I've used Vaseline on my lashes every night since I was 13 and it's kept them in condition, but not helped them grow.
The Careprost is the generic in Allergan's Latisse (£125 a tube last time I looked!). ADC have an excellent track record, I've used them for various bits and bobs for years, though I now buy in a group from MUA because their postage rates have more than quadrupled (even I wasn't brave enough to try it until other group members had used it with success and no ill effects). I apply very sparingly with a bent eyeliner brush (from Justbeautydirect) and have sat back and watched in wonder as my lashes have grown so much they now brush the lens on my sunglasses! It's also worked wonders filling out my brows (thank you thyroid disease!). I use very little as some had noticed a faint purplish discolouration if they applied too high on the lid. I'd also read that glaucoma sufferers had noticed their eyes darkening (wish my insipid blues would darken to a rich, chocolate brown!!) after using the drops, but have not heard of any external use causing this.
There are a large number of ladies using this in our group and I was one of the last to join, so yes, I sat back and read about their experiences and researched both the product and ADC (though, as I said, I'd used them for years anyway) for a long time before dipping my toes. I'm very pleased with the results, more so because I haven't felt ripped off by the ridiculous prices these companies have the cheek to charge (I paid £4 for the last few bottles).
Just FYI for anyone using any form of lash growth is to give it a break for a few months after maximum growth seems to have been reached. Every single person I know using them (including myself when I used to use Talika - also good, but nowhere near as good as Careprost) has come to a point where the product has run out of steam, so to speak. After a few months break where lashes have returned to normal, though, another course has done the trick.
Anyone on a budget may want to try good old castor oil first. I used this before trying the commercial products and found it thickened (rather than lengthened) my lashes and brows quite well - I had to use it for a few months before I really noticed a difference, but noticed it more when I stopped using it and my lashes/brows returned to normal. It conditioned them like nothing else, too.
Lynn - is that your dog? He's lovely