This Black Friday I finally bought Plume, clean beauty’s most popular and raved about eyelash/eyebrow serum. I used Latisse (a prescription eyelash growth serum) before my wedding last year, and fell in love with how long and full my eyelashes and brows were after using it. Unfortunately, Latisse also has many potential side effects—from irritation to lid and eye discoloration to changes in vision. I began having some blotchy vision after using it for a couple of months and stopped immediately after that began. Thankfully my vision returned to normal, and eventually my brows and lashes returned to normal as well.
I have dark eyes and hair, and I’ve never been disappointed by or unhappy with my natural features. I do have very straight eyelashes that point down, but that’s usually pretty easily addressed with an eyelash curler and some mascara. As I’ve struggled with my thyroid and hormone levels lately, though, I’ve experienced some hair loss and thinning of my lashes and brows. I began looking for safer and less toxic alternatives to Latisse, and I saw almost every other clean beauty blogger raving about Plume. At a retail price of $95, though, I was hesitant to buy. Black Friday finally rolled around and with it a rare discount, so I decided to take the plunge and give it a try!
You can check out Plume’s full website with tips, study claims, reviews and directions here. According to the brand, their formula is free from toxic ingredients of any kind, including gluten, parabens, phthalates, hormones, artificial fragrances & dyes. Here’s a full list of ingredients for Plume’s Lash & Brow Enhancing Serum:
Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Organic Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Tussilago Farfara (Coltsfoot) Flower Extract, Achillea Millefolium (Yarrow) Extract, Cinchona Succirubra Bark Extract, Water, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Glycerin, Honey Extract, Prunus Amygdalus (Sweet Almond) Oil, Sucrose Laurate, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Nasturtium Officinale (Watercress) Extract, Tropaeolium Majus (Indian Cress) Extract, Xanthan Gum, Coleus Forskohlii Root Oil, Carya Ovata (Hickory) Bark Extract
This list includes so many nourishing and moisturizing ingredients that are sure to benefit the health of your eyebrows and lashes regardless of how effectively or dramatically it actually encourages growth.
(And it should be noted that results will absolutely vary depending on your hair type, age, possible sensitivities to ingredients, and more. The company advertises a generous satisfaction guarantee and offers replacements or refunds to those who might not be happy with their results, though).
At its current price point, Plume sits at the very top of clean beauty’s long list of luxury products—and therefore is not the most practical or accessible product to everyone who might be interested in using it. I’m definitely no stranger to occasionally splurging on beauty luxuries, but this still felt pretty expensive for what it is and how much product you actually get (0.3 ounces). When I shared these thoughts with friends and followers on Instagram, a few suggested that using plain castor oil might offer similar benefits for a fraction of the price.
You’ll notice that Plume includes castor oil, and its placement second on the ingredient list suggests that it’s used in higher concentration. So the question is, do Plume’s additional ingredients add significant enough value and effectiveness over plain castor oil to justify the difference in price?
I did an experiment for you using Plume on one side of my face and castor oil on the other
I picked up a 1 ounce bottle of USDA certified organic 100% pure Castor Oil on Amazon, and the price including a little kit with 4 plastic funnels and applicators was about $20 total. I applied both at the same time, with the same frequency and tried to use the same amount each time. My results and experiences will obviously be personal and specific to my many different qualities (age, hair growth cycle, hormones, etc.), and I’m not interested in telling you that one product is definitively or conclusively better than the other. I really just think this will be a fun test, and I’m also hoping to see some results with the length and quality of my lashes from either/both serums.
Here are the products I used:
Plume Lash and Brow Enhancing Serum ($95)
(also available here and here)
USDA Organic Castor Oil ($11.95) & Empty Mascara Tube Set ($9.99) from Amazon
BEFORE
Here are my bare eyelashes and eyebrows having not used any growth or enhancing serum since 2016:
Before (12/13/17)
Before (12/13/17)
Before (12/13/17)
2 WEEKS: December 27, 2017
2 Weeks (12/27/17)
2 Weeks (12/27/17)
2 Weeks (12/27/17)
It’s officially been two weeks since I began my experiment! I haven’t noticed any dramatic results yet but am definitely seeing some growth happening. You’ll notice in the pictures above that my lashes look a tiny bit thicker already and my brows have fewer sparse spots as well (notice the inner corners of brows in the last set of pictures and the arches/outer thirds in the first set).
