M2 Beauté- M2 Lashes (Lash Activating Serum)

We need to talk about my eyelashes.

They were always alright, just nothing impressive. And they've required some serious quality time with a lash curler to really stand out. I could deal. So I wasn't paying all that much attention when I received a press sample of a product I've never heard of before, M2 Lashes by M2 Beauté. I promptly put it away and forgot about it until it re-emerged last October when I did a major overhaul and reorg of my playroom. I looked at the box and researched the ingredients: the most important active ingredient is methylamido dihydro noralfaprostal, which is the famous material originally used in prescription medication for eye disease (glaucoma, elevated inner-eye pressure) that was discovered to cause rapid eyelash growth, but there's also hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycan, another medical-grade molecule that is used in corneal repair, wound repair, and prevention of blood clots. Then there are other skin and hair pampering ingredients that include biotin, hyaluronic acid, and various humectants that all seem to be on the good-for-you side. I was willing to give it a try, though I admit I had no expectations since it's a non-prescription cosmetic product. I was still so dismissive that silly me didn't even think of taking a "before" photo.

Several weeks of daily use have passed when looking at the mirror while doing my makeup I noticed a single eye lash was on my right eye was standing far out and curling upwards like one perfect falsie. That was new. Within a week there were two more along that eye and one on my left. At the sixteen week mark I could tell that I definitely had longer lashes that curled by themselves, held onto mascara for dear life, and appeared thicker and more plentiful, though that has never been an issue. I've always had a reasonably thick fringe, it was just not very noticeable because it stuck straight ahead and my lashes are a very dark brown but not black.

It's been months and I'm on my second tube of M2 Lashes. I've tested it in various ways, just so I can tell you that once a day is enough (I do it before bed), you only need to "paint" it along the upper lashes and not anywhere else, if you get some into the eyes it doesn't burn but there's a weird heating sensation, and that if you use retinoids under the eye you'll really want to keep the M2 Beauté serum away from that area, or it'll burn like an inferno. Application is easy: the brush is flexible and the product goes on like a runny eyeliner. A best practice is to wipe the brush on the inner part of the tube's opening to not over-apply (and avoid migration). you can always add a bit more if needed, but you don't want to waste precious material (keep a tissue on hand anyway).

These are the "after" photos. Again, I apologize for not taking "before" pictures. My mom can confirm that I wasn't born with these lashes. I'm not wearing mascara or eyeliner, and haven't curled my lashes. As a matter of fact, I'm not wearing any makeup other than a touch of primer to even out my lids (and also have applied a moisturizer just prior to taking the photos), which is why I allowed myself the luxury of a little retouching, which otherwise I never do.

Months later, my lashes seem to keep growing. At some point one is supposed to have enough and graduate into maintenance zone by switching to M2 Beauté Eyezone Conditioning Care Complex ($50). I've become lash-greedy, so I'm not quite there just yet.

Bottom Line: I'm a believer.

M2 Beauté- M2 Lash Activating Serum ($170, made in Germany) is exclusive to OsswaldNYC (as well as the Zurich location), and Harrods. Osswald supplied me with the product for consideration free of charge.