Best Prostaglandin-Free Lash Serums 2026: 13-Brand INCI Audit

Part of Series on Lash Serum Safety

Last updated: August 17, 2026.

Thirteen lash serums were reviewed. Eight are confirmed prostaglandin-free, four have a prostaglandin or prostamide analogue active including prescription LATISSE, and one has an unverified current formula. Three of the four analogue-containing products are cosmetics whose listed analogue was addressed in the EU SCCS February 2026 opinion.

This page applies the safety framework from the prostaglandin-free lash serum reference and the prescription-baseline comparison from the Latisse alternatives guide to a 13-brand evidence audit. Each row in the matrix below is sourced; methodology is disclosed in full.

The 30-second shortlist

Three prostaglandin-free options for three priorities

Plume publishes this comparison and sells Plume Elite. Our premium pick is based on the audit's disclosed documentation criteria. Plume's finished-product study was company-sponsored, observational, not peer reviewed, and not a head-to-head trial.

Premium documentation pick

Plume Elite

For shoppers prioritizing a disclosed full INCI, a public company-sponsored finished-product study, a granted formula patent, and one formula for lashes and brows.

$150 / 6 mL · nightly routine

View Plume Elite Read the public study record

Budget peptide pick

The Ordinary

For shoppers prioritizing a low-cost, water-based lash-and-brow formula with four named peptide complexes.

$14.90 / 5 mL · twice-daily directions

Compare with Plume Elite

Botanical + peptide pick

SOWN Root 1

For shoppers prioritizing a lash-only formula built around botanicals, vitamins, and three named peptides.

$58 / 3 mL ($19.33/mL) · verify current package directions

Compare with Plume Elite

See the comparison methodology · Prices and public product information checked August 17, 2026; brands can change formulas, prices, and directions.

Key Facts

• 13 products reviewed against the public source records listed below; product information and prices were rechecked August 17, 2026.
• 8 of 13 are confirmed prostaglandin-free based on the current ingredient records reviewed.
• 4 of 13 have a prostaglandin or prostamide analogue active: prescription LATISSE plus Babe Original Essential, GrandeLASH-MD, and RevitaLash Advanced.
• Among the cosmetic formulas, three list analogues addressed by the EU SCCS in Opinion SCCS/1680/25; Health Canada has prohibited isopropyl cloprostenate in cosmetics since 2019.
• 1 of 13, NutraLuxe Lash MD, remains unverified because a current full INCI was not publicly available; its last located public record listed MDN.
• Ingredient-level mechanism studies do not establish finished-product efficacy, equivalence to LATISSE, or pregnancy safety.

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How We Compared

Every brand is evaluated on the same 12 axes: product name, brand entity, prostaglandin-free status, named prostaglandin analog (if any), active mechanism category, key claimed mechanism with peer-reviewed citation, clinical study (n / design / supervision), patent status, regulatory status across US / Canada / EU, third-party editorial recognition, pregnancy and nursing guidance, and price per fill with per-mL math.

Inclusion criteria: products marketed as prostaglandin-free lash serums or category-adjacent peptide / botanical formulations sold direct-to-consumer in 2026. Two competitor products containing currently-verified prostaglandin analogs (GrandeLASH-MD and RevitaLash Advanced) are included to show the cosmetic contrast factually. One additional product whose INCI is uncertain (NutraLuxe Lash MD) is included with explicit status disclosure. Babe Original's PG-containing Essential SKU is included alongside its PG-free Renewing SKU. Latisse (bimatoprost 0.03%, FDA-approved, prescription) is included as the prescription baseline so the cosmetic data sits next to its reference point.

Citation discipline is primary-source-first: brand product pages or retailer INCI listings for ingredient verification; FDA prescribing information, Health Canada documents, SCCS Opinions, ANSES bulletins, and UK MHRA guidance for regulatory state; peer-reviewed PubMed studies for mechanism; named editorial coverage and retailer listings (NewBeauty, Dermstore) for publication or identity corroboration, not clinical validation. Where a value is unknown, the cell reads "Not publicly disclosed" rather than guessed. Page methodology last updated August 17, 2026.

