20 Years of Lashes, Love, and Legacy with Our Founder
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20 Years of Lashes, Love, and Legacy with Our Founder

As RevitaLash® Cosmetics celebrates our 20th anniversary, we sat down with our Founder & CEO Michael Brinkenhoff, M.D. to reflect on the journey that brought us here.


Our story began with a single, heartfelt gift — and over two decades, has grown into a global brand that has empowered millions of people worldwide to feel more beautiful and confident in their lashes, brows, and hair.

In this exclusive interview, Dr. Brinkenhoff shares his personal reflections on pioneering the lash serum category, and the lasting legacy of love that’s the foundation of it all.

Twenty years ago, you were a practicing ophthalmologist. What inspired you to create a beauty product for lashes?

Dr. B: It all began with my wife, Gayle. She was battling metastatic breast cancer at the time, and the treatments had affected her hair, including her eyelashes. I wanted to find a way to help her feel more like herself again. So, I formulated a conditioning serum to help her lashes look healthier and stronger — and it worked. A joyful spark returned to her eyes, and with it, her confidence returned — it was heartwarming to witness.

It all really started as a small gesture of love, something to lift Gayle’s spirits. I had no idea that it would one day lead to a brand that would reach, and help, women all over the world.

What was your process like when developing the original lash serum formula for Gayle?

The process was very personal. I was developing a gift for the love of my life, so safety and care came first. I drew on my training as a physician, an ophthalmologist, specializing in the eyes; I created a formula that would be gentle and safe for use around the eyes. I refined it gradually until I knew it would deliver visible results, safely.

When Gayle’s friends began asking if they could try it too, I realized that the formula had the potential to help others feel the same renewed confidence that Gayle experienced. That’s when our company was born.

What role did Gayle play in the brand's development and mission, and how do you honor her legacy today?

Gayle was the heart and soul of this brand. Not only did she coin the name “RevitaLash,” she was a source of courage and compassion — and she inspired our mission to give back. From the very beginning, she wanted to ensure that RevitaLash® Cosmetics would support women facing breast cancer.

We honor Gayle’s legacy today through our Eternally Pink® initiative, which supports breast cancer research and patient quality-of-life initiatives year-round. Gayle believed in lifting others up, and everything we do today is a continuation of that promise. She would be so proud of all that the brand has achieved: the millions of women we’ve supported on their cancer journeys, the investments we’ve made towards finding a cure, and the recent achievement of our $10 million contribution milestone.

What were some early challenges and turning points in the company’s history?

Starting a brand from scratch was a learning experience. I was a physician, not a businessman. There were challenges in manufacturing, regulations, and distribution — but what kept us moving forward was the passion behind the product and our belief in helping others.

A major turning point came when people began sharing their stories. We started hearing from customers who said our products made them feel more confident, more like themselves. That feedback was deeply motivating. It validated that what we were doing mattered, and that it was about much more than beauty.

What distinguishes RevitaLash® Cosmetics’ products in terms of formulation and results?

Every formula we create is held to our incredibly high standards of safety and performance.  The process of developing the perfect formula, testing to meet our safety standards, and incorporating feedback from real consumers takes time and effort. But it’s worth it to us. It’s that attention to detail that sets us apart in a category that has become saturated with imitators.

RevitaLash® Cosmetics recently reached the milestone of $10 million raised for breast cancer initiatives. What does this achievement mean to the company, and to you personally?

It’s an extraordinary milestone, and one that fills me with pride and gratitude. From the beginning, Gayle’s dream was that this company would make a difference. To see that dream grow into tangible support for breast cancer research and patient initiatives worldwide is incredibly meaningful.

For me personally, it’s a full-circle moment. Every dollar represents a story: a patient helped, a family supported, a research breakthrough funded. It’s a living reflection of Gayle’s spirit and of the compassion that built this brand, and as a physician, it has always been my desire to help.

What has been the impact of the Eternally Pink® initiatives on breast cancer research and patient quality of life?

The impact is both measurable and deeply human. Thanks to our customers and our global partners, we’ve been able to support organizations that fund critical research, provide patient care, and help those navigating life during and after treatment.

We’ve funded scalp cooling caps for patients facing hair loss, clinical research and development studies that may one day lead to new therapies — or even a cure — and we’ve participated in inspirational events that celebrate survivors and thrivers while raising even more funding for the cause.

The impact continues every day, and we’re deeply proud to be part of that ongoing effort.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of seeing your products positively affect people's lives?

Without question, it’s hearing from the people we’ve helped. When someone writes to say that using our products made them feel beautiful again after an illness, or simply more confident in their own skin, that’s the greatest reward.

Knowing that something I created out of love for one person can bring confidence to so many others is humbling beyond words. It reminds me of the reason I started and why we continue to do what we do.

Looking ahead, what are you most excited about for the next 20 years of RevitaLash® Cosmetics?

I’m excited about innovation. We have some remarkable new products in development, each created with the same care, attention to detail, and high standards that define us – products with confidence boosting benefits that improve while you wear.

But beyond innovation, I’m most excited to keep strengthening our community. Our customers and partners around the world have been with us through this journey. Together, we’ve built something truly meaningful. The next 20 years will be about deepening that connection and finding new ways to give back.

If Gayle were here today, what do you think she would say about all we have accomplished, and what would she make of her legacy?

I think Gayle would be incredibly proud. Proud of our success as a company, and most of all, the kindness that this company represents. She would be touched by the stories of people whose confidence we’ve helped restore, and by the strength of the community that has grown with us.

Her legacy lives in every product we make and every person we’re able to help. That was always her dream — and it remains my great honor to carry it forward.

Finally, what would you like to say to our RevitaLash® Cosmetics community who is here celebrating this milestone anniversary with us?

I’m deeply and eternally grateful to our RevitaLash Cosmetics community for making this journey possible – we couldn’t have done it without your support. And I’m so proud to be here celebrating our 20th anniversary with you! Cheers to all we’ve accomplished together thus far – and to another twenty years of bringing hope to others…one lash, one life, and one loving legacy at a time.

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