I recently received Paula Begoun’s Beauty Bulletin in the mail, and first article caught my eye. Thought I’d share with you on the safety of eye makeup. I have to say that I’ve been guilty on many accounts years ago when I was sharing makeup with my friends, dipping the same sponge applicator that we share into the few eyeshadow palettes we have. Blame it on us being young, ignorant and utterly skint 😛

Mascara, eyeshadow, and eyeliner are intended to make women more attractive. One thing they shouldn’t do is harm the eyes! Yet each year, many women suffer eye infections and eyelid skin irritation from cosmetics. At the time of purchase, most eye cosmetics are free from bacteria that could cause eye infections. Problems happen when they aren’t adequately preserved against microorganisms, if they are tampered with in stores, or if they are misused by the consumer after being opened. Poor preservation or misuse of an eye cosmetic can allow dangerous bacteria to enter and grow in the product. Under these circumstances, when the cosmetic is applied to the area around the eye, an infection can happen.

The Food and Drug Administration has taken numerous steps to make sure that eye cosmetics are free from contamination when they reach you and that they contain preservatives to inhibit the growth of bacteria. Generally speaking, the cosmetics industry makes products that will not harm you. Nevertheless, I urge you to follow these 11 tips from the FDA on the use of eye cosmetics:

1. Discontinue immediately the use of any eye product that causes irritation. If irritation persists, consult a doctor.
2. Recognize that bacteria on your hands could, if placed in or near the eye, cause infections. Wash your hands before applying cosmetics to your eyes. (Editor: Better yet, keep a bottle of hand sanitiser on your dresser. This way, you have no excuse not to wash your hands before apply eye makeup).
3. Make sure that any instrument you place in the eye area is clean; this includes makeup brushes, which should be washed periodically and not shared with others.
4. Do not allow cosmetics to become covered with dust or contaminated with dirt or soil. Wipe off the container with a damp cloth if dust or dirt is visible. (Editor: If you do wipe down your makeup palettes with a damp cloth, remember to let them dry first before closing ’em up and storing ’em away. You don’t want more buildup of bacteria)
5. Do not use old containers of eye cosmetics. If you haven’t used the product for several months, it’s better to discard it and purchase a new one.
6. Do not add saliva to eye cosmetics. The bacteria in your mouth may grow in the cosmetic, and subsequent application to the eye could cause infection.
7. Do not share your cosmetics. Another person’s bacteria in your cosmetics can be hazardous to you.
8. Do not store cosmetics at temperatures above 85 degrees Fahrenheit (~30C). Cosmetics held for long periods in hot cars, for example, are more susceptible to deterioration of the preservative.
9. Avoid using eye cosmetics if you have an eye infection or if the skin around the eye is inflamed. Wait until the area is healed and replace any eye cosmetic used prior to the infection.
10. Take particular care in using eye cosmetics if you have any allergies.
11. When applying or removing eye cosmetics, be careful not to scratch the eyeball or other sensitive areas.

This reminds me, I’d better go give my palettes a good cleaning!