It’s not often that the FDA raids – that’s right, US Marshals, guns, shields, RAIDS – a cosmetics company. But that doesn’t mean it can’t happen. In a shocking move, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) burst into Jan Marini Skin Research, Inc’s California offices in late 2007 and removed 12,682 tubes – $2 million worth – of Jan Marini’s Age Intervention Eyelash Conditioner because they claimed it could lead to swelling of the retina, inflammation of the eye, and even blindness.

Now, this is the same product seen on “Good Morning America,” the same product endorsed by many dermatologists. I have a tube of Age Intervention Eyelash Conditioner on my makeup tray, and I’ve even shared my enthusiasm for it with Body-Philosophy visitors. The only side effects I’ve experienced are longer, fuller lashes.

So I wondered what the problem might be...

Now you’ve got to wonder: how could this ingredient be so dangerous in a cosmetic product and not be dangerous in a medication? The FDA’s response is that “the extra dose of bimatropost may decrease the prescription drug’s effectiveness.”

Of course, that raises a number of questions – namely, whether the FDA is trying to protect consumers from harm, or just keep drug companies happy. After all, doctors are prescribing much stronger versions of the chemical to their patients for eyelash growth – and yes, there are side effects that should be weighed against the benefits. The manufacturer of related drug Lumigan reports that “the most common side effects are eye redness, growth of eyelashes, and itchy eyes.” Rarely, it causes the iris to darken as well.

Jan Marini’s spokespeople claim that the FDA targeted their company alone, even though by the time of the seizure, several brands were selling competing products. JMSR’s official press release states, “The FDA’s glaring failure to take action against other eyelash products containing the same ingredient undermines its stated safety concerns. The FDA was notified months ago that several other companies have copied JMSR’s discontinued product and continue to market their competing products with ‘drug’ claims for eyelash growth, but the FDA has taken no enforcement action to remove those products from the market.”

Jan Marini also claims that the product had been reformulated months before the seizure took place. Still, the official FDA press release states, “The FDA recommends that consumers, dermatologists, and estheticians who may still have Age Intervention Eyelash Conditioner discontinue using it and discard any remaining product.”