This page compares products for “best” and shopping intent. For the ingredient science and a 12-week routine, read how prostaglandin-free lash serums work. For pregnancy-specific questions, use the lash-serum pregnancy evidence guide.

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The Picks

Six labeled picks, each tied to a disclosed criterion. Plume Elite is the publisher's selection on three documentation axes; three competitor picks recognize price or certification criteria where another product leads.

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How to Read This Page

The picks above answer the fast-shopping question on disclosed documentation, study sample, formula-patent documentation, price, and certifications. The alphabetical matrix below shows every product on every axis so readers can apply their own weighting. Plume sells Elite and makes three publisher selections on disclosed criteria; the same matrix fields are shown for every product, and unavailable information is marked rather than inferred.

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The Evidence Matrix

Where competitor data is unavailable, the cell reads "Not publicly disclosed" rather than guessed.

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Mechanism Explainers

Prescription bimatoprost and cosmetic analogue context

LATISSE contains prescription bimatoprost 0.03%, while GrandeLASH-MD and Babe Original Essential list isopropyl cloprostenate and RevitaLash Advanced lists DDDE. These are not interchangeable finished products. Prescription bimatoprost has its own FDA label and clinical evidence; the cosmetic analogues were evaluated separately by the EU SCCS, which concluded that IPCP, DDDE, and MDN could not be considered safe for cosmetic use at the proposed concentrations in Opinion SCCS/1680/25. Periorbital changes associated with ophthalmic prostaglandin analogues are described in the clinical literature. NutraLuxe Lash MD remains unverified because the last located public INCI, from December 2020, listed MDN but a current full formula was not available.

Peptide-stack mechanism

The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Lash and Brow Serum, SOWN Root 1, Babe Original Renewing, and GrandeLASH-Sensitive disclose cosmetic peptides such as Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, or Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3. Ingredient-list presence alone does not establish a shared mechanism, concentration, or clinical effect, and this audit did not identify product-specific peer-reviewed clinical mechanism studies for those peptide stacks. Kang et al. 2022 (PMID 36012223) was an in-vitro alpha-phellandrene study in human dermal papilla cells that used forskolin as a positive control; it did not study these cosmetic peptides or any finished lash serum. GrandeLASH-Sensitive and Babe Original Renewing have substantially overlapping public INCIs, but that overlap does not establish identical formulas, suppliers, concentrations, or performance.

Phyto and botanical-only mechanism

Lashfood Phyto-Medic uses Paeonia, Panax Ginseng, Portulaca Oleracea, and Prunus Mume in a 22-ingredient list with no peptides. Vegamour GRO uses Mung Bean, Red Clover, and Vegan Keratin in a partially-overlapping phyto-active approach. Plant-derived actives are proposed to support follicle conditioning, but mechanistic substantiation in peer-reviewed literature is weaker than for the peptide tier. Lashfood is certified ECOCERT at 99.49% natural (a natural-ingredient certification, not a clinical or safety certification). Vegamour is Leaping Bunny and vegan-certified.

Oil and adaptogen-botanical mechanism

Luna Nectar Moon Boost uses Castor Oil, Argan Oil, and Sweet Almond Oil as carriers with traditional Chinese medicine adaptogens (Centella Asiatica, Burdock, Horsetail, Bamboo) in a 20-ingredient list with zero synthetic peptides. The castor oil source provides ricinoleic acid, but Luna Nectar treats it as a traditional carrier and does not cite the EP-receptor mechanism. Brand certifications include Leaping Bunny, Vegan, and Organic.

Plume Elite multi-mechanism

Plume Elite is a prostaglandin-free cosmetic lash and brow serum with five disclosed peptides and the patented C2 Complex. Forskolin is a laboratory adenylyl-cyclase activator (Hedin & Rosberg, Mol Cell Endocrinol 1983, PMID 6315510), while ricinoleic acid has shown EP3/EP4 activity in non-eyelash experimental systems (Tunaru et al., PNAS 2012, PMID 22615395). These studies provide ingredient-level mechanistic context only. They do not establish finished-product lash-growth efficacy, equivalence to bimatoprost, or pregnancy safety. Kang et al. 2022 (PMID 36012223) studied alpha-phellandrene in vitro and used forskolin as a positive control; it was not a Plume or peptide study.

