostaglandins are a group of lipids, or fats, that perform several roles in the body. They're derived from fatty acids and play a crucial role in various biological functions like inflammation, blood flow, and the regulation of hormones. These compounds are produced throughout the body and can exert potent effects on the tissues where they are made.
If you miss a day, just apply it the next evening. Do not double the dose to catch up.
No, applying Opti Laboratories Growth Treatment more than once a day will not speed up eyelash growth and may increase the risk of side effects.
We recommend that users follow the provided instructions, and apply before bedtime.
Yes, you can use mascara or other eyelash products. However, please always apply Opti Laboratories first, and wait until it is completely dry before applying any other products.
The best to apply this growth treatment is at night after you have removed your make up as part of your daily beauty routine.
It is entirely safe to have a lash lift or extensions while using the treatment. The liquid is water based so quickly absorbs into the skin to reach the hair follicles, so there is no lasting residue which could interfere with any perm solution or adhesive.
If you are looking to stop using extensions then we have had many clients grow their natural lashes while using extensions.
If you are having semi-permanent makeup applied to the lash line or eyebrows then we would recommend waiting at least 4 weeks before applying. If the area is still tender or healing is prolonged then we recommend waiting longer, but please get in touch for more specific advice.
Eye colour change is very unlikely. In fact, of over 10,000 Opti Laboratories customers, none have ever reported this side effect.
There have been reports that bimatoprost, the active ingredient of Opti Laboratories Growth Treatment, can change your iris colour (typically making it darker). This side effect is rare when using the treatment for eyelash enhancement. It normally only occurs if you apply the treatment to the eye rather than to the lash line. This is one of the reasons we've carefully sourced specially designed hydrophobic (water-repelling) micro-applicators that make it easy to put the perfect amount onto the exact part of the eyelid required to stimulate your lash growth. In America where this treatment is more common the incidence of iris colour change is considered rare.
Nearly everyone can use the Opti Laboratories Growth Treatment, but some people who have certain eye conditions, like uveitis or macular edema, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or who are allergic to bimatoprost or any of its ingredients should not use it. It's always important to tell us your medical history so we can make sure that it will be safe for you to use.
If you have any further questions before purchase, please feel free to contact us.
No. You should not use Opti Laboratories Growth Treatment during pregnancy because it is unknown whether the active ingredient, bimatoprost, is excreted in human milk. Please, therefore, make sure you inform us if you're pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
Before using Opti Laboratories Growth Treatment, we will ask you if you've had eye surgery, including cataract surgery or laser treatment. We can assess the potential risks and guide you accordingly.
Yes, but you should remove your contact lenses before application. Wait at least 15 minutes after applying the growth treatment before reinserting your lenses, as the solution may absorb into soft contact lenses.
Those under 18 should not use bimatoprost. Its safety and efficacy have not been established in this age group.
Don't worry. Opti Laboratories’ active ingredient, bimatoprost, was originally used as a prescription eye drop for glaucoma, which has been tested extensively for safety when applied directly into the eye. This means the treatment is eye-safe and you do not need to wash it out. However, if your eye becomes red, irritated, or uncomfortable, contact your healthcare provider.
If you accidentally swallow Opti Laboratories Growth Treatment, immediately contact a healthcare professional. The treatment is water based, non-toxic and not poisonous.
We have decades of prior experience from people using bimatoprost for glaucoma. They were applying it onto the eyeball in much greater doses (20 to 40x), often for 20+ years and the experience showed it was tolerated well. The longest Opti Laboratories users have been using it continuously since 2007 without incident.
Use the applicator to apply the liquid along the lashline at the base of the eyelashes. Only use a tiny drop for each application. The skin at your lashline should feel wet, but not flooded.
Apply the liquid to the skin of the brow where you wish to stimulate growth. This should either be at the base of existing brow hair or on the area that you wish to encourage new growth.
Most regrowth happens naturally, but treatments can help to help return your eyelashes and eyebrows to normal. We have a dedicated article with more information here.
Our sleep mask has been designed by doctors, using anatomical principles, to provide optimum lift around the eye area. This means that you lashes are free to flutter with minimal friction, and that (unlike other designs) there is no additional pressure or friction on your eyebrows.
The mask is made from 22 momme mulberry silk, ensuring that wherever it does touch, friction is still kept to a minimum.
Momme is a Japanese unit measuring silk fabric weight, similar to thread count for cotton, but based on density.
22 momme is considered to be the ideal balance weight for sleepwear; it is still lightweight but also durable and incredibly soft.
Ahimsa is the name given to a cruelty-free method of silk extraction. Unlike traditional silk extraction methods, the silk worms are allowed to hatch from their cocoons, completing their life-cycle, before the silk is collected.
Always follow the care advice provided with your sleep mask.
Silk is less absorbent than cotton, meaning that it shouldn't cake with product in the same way a cotton sleep mask might, but we still recommend washing gently and regularly.
We also recommend that you store you sleep mask in the box provided or beneath your pillow during the day. Silk degrades under UV light.
We think our design is better than any on the market for three reasons:
Absolutely! One of the benefits of silk is that it doesn't readily absorb products, so it won't cake on the mask or reduce the effect the product has on your skin.
We simply recommend letting your product dry before settling down to sleep.
The mask was specifically designed to complement the treatment, so yes! Please do. Just remember to give your treatment a moment to absorb and dry before you put on your mask.
The Opti Sleep Mask has an internal blackout lining to significantly reduce light irritation. Combined with the wide fit which covers both eyes and ears, you'll enjoy a dark and peaceful night's sleep.
Yes. After any eye procedure, avoiding pressure matters. Bulky or flat masks may still transmit force directly to the eyelids and surrounding tissue at a time when the area is still healing.
Please store the treatment at room temperature and out of reach of children and pets.
95% of our UK orders arrive within 3 working days. We deliver from within the UK and delivery requires a signature. Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia can take 5 working days or longer due to customs. There are no custom charges to pay within the UK. We try to avoid custom charges for all international deliveries but sometimes a charge is levied.
Opti Laboratories are a UK based doctor-led team and we have been helping people grow eyelashes since we founded our first brand, Mylash, in 2007.
We have helped thousands of clients to grow their eyelashes with prescription strength treatments. Opti Laboratories offers an online service so that you can have the treatment delivered to your door but still under the supervision of a UK based doctor.
You can read our returns and refunds policy here.
You can read our terms and conditions here.