THOUGHTS SO FAR:
- As I’ve mentioned before, Plume has a much thinner consistency than the pure castor oil, which is a very thick and almost sticky texture. I tweezed my eyebrows at the same time (obvi) about a week ago, and you can see on the castor oil side that I’m already having some stray hairs growing back. I think that’s probably because the castor oil kind of sticks to my face a little better than the Plume which seems to dry/absorb pretty quickly.
- Speaking of the textures, I’m a little worried about the castor oil possibly contributing to those little firm bumps that can form on/around eyelids. No issue with that so far, though they can take a while to form (and forever to go away, so I hope they don’t appear!). It’s nice that Plume dries quickly but I have noticed that side has a little more crusting in the inner corner in the morning.
- When I was wearing mascara over the weekend, I noticed that my eyelashes on the Plume side were already starting to touch my glasses when I wore them!
- I haven’t had ANY issues with irritation, discomfort, sensitivity, etc. with either product so far.
4 WEEKS: January 10, 2018
4 Weeks (01/10/18)
4 Weeks (01/10/18)
4 Weeks (01/10/18)
Four weeks in! After looking at the first two before/afters, I was honestly a little discouraged–but then I looked at the last set (looking up) and can definitely see a difference! My lashes are absolutely longer and thicker on both eyes. I’ve got to say that the outer part of my upper lashes on the Plume side is definitely filling in well. The castor oil side looks really good also.
THOUGHTS AT WEEK 4:
- My lashes of both eyes definitely feel and look a lot longer in person and they are noticeably longer when I wear mascara (yay!)
- I think my thoughts about the stickiness of castor oil at week 2 are pretty accurate. It’s so sticky that it really stays on the brows well and I’ve seen some kind of crazy rogue brow hairs that have gotten super long on that side of my face. If you’re interested in a brow serum specifically, I’d recommend the plain castor oil so far! (remember that it only enhances your natural growth patterns and cycles; it won’t grow hair where you’ve never had any before. But if you’ve over plucked or are just looking for more length and thickness, this stuff works!)
- When rubbing my eyes to remove makeup, I’m noticing more lash fallout on both eyes since using both serums. I don’t know why–maybe more lashes means more fallout? But it makes no difference in how many lashes look or feel and I’m still seeing longer and thicker growth overall. I’ve seen reviews of castor oil and lash serums that claim that it made someone’s lashes “fall out”, and I think they’re just experiencing this.
I’ve still got what feels like a lot of Plume left in the tube, so stick with me! I’ll keep you updated and should see even more difference the longer that I use these.
8 WEEKS: February 8, 2018
8 Weeks (02/08/18)
8 Weeks (02/08/18)
8 Weeks (02/08/18)
I can’t believe it’s been 8 weeks since I started this experiment! Looking at the before and afters, I can definitely see more growth with each update. My eyebrows have filled out in the sparser areas and my lashes are overall longer and thicker which I love! Plume suggests using their serum for “60-90 days for maximum results”, and I have to agree that this update is the most dramatic one so far. Progress has been slower and far less dramatic than prescription lash enhancers for sure, but I’ve found that if you are very consistent and patient with applying these, you’re sure to get results!
THOUGHTS AT WEEK 8:
- PROS:
- I’m happy with how the castor oil eyebrow has filled in at the outer third. The Plume eyebrow looks much thicker and denser as well!
- In the second set of pictures (looking down), the Plume lashes almost look like false lashes. I think that Plume seems to enhance lash density better than the castor oil.
- In the third picture set, I’m really impressed with the length of both sides.
- CONS:
- The castor oil is pretty messy. The oil itself is very sticky and never fully dries, so if some gets on the outside of the packaging it slowly drips down and I pretty much always have a sticky puddle on my bathroom sink. It does seem to absorb well on the skin, though, so the messiness is mostly just with the packaging and product itself.
