Value Village ／ Beauty
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
Eyelash serums (まつげ美容液, matsuge biyōeki) spread rapidly in Japan and are known abroad as products that "make lashes grow." In Japan, however, eye problems from these products have been reported in large numbers to the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan, which issued a warning in 2015.
| Category | Product | What it may claim | Caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic | Most over-the-counter "eyelash serums" | Gives lashes body and resilience, protects them, moisturises them (within the 56 permitted claims) | Cannot claim "longer", "more" or "grows" |
| Medicine (prescription) | Topical bimatoprost (a prescription drug for eyelash hypotrichosis, i.e. sparse lashes) | Eyelash growth (an approved indication) | Doctor's prescription. Side effects: pigmentation, red eyes, change in iris colour, effect on eye pressure |
| Imported "growth" products | Some contain prostaglandin analogues | In Japan these count as medicinal ingredients and may not be put in cosmetics | Problems with personally imported products have been reported |
[Verify] Check the year and number of complaints against the National Consumer Affairs Center document on injuries from eyelash serums, and bimatoprost's category and side effects against the package insert (PMDA).
A cosmetic cannot claim "growth", and you should not expect it. Its range is body, resilience and protection. If you want longer lashes, that is a prescription medicine, with an explanation of side effects.
Prostaglandin analogues are medicinal ingredients in Japan, with known side effects of pigmentation, red eyes and iris discolouration. Eye problems from personally imported products have been reported.
On the mucous membrane of the eye it causes irritation and redness. Apply a very small amount at the roots, keep it out of the eye, and rinse it out if it gets in. Take contact lenses out first.
Excess runs into the eye and causes eyelid rashes. Once or twice a day, a small amount.
Redness, itching, swelling or darkening of the eyelids may be contact dermatitis or pigmentation. Stop using it and see an ophthalmologist or a dermatology clinic (both covered by Japanese health insurance).
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https://www.kokusen.go.jp/news/data/n-20150917_1.html
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/file/06-Seisakujouhou-11120000-Iyakushokuhinkyoku/kesyouhin_hanni_20111.pdf
https://www.pmda.go.jp/
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
Cosmetics are not medicines and are not meant to diagnose, heal or prevent any condition. If your skin reacts, stop using the product and see a dermatologist.
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