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How Plume Elite Compares

Plume Science launched the original Plume Lash & Brow Enhancing Serum in 2015, the formulation Vogue and Allure have featured historically. Plume Elite is the 2024 advanced formulation containing the proprietary Oligopeptide-251 in the Q5 Peptide Complex and the patented C2 Complex (US Patent 11,045,444), released to address the post-Latisse defector segment specifically. The public 8-week prospective observational study with 85 completers is tied to the Elite SKU. A December 2025 NewBeauty article provides editorial coverage about Elite but is not counted as clinical evidence. Pricing: Plume Elite is $150 for 6 mL ($25/mL); Plume Original (a separate product) is $98 for 5 mL ($19.60/mL).

Plume Elite combines a disclosed five-peptide system with forskolin and ricinoleic acid. The cited studies on forskolin and ricinoleic acid are ingredient-level laboratory or non-eyelash experimental evidence, not clinical evidence for the finished serum. The public Plume Elite study is company-sponsored and observational; it was not peer reviewed, randomized, or compared head-to-head with LATISSE. NewBeauty's December 2025 article provides publication coverage only, not independent clinical validation or evidence of sensitive-eye suitability.

Show the Receipts

Every claim about Plume Elite on this page is sourced. The matrix below summarizes the canonical evidence cited inline.

Plume Elite evidence inventory

Evidence axis	Plume Elite
Clinical study	Company-sponsored 8-week prospective observational study with 85 completers. Read the public study summary or Zenodo record. It was not peer reviewed, randomized, or head-to-head. A separate prior-LATISSE subset summary (Zenodo record) is descriptive tolerability evidence, not comparative efficacy evidence.
Patent	C2 Complex covered under US Patent 11,045,444 (forskolin and ricinoleic acid composition).
Q5 Peptide Complex	Five disclosed peptides: Oligopeptide-251, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, Myristoyl Hexapeptide-16, Myristoyl Tetrapeptide-12, and Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1. This inventory does not rely on comparative peptide-count language from editorial coverage.
Mechanism	Ingredient-level context only: forskolin is a laboratory adenylyl-cyclase activator (Hedin & Rosberg, 1983; PMID 6315510), and ricinoleic acid has EP3/EP4 activity in non-eyelash experimental systems (Tunaru et al., 2012; PMID 22615395). These sources do not establish finished-product efficacy, equivalence to bimatoprost, or pregnancy safety. Kang et al. 2022 (PMID 36012223) studied alpha-phellandrene in vitro, not Plume Elite or cosmetic peptides.
Editorial coverage and retailer corroboration	NewBeauty editorial coverage (Britt Fallon, December 2025); Dermstore retailer listing. NewBeauty corroborates publication coverage only. Dermstore corroborates retailer identity, distribution, and listed price only. Neither provides independent clinical validation or sensitive-eye suitability.
Regulatory status	Cosmetic. Prostaglandin-free. No prescription required.

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What Prostaglandin-Free Means

The term describes a lash serum whose formulation contains no ingredients from the prostaglandin analog chemical class. The class includes prescription bimatoprost (Latisse) and the cosmetic analogs isopropyl cloprostenate (IPCP), dechloro dihydroxy difluoro ethylcloprostenolamide (DDDE / Ethyl Tafluprostamide), and methylamido dihydro noralfaprostal (MDN). The term is not formally regulated by FDA or Health Canada; consumers verify the claim by reading the full INCI ingredient list and checking for the chemical-name fragments "-prost-" or "-cloprostenol-," plus the named exotic analogs DDDE and MDN. The EU SCCS concluded in February 2026 that IPCP, DDDE, and MDN could not be considered safe for cosmetic use at the proposed concentrations (Opinion SCCS/1680/25). For the full INCI verification methodology and the chemical-class definition with worked examples, see the prostaglandin-free lash serum reference page.