- The Plume serum makes my eye water sometimes and since I use it at night before bed, that makes my left eye puffier in the morning and it’s also annoying to keep wiping my eye as I’m trying to fall asleep. Plume also has a very slight scent (100% natural and just from the ingredients used). On days when I am particularly sensitive to scents, it isn’t my favorite thing to apply. But the scent fades very quickly and probably isn’t even noticeable to most people! Just mentioning in case others are super sensitive.
- I’m starting to wonder how sanitary applying the same product and using the same brush wand every day for so long on my eye area is. With prescription Latisse, there is a serum bottle and disposable wands to apply. Experts recommend replacing mascara every 2-3 months; Plume probably has a similar timeframe as well. I haven’t noticed any significant irritation and always use the product on clean skin, but it is something I’m thinking about.
PLUME SUMMARY:
Overall, I have to say that Plume is a really great product that absolutely delivers on its claims. My lashes and brows are longer, thicker and fuller than before. Other than two or three very mild and minor complaints, it’s easy to use and the packaging is nice. The formula is super gentle. I love that it is made with clean and natural ingredients and no toxic preservatives, steroids, or other potentially harmful chemicals.
DOES IT WORK? Yes.
ANY SIGNIFICANT COMPLAINTS? No.
IS IT WORTH THE PRICE? Honestly, I can’t really say! I think that’s a very personal question for each consumer and for the company. I’m sure that as a small business in a niche market there is a lot of cost associated with every aspect: retail placement, marketing/advertising, packaging, product development and testing, website creation/design/support, influencer programs, ingredient sourcing and certification, and the list goes on (and on and on). I do think that Plume is probably very competitive in terms of effectiveness with other similar products with similar price points, so I don’t think that the price is outrageous or unfair.
WOULD I BUY IT AGAIN? Maybe!
CASTOR OIL SUMMARY:
I really didn’t know how plain castor oil would compare to a true lash growth serum, and I’m pretty impressed with the results. Also, suggested additional benefits of castor oil include increased circulation, prevention of infection and bacteria/virus growth, fighting skin disorders and calming inflammation, healing acne, reducing itching and swelling, healing chapped lips and sunburns. For more info on unique uses of castor oil check out this article here. Also, castor oil is said to help with eye dryness, so it’s something that I’m not scared to apply to my sensitive eyes repeatedly. I like that the specific oil I bought is certified organic, and you know that I love using minimal-ingredient products when I can.
DOES IT WORK? Also yes!
ANY SIGNIFICANT COMPLAINTS? I’m not totally happy with the packaging I bought and would recommend something with a tighter seal.
IS IT WORTH THE PRICE? Again, I don’t know all of the production costs that go into this product, but I think it’s a very affordable price and absolutely a great option for those who are unable or unwilling to splurge on more expensive serums. I think that the results are close!
WOULD I BUY IT AGAIN? Maybe, haha! Aside from price, ingredients, etc., I honestly don’t know if the results from either of these are worth having to use them every single night for months at a time. If you are someone who loves a routine and already does full skincare rituals every night, then either of these will fit perfectly for you. They take no time to apply and dry, and they’re both super easy. I’m just still not huge into having a constant and consistent skincare routine right now, so it has definitely been an extra step on nights when I wait until the last minute to go to bed and then remember I still have to wash my face and apply eyelash serum (because I definitely never apply to anything but clean skin).
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Before this experiment began, I did a poll on Instagram that asked which product people thought would “win” and the results were 62% Plume vs 38% Castor Oil. I’ll have to do another one now and will share the results! Which product would you prefer? Do you think one is significantly better than the other? Let me know if you have tried/plan to try them and what your experiences are! I’m not sure how much longer I’ll continue from now, but if I do keep going you can expect more updates as I go!
I really need to start using Castor oil for thickening my lashes.
yes! It’s so affordable, easy and effective especially if you’re patient!
Nice blog. Thanks for sharing this with us.