Back in September I wrote about an amazing solution called Latisse, which causes eyelashes to grow thicker and longer. I found out about it in the States where I was visiting my sister, and I've been using it ever since I clapped eyes on her own lustrous Latisse-fed lashes.

If you don't believe me, check out the photographs of Brooke Shields and the stunning models on the Latisse website:

It's worked on mine too: they're visibly longer, thicker and darker. I wondered how long this stuff (or an imitator) would take to cross the pond; in fact I've been surprised it's taken so long, with our current false-eyelash craze. First, we admired the false lash effect worn by girls in music videos. Then we emulated the flutter-eyed girl band look on our Saturday nights out. Now, loads of women regularly take to the street in daytime sporting the full armoury of false lashes.

The idea of wrestling with glue and strip lashes whilst simultaneously eating toast and dressing children of a morning is not my idea of a good time- although I have been known to do it.

Now, any girl for whom falsies are now essential kit may have an alternative- and a much more affordable alternative than RapidLash, too.

I don't buy Latisse. It's only available on prescription, and it's expensive. Instead, I get the generic version. That basically means a copy that uses the same active ingredient as Latisse (bimatoprost), without the brand name.

A 3ml bottle of Careprost sells on genericsmed.com for $14.90. Of course there's shipping to pay for too- I think it comes from India- but even with the $15.50 added on, it's a lot cheaper than RapidLash.

Another plus of opting for a Latisse copy is that Latisse is prescription-only. As such, it has been subjected to intense testing by America's FDA. It has had to prove its safety and efficacy. RapidLash, classed as purely cosmetic, has undergone none of the same independent testing. It does contain an ingredient that has molecular similarities to bimatoprost: isopropyl cloprostenate. As such, it may well work.

However, my money (20 pounds less of it!) is on Careprost. It's great not having to wear mascara- and even better to have cast off the fiddle of false eyelashes!