I had to take a break from working on the Beauty Brains book to comment on this story. We’ve written about and debated whether eyelash growth products like Jan Marini actually work. Some say yes, some say no. The Beauty Brains have always said we were skeptical unless they are using an unapproved drug. Well, that looks like it’s true.
$2 million worth of product
According to news reports, 12,682 tubes of the Jan Marini Age Intervention Eyelash product (purported to make your eyelashes grow longer) have been seized by US Marshals on directives from the FDA.
In a press release, the FDA says that it “takes seriously its responsibility to protect Americans from unapproved drugs”. They say the product contains bimatoprost an active ingredient found in an FDA-approved drug. They say use of the Jan Marini product could result in optic nerve damage which could ultimately cause blindness. Other side effects could be swelling of the retina and inflammation in the eye. YIKES!
The FDA recommends consumers who have bought the product should DISCONTINUE USING IT.
According to the Fresno Bee, Jan Marini, the company’s president and CEO, the company stopped selling the product in September of last year.
They should have known better not to sell it in the first place!
The Beauty Brains bottom line
We’ve said this before. If a cosmetic product claims to affect hair growth and they are not using an approved OTC drug, then it’s either an illegal drug or the people selling it are liars. In the case of the Jan Marini Age Intervention Eyelash