Brief Summary
Abbey Yung discusses her experience with the Sweed lash growth serum, a prostaglandin analog-free alternative to popular lash serums that carry risks of serious side effects. She shares her impressive before-and-after results, dives into the ingredients of Sweed, explains how it works to promote lash growth, and addresses potential side effects with insights from an optometrist. She emphasizes that while individual results may vary, she is personally impressed with the serum and considers it a staple in her routine.
- Prostaglandin analogs in many popular lash serums can cause serious side effects like iris darkening and periorbital fat loss.
- Sweed lash serum is a prostaglandin-free alternative that uses peptides, biotin, pumpkin seed oil, and vegan keratin to promote lash growth.
- Results from Sweed are gradual, focusing on lengthening and lifting lashes over a period of months.
Intro
Abbey introduces the topic of lash growth serums, particularly those containing prostaglandin analogs, which have the potential to cause terrifying side effects. She explains that these ingredients are found in many popular lash serums and were the reason she stopped using them for years. However, she has recently tested a prostaglandin-free alternative and is ready to share her experience and results. She aims to provide context on the risks associated with traditional lash growth serums and the emergence of safer alternatives.
The Truth About Lash Serums
Abbey discusses the popularity of lash serums like Latisse, Grande Lash, Rapid Lash, and Revital Lash in the early 2000s, noting their effectiveness due to prostaglandin analogs. These analogs mimic natural prostaglandins, leading to longer, thicker, and darker lashes. However, she highlights the significant risks associated with these serums, including iris darkening, eyelid skin darkening, periorbital fat loss (leading to a sunken eye appearance), and dry eye, which is a chronic condition with symptoms like blurred vision and stinging. Some of these side effects are thought to be irreversible, causing her to avoid these products until recently.
PGA-Free Lash Serums
Abbey explains that as the risks of prostaglandin analog-containing lash serums became more known, many PGA-free alternatives emerged. Despite initial interest, she found many reviews of these alternatives to be negative, with users reporting no results. This led her to dismiss the category until she saw dermatologists recommending the Sweed lash growth serum as an effective PGA-free option. Influenced by dermatologists like Dr. Jenny and possibly Tea with MD, she decided to try Sweed and conduct a before-and-after review. She also mentions including a quote from an optometrist about the risks of using lash serums. She provides a list of commonly used prostaglandin analog ingredients to help viewers identify them on product labels, noting that these ingredients are not always explicitly labeled as prostaglandin analogs. A key indicator is the presence of "prost" in the ingredient name.
Sweed Ingredients
Abbey examines the ingredients of the Sweed lash serum, noting the absence of any prostaglandin analogs. The serum contains peptides, biotin, pumpkin seed oil, and vegan keratin. She explains that while biotin and keratin primarily condition the lashes, they haven't been proven to significantly impact hair growth. She investigates Larix Europaea Wood Extract, part of the Redensyl technology, which claims to reactivate bulge stem cells for hair growth. The specific peptides in Sweed serum include Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-16, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Octapeptide-2, and Soybean Polypeptide. These peptides are part of the WK Pep ProLash technology, which claims to promote hair growth by activating keratin production and stimulating adhesion protein growth. Pumpkin seed oil is included for its potential anti-androgen properties.
How It Works
Abbey explains that she reached out to Sweed for clinical studies but had not received a response by the time of filming. She hypothesizes that the lash serum likely works by prolonging the amount of time lashes remain rooted in the follicle, similar to how many hair growth serums function. This is because eyelashes, like head hair, go through growth, transition, and rest phases before shedding.
My Results
Abbey shares that her experience with the Sweed lash serum did not involve rapid growth. Instead, the growth was gradual, and she didn't fully realize the extent of the results until her partner commented on her long and fluttery lashes. She captured before footage on January 20th and after footage on May 14th, approximately four months later. It took her about three weeks to consistently use the serum every night. The main difference she observed was a significant increase in lash length and a more curled or lifted appearance, even when using the same mascara combination (Maybelline Lash Sensational and L'Oreal Lash Paradise). She believes the increased length allows her lashes to hold a curl better.
Potential Side Effects
Abbey emphasizes that she has not experienced any negative side effects from using the Sweed lash serum but acknowledges the potential for risks. She includes a quote from optometrist Dr. Ena Lazar, who states that lash serums without prostaglandin analogs are generally safe. The biggest risks are irritation from oils like castor oil and allergic reactions to certain ingredients. Dr. Lazar's Instagram account is provided for viewers seeking more information on eye health.
Final Thoughts
Abbey concludes by stating that while lash serums are not essential for healthy eyelashes, PGA-free options like Sweed can provide amazing results, though individual experiences may vary. She is personally impressed with the results she achieved, particularly the increased length and fluttery appearance of her lashes, without the risks associated with prostaglandin analogs. As a result, she considers Sweed a staple in her nighttime routine. She acknowledges that some people may prefer to avoid lash serums altogether due to potential risks and respects that decision. She clarifies that the video is not sponsored, but she has a 20% discount code (abby-20) for her audience through the ShopMy affiliate site. She encourages viewers to share their thoughts and experiences in the comments.