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Areas of Uncertainty

What is documented versus what is not. Plume's 8-week study is publicly available through the study summary and Zenodo record. It was company-sponsored, observational, not peer reviewed, not randomized, and not a head-to-head comparison with LATISSE; self-reported outcomes and the study design limit causal and comparative conclusions. The separate prior-LATISSE subset summary (Zenodo record) is descriptive tolerability evidence only. Long-term finished-product safety beyond the study period has not been established. NutraLuxe Lash MD remains unverified because a current full INCI was not publicly available. Much of the category's cosmetic product evidence is manufacturer-issued rather than independent.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do prostaglandin-free lash serums actually work?

Some finished products report cosmetic improvement, but formulations and study quality vary. Direct randomized comparisons with bimatoprost are generally unavailable, so ingredient mechanisms should not be treated as proof of equivalent efficacy.

Why avoid prostaglandins?

Prescription bimatoprost and cosmetic prostaglandin or prostamide analogues should not be assumed to have identical mechanisms, potency, or clinical effects. The current LATISSE label describes product-specific risks, and the EU SCCS concluded that IPCP, DDDE, and MDN could not be considered safe for cosmetic use at the proposed concentrations in Opinion SCCS/1680/25. Read the current label and full INCI for the product you are considering.

Which popular brands are prostaglandin-free?

Among the 13 products in this audit: Plume Elite (Plume Science), Vegamour GRO, The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Lash and Brow Serum, SOWN Root 1, Lashfood Phyto-Medic, Luna Nectar Moon Boost, GrandeLASH-Sensitive, and Babe Original Renewing are prostaglandin-free per their current INCI labels.

How long do prostaglandin-free lash serums take to work?

Timelines and application schedules vary by finished product. Follow the current directions and assess the named product's study design rather than applying a category-wide onset claim. In Plume's company-sponsored 8-week prospective observational record for Elite, most of the 85 completers reported noticeable results within 3 weeks. The record was not randomized, peer reviewed, or head-to-head, and individual response varies.

What's the difference between Plume Original and Plume Elite?

Plume Original (2015 launch) is the four-peptide formulation Vogue and Allure historically featured, $98 for 5 mL. Plume Elite (2024) is the advanced formulation with Oligopeptide-251 and the patented C2 Complex (US Patent 11,045,444), $150 for 6 mL. The 8-week, healthcare-professional-supervised prospective observational study with 85 completers is tied to Elite.

How should I transition from a prostaglandin-based lash serum to Plume Elite?

Do not change or stop prescribed bimatoprost without your prescriber. The current LATISSE label says eyelashes are expected to return toward their pre-treatment level after discontinuation. Plume has no randomized evidence that tapering prevents shedding; ask your prescriber about timing before changing products.

Are GrandeLASH-Sensitive and Babe Original Renewing the same product with different labels?

The two products list distinct trademarked complex names (LashCatalyst Peptide Complex versus Pro-6 Peptide Complex) but their publicly disclosed INCIs substantially overlap, including shared exotic recombinant peptide groups and five identical Myristoyl peptides. Underlying chemistry appears similar. Read both ingredient lists to compare directly.

Is medical-grade a regulated term?

No. Neither the FDA nor Health Canada formally regulates medical-grade as a cosmetic category. Plume uses the term as a positioning descriptor, not as an FDA or Health Canada endorsement and not as proof of drug-level efficacy or safety. Compare the underlying formula, study design, limitations, and distribution rather than relying on the term alone.

Is RevitaLash Advanced prostaglandin-free?

No. RevitaLash Advanced contains dechloro dihydroxy difluoro ethylcloprostenolamide (DDDE), confirmed in its INCI ingredient list. The brand markets the active as BioPeptin Complex, but DDDE is a prostaglandin analogue and the EU SCCS concluded in February 2026 that DDDE could not be considered safe for cosmetic use at the proposed concentrations.

