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Eye Makeup

Shopping and Usage Tips

Read up on misleading labels so you won't be duped at the checkout counter.

Choose powdered products, which generally require fewer potentially irritating ingredients.

Avoid frosted, pearlized, iridescent, or other glittery types of eye shadow. Ground oyster shells or tinsel used in these products can be harmful if a particle finds its way into the eye, especially if you wear contact lenses.

The American Academy of Dermatology also provides the following advice:

Black-colored eyeliners and mascaras are generally considered to be the least irritating.

"Guaranteed waterproof" products need to be removed with solvents that are harsh and can be very hard on skin.

Lighter earth tones, such as tan, cream, white or beige, seem to cause less upper-eyelid irritation in women with sensitive or itchy eyes.

Use products that contain no more than 10 ingredients. The fewer the ingredients, the less likely you are to be exposed to a potentially irritating or harmful chemical.

Usage Tips

A few healthy makeup habits can further reduce your exposure to harmful ingredients:

Wash makeup off before going to bed.

Don't wear makeup when you exercise: your pores open, which can increase absorption, and you're also likely to get eye makeup in your eyes through perspiration and wiping away perspiration.

Reduce your risk of conjunctivitis and other eye health problems by not sharing eye makeup and by avoiding the testing samples in stores. Also, don't use eye makeup if you have an eye infection.

Refrain from applying eyeliner to the inner edge of the lid or around the last line on the lower lid where it can clog tiny oil glands and cause infection.

Be vigilant about following expiration dates and throw out cosmetics when they get old. Don't keep mascara and eye makeup for longer than three to four months.

Should you suffer an adverse effect from a makeup product, you should report it. Call the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Adverse Event Reporting System at 301-436-2405 for information on how to report adverse reactions.

Proper Disposal

Many cosmetic containers are recyclable; many are not. Find out what is recyclable in your area, and when you toss of old containers, empty them as thoroughly as possible. Remove compact mirrors, which often aren't accepted for recycling.