Jarilla–Coffea extract: a natural cosmetic product that improves eyelash and eyebrow growth in women

Abstract

Purpose

A combination of extracts, from two plant species, ie, Coffea arabica and Larrea divaricata (Jarilla) (ECOHAIR^®), is being successfully used in Argentina as a cosmetic for hair recovery in androgenic and areata alopecia, and for eyelash and eyebrow growth. The objectives of this prospective study were to evaluate the capacity of Jarilla–Coffea extract gel of improving hair growth in relation to thickness, appearance of new hair, and hair length in comparison with a placebo in premenopausal and postmenopausal volunteers and to identify possible signs of ocular adverse local reactions related to the application of the gel.

Volunteers and methods

An open-label, placebo-controlled, prospective study was performed in healthy premenopausal and postmenopausal women during a daily administration period of 2 months (eyebrow growth) and 3 months (eyelash growth). The thickness of hair was determined using a video microscope MedicalScope^®. The appearance of new hairs and total area with hair in eyebrow and eyelash length were quantified using a photographic record with Fotofinder^® (Germany). The number of volunteers presenting variation in growth of new hair and length were also recorded.

Results

The product significantly increased the thickness of eyebrows (20% in 80% women) and eyelashes (19.44% in 100% of women). The gel also increased the appearance of new hairs, total area with hair, and length but there was no statistical difference between treatment and placebo.

Conclusion

The gel was capable of improving growth of eyelashes and eyebrows by inducing principally hair thickening without causing local adverse effects in a high percentage of volunteers.

Keywords:

• eyelash thickness
• eyebrow thickness
• plant extracts
• menopause
• adverse effects
• cosmetic

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Laboratory Garre-Guevara SRL Argentina for the financial support of the study.

Author contributions

CA was involved in conception of the study and performed analysis and interpretation of data. Moreover, he contributed toward data analysis, drafting, and critically revising the manuscript and agrees to be accountable for all aspects of the work. MRA was involved in extract preparation and quality control of products and analysis and interpretation of data. SPD planned the trial performing visits and instrumental evaluation and protocol design. All authors contributed to data analysis, drafting or revising the article, gave final approval of the version to be published, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.