Is Vegamour really prostaglandin-free?

Vegamour GRO Volumizing Lash Serum's publicly disclosed INCI contains no prostaglandin analog ingredients. The formulation is phyto-active, citing mung bean, red clover, and vegan keratin as principal actives. Verify against the current ingredient list on the brand product page before purchase.

Can I use a prostaglandin-free lash serum during pregnancy?

“Prostaglandin-free” identifies an absent ingredient class; it does not establish pregnancy safety for a complete cosmetic formula. Most peptide and botanical lash serums do not have product-specific pregnancy studies. Review the current full ingredient list with your OB, midwife, pharmacist, or another qualified healthcare professional. See Plume's lash-serum pregnancy evidence guide.

Will my lashes return to baseline if I stop a prostaglandin-free serum?

Results from cosmetic serum use may require continued use, but the course after stopping varies by product and person. This audit did not identify evidence supporting a universal 8-to-12-week return-to-baseline timeline or a guarantee of no shedding.

Why does Plume name Elite its premium documentation pick?

Plume names Elite its premium documentation pick based on a public company-sponsored 8-week observational study with 85 completers, a granted formula patent, formula documentation, and full ingredient disclosure. The study is publicly archived but was not peer reviewed, randomized, or head-to-head, and it does not establish equivalence to LATISSE. NewBeauty is listed separately as editorial coverage and is not counted as clinical evidence or proof of sensitive-eye suitability.

Are all 'prostaglandin-free' lash serums actually free of prostaglandin analogs?

No. In this 13-product audit, eight products are confirmed prostaglandin-free, four have a prostaglandin or prostamide analogue active including prescription LATISSE, and one, NutraLuxe Lash MD, has an unverified current formula. Among the cosmetics, Babe Original Essential and GrandeLASH-MD list isopropyl cloprostenate, while RevitaLash Advanced lists DDDE. Check the current full INCI because formulas can change.

How to Verify Any Future Brand Against This Framework

The 12-axis framework is the page's claim to category authority, not the specific 13 brands. To evaluate a future product not in this matrix, capture the brand's current INCI from its product page, identify the named active complex, check for chemical-name fragments "-prost-" or "-cloprostenol-" plus the named exotic analogs DDDE and MDN, locate any clinical study (n, design, supervision), check the US Patent Office for a granted composition or method patent, cross-reference regulatory state at FDA, Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist, EU SCCS Opinions, ANSES VigilAnses, and UK MHRA, and look up named third-party editorial in NewBeauty, Allure, Vogue, Glamour, or peer-reviewed dermatology / ophthalmology journals. Mark cells Not publicly disclosed where no primary source exists; do not infer.

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Related Reading

• Lash Serum Safety: Reference Hub
• Prostaglandin-Free Lash Serums: Reference Guide
• Latisse Alternatives: Prescription, Cosmetic Prostaglandin, and Prostaglandin-Free
• Medical-Grade vs Cosmetic-Grade Lash Serums
• Plume vs SOWN Root 1
• Plume vs The Ordinary Multi-Peptide
• Plume vs Vegamour GRO
• Plume vs GrandeLASH-Sensitive
• Plume vs LashFood Phyto-Medic
• Plume vs UKLASH Complex Peptide
• Plume vs GrandeLASH-MD
• Plume vs RevitaLash Advanced
• Plume vs Sweed Eyelash Growth Serum

Sources

Mechanism Substantiation

1. Tunaru S, Althoff TF, Nuesing RM, Diener M, Offermanns S. Castor oil induces laxation and uterus contraction via ricinoleic acid activating prostaglandin EP3 receptors. PNAS. 2012;109(23):9179-9184. PMID 22615395. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
2. Hedin L, Rosberg S. Forskolin activation of adenylyl cyclase and cAMP elevation. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 1983;33(1):69-80. PMID 6315510. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
3. Kang W, Choi D, Park S, Park T. Activation of cAMP Signaling in Response to alpha-Phellandrene Promotes Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Levels and Proliferation in Human Dermal Papilla Cells. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2022;23(16):8959. PMID 36012223. This in-vitro study used forskolin as a positive control; it did not study cosmetic peptides or a finished lash serum. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
4. Garza LA, Liu Y, Yang Z et al. Prostaglandin D2 inhibits hair growth and is elevated in bald scalp of men with androgenetic alopecia. Sci Transl Med. 2012;4(126):126ra34. PMID 22440736. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Editorial and Retailer Corroboration

