Ingredient Index

Are Prostaglandin Analogues banned in Europe?

Banned in EU

Yes: prostaglandin analogues, the active compounds in many lash-growth serums, are prohibited in EU cosmetics, while the US lets synthetic versions like isopropyl cloprostenate sell over the counter.

Also seen as: Isopropyl cloprostenate, Bimatoprost analogue, Dechloro dihydroxy difluoro ethylcloprostenolamide

What the EU does

Banned in cosmetics. Prostaglandins and prostaglandin-like substances are prohibited in EU cosmetic products under Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. The EU treats these compounds as pharmaceuticals, not cosmetic ingredients, so they cannot be sold in a lash or brow serum at all.

There is a legal route to the same effect in Europe, but it runs through a doctor. Bimatoprost, the prescription glaucoma drug marketed for lashes as Latisse, is a medicine, available only with a prescription. The OTC lash serums that flood the US market, built on synthetic analogues like isopropyl cloprostenate, are exactly what the EU cosmetic ban shuts out. EU enforcement actions against lash-serum brands are documented.

Citation Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex II (prostaglandins prohibited in cosmetics)

What the US does

Widely sold over the counter, in a regulatory gray zone. In the US, prescription bimatoprost (Latisse) is a drug, but synthetic prostaglandin analogues such as isopropyl cloprostenate appear in OTC eyelash and brow serums sold without a prescription. The FDA considers these unapproved drugs when they make growth claims, and has issued warnings, yet the category remains large and easy to buy.

The risks are not hypothetical, and they are the reason the EU draws a hard line. Prostaglandin analogues can cause permanent darkening of the iris, darkening of the eyelid skin, and a hollowed, sunken look around the eye from fat loss in the orbital area. Those effects are documented for the drug class. The EU's position is that a compound capable of changing your eye color does not belong in a cosmetic you apply yourself.

Citation FDA: bimatoprost (Latisse) prescription-only; OTC analogues treated as unapproved drugs

Products that commonly contain it

Prostaglandin analogues are the growth actives in many lash and brow products. Look for them in:

Eyelash growth and "lash boost" serums
Eyebrow growth serums
Some combination lash-and-brow conditioning treatments
Prescription bimatoprost (Latisse), the regulated pharmaceutical version

What to look for on a label

These actives hide behind chemical names on US labels:

"Isopropyl cloprostenate", the most common OTC analogue
"Dechloro dihydroxy difluoro ethylcloprostenolamide" and similar long names
"Bimatoprost" signals the prescription drug, not a cosmetic
Any lash serum promising real "growth" is worth scrutinizing for a prostaglandin analogue

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Frequently asked questions

Are prostaglandin analogues banned in Europe?

Yes. Prostaglandins and prostaglandin-like substances are prohibited in EU cosmetics under Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Lash-growth serums using them cannot be sold as cosmetics in the EU.

Can you get lash growth treatments in Europe?

Yes, but only by prescription. Bimatoprost (Latisse) is a regulated medicine. The OTC lash serums common in the US are not permitted as cosmetics in the EU.

What are the risks of prostaglandin lash serums?

Documented effects of the drug class include permanent iris-color darkening, eyelid-skin darkening, and a sunken look around the eye from orbital fat loss. These risks are why the EU bans them in cosmetics.

Are these legal in the United States?

Synthetic analogues like isopropyl cloprostenate are sold in OTC serums, but the FDA treats growth-claim products as unapproved drugs and has issued warnings. Prescription bimatoprost is the only fully approved route.

Related ingredients

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Last reviewed June 15, 2026 · How we assign statuses