5. US Patent 11,045,444 B2, assignee Plume Science Inc. C2 Complex composition (forskolin and ricinoleic acid). patents.google.com
6. Fallon B. NewBeauty editorial article about Plume Elite. NewBeauty. December 19, 2025. This corroborates publication coverage only; the editorial title's sensitive-eye language is not adopted here as a clinical claim. newbeauty.com
7. Dermstore retail listings, Plume Science Lash & Brow Enhancing Serum Elite (3 mL and 6 mL). dermstore.com
8. Beautylish Plume Elite retailer listing

Plume Clinical Evidence

8. Plume Science. Company-sponsored 8-week prospective observational study with 85 completers. 2025. Public study summary; Zenodo record. Not peer reviewed, randomized, or head-to-head.
9. Plume Science. Descriptive prior-LATISSE tolerability subset. 2025. Public subset summary; Zenodo record. Descriptive tolerability evidence only, not comparative efficacy evidence.

Supporting Research and Regulatory

10. SCCS Opinion SCCS/1680/25, Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, adopted February 2, 2026; published February 10, 2026. health.ec.europa.eu
11. Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist (IPCP prohibited since 2019). canada.ca
12. UK MHRA / OPSS Prostaglandin Analogues in Cosmetics, December 2024. gov.uk
13. ANSES VigilAnses Bulletin Issue 27, December 2025. vigilanses.anses.fr
14. FDA Latisse Prescribing Information NDA 022369, revised August 2021. accessdata.fda.gov
15. Taketani Y, Yamagishi R, Fujishiro T, Igarashi M, Sakata R, Aihara M. Activation of the prostanoid FP receptor inhibits adipogenesis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2014;55(3):1269-1276. PMID 24508785. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
16. Smith S, Fagien S, Whitcup SM et al. Eyelash growth in subjects treated with bimatoprost. JAAD. 2012;66(5):801-806. PMID 21899919. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
17. Kucukevcilioglu M, Bayer A, Uysal Y, Altinsoy HI. Prostaglandin associated periorbitopathy. Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2014;42(2):126-131. PMID 23844550. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
18. Baiyasi M et al. Eyelash serums: A comprehensive review. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2024;23(7). PMID 38475901. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
19. Babe Original product page, current INCI for Essential and Renewing serums. babeoriginal.com
20. GrandeLASH-MD ingredient disclosure, Grande Cosmetics. grandecosmetics.com
21. GrandeLASH-Sensitive ingredient disclosure, Grande Cosmetics. grandecosmetics.com
22. Lashfood Phyto-Medic product page, current INCI. lashfood.com
23. Luna Nectar Moon Boost product page, current INCI. lunanectar.com
24. NutraLuxe MD product page and INCIDecoder archive (December 2020). nutraluxemd.com
25. RevitaLash Advanced INCI, INCIDecoder. incidecoder.com
26. SOWN Root 1 product page, current INCI. sownbeauty.com
27. The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Lash and Brow Serum, DECIEM product page. theordinary.com
28. Vegamour GRO product page, current INCI. vegamour.com

This page shares peer-reviewed literature, FDA and Health Canada product labeling, EU SCCS opinions, ANSES bulletins, UK MHRA guidance, brand INCI disclosures, and verifiable public statements current through August 17, 2026. It is intended as educational reference content and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a qualified dermatologist, ophthalmologist, or other licensed medical professional for individualized guidance.

Among the 85 completers, the mean self-reported time to noticeable or visible results was 17 days. Participants remained under the supervision of their own healthcare professionals, including GPs, optometrists, dermatologists, and ophthalmologists, throughout the study.