Mascara allergies

Oh I know all about mascara allergies inparticular.
ATM I have only half my eyelashes.
If you ask any cosmetics chemist about mascara, they will tell you it’s the most dangerous product you could use near your eyes.

OMG! how awful

Hi everyone, my first time creating a thread here on BH forums!

I’ve had allergic reactions to mascara in the past – specifically Diorshow and Napoleon Long Black mascara. Both were very very similar reactions. I bought the mascaras, used them for quite a while (I think I even may have used up and repurchased), then I started reacting. The reactions start off subtle, and lasted for a few days or even weeks – flaky skin along the lashline, peeling crustyness on the waterline (gross, I know) and then my lash lines swell up and go pink and REALLY itchy.

I also react to Napoleons pencil eyeliners in the exact same way, and again, I used those (in like, 4 different colours!) for a long time before developing the reaction.

I’ve also tried the mascaras again in subsequent years, and I still reacted. Recently I got a travel size of Diorshow Iconic, and I already had it on when I remembered I had been allergic to the normal one. I wore it anyway, and it’s a GREAT mascara – and I’m still allergic. Pink, peely, awfulness!!

What totally sucks is, I LOVE both those mascaras. The eyeliners are pretty good too. The formulas of both those mascaras seem to be similar to me. They smell different to other mascaras, and they apply and wear differently. So, my musing is – whats the commonality between them?

Physician’s Formula has a natural mascara, free of harsh chemicals and parabens http://www.physiciansformula.com/en-au/productdetail/01062.html perhaps give it a try?

do you react to any other makeup or skincare ingredients that you know of?

I do react to things, but usually it’s just uncomfortable or makes my skin go a bit irritated. This was quite a severe reaction in comparison!

The allergy testing is something I’ve wanted to do, however my Dermatologist advised me that you can be sensitive without being allergic – and sensitivity’s don’t show up on the tests. As they’re very expensive, I’ve never done them.

I haven’t had much luck with natural products, and often they’re so heavy in plant derivatives that they make me react anyway – possibly because of my birch sensitivities. I don’t believe that natural is inherently better. I have more luck with standard products usually.

Thanks for your input everyone 🙂 it’s great to hear other people’s experiences!

If you rally want to use eye liner and mascara I can point you in the direction of a good brand which will guarantee you no allergy or reaction because the mascara is sugar based and eye liner cocoawfulness with mineral pigments.

The commonality is that they are chemical based cosmetics .

I’ll never forget my first ever mascara. My aunty gave it to me. It was just a cheapie Starlet brand. I was about 13 or 14. All my bottom eyelashes fell out! My eyes were so red and sore, and OMG it looked so weird!

I’m using Bourjois ultra care at the moment (in the white tube). Mascaras are something I tend to have problems with, but I’ve never had any problems with this one.

Definitely worth chatting to your GP about then or get a referral to an allergen specialist

You can get allergen tests done via skin testing or by blood. Maybe even take these mascaras in if you still have them for them to sample

Maybe in the meantime try an organic, vegan or mineral mascara formulas
Some brands are nude by nature, ASAP, inka, young blood.

I’ve reacted really bad to Diorshow. My eyelids go puffy, red, dry and very sore. It happened the first time I’ve used it. I’ve had the same reaction to a Maybelline one years back, so I just steer clear. I think I’m allergic to a certain ingredient.

Exactly same situation with me and I suffer from eczema aswell so that maybe one of the reasons. I also get tiny bumps along my lash line which can get really itchy sometimes. But I don’t apply mascara everyday, I only apply it when I’m going out and I definitely use it within the expiration date. So if you find the reason then let me know! I’ve never tried those mascaras mentioned though, I use Maybelline Colossal and Revlon Grow Luscious.

When you say you used them for a long time how long do you mean?

Mascaras typically only have a life of 3-6 months, and eyeliner 6-12 months and you must sharpen the pencils all the time before user so the don’t pull or scratch on the eyelid.

also did you buy these higher end products from a reputable retailer (i.e not from ebay) they possibly may be fakes or expired products.

If you were allergic to these products they would likely cause a reaction sooner. Sounds like these gave you some kind of infection – possibly Staph (which is a bacteria found naturally on the skin and can multiply in makeup products)

I used all of those items almost everyday, so definitely within the 3-6 months. I bought all of them from department store counters as well.

The possibility of infection is an interesting point.

It’s not true that allergic reactions happen straight away, they can take time. I now react very quickly if I use any of these products again, in exactly the same way as the original reaction.

I forgot to mention in the initial post that I have excema, 😛 so that’s worth factoring in.

do you react to any other makeup or skincare ingredients that you know of?

When you say you used them for a long time how long do you mean?

Mascaras typically only have a life of 3-6 months, and eyeliner 6-12 months and you must sharpen the pencils all the time before user so the don’t pull or scratch on the eyelid.

also did you buy these higher end products from a reputable retailer (i.e not from ebay) they possibly may be fakes or expired products.

If you were allergic to these products they would likely cause a reaction sooner. Sounds like these gave you some kind of infection – possibly Staph (which is a bacteria found naturally on the skin and can multiply in makeup products)

I used all of those items almost everyday, so definitely within the 3-6 months. I bought all of them from department store counters as well.

The possibility of infection is an interesting point.

It’s not true that allergic reactions happen straight away, they can take time. I now react very quickly if I use any of these products again, in exactly the same way as the original reaction.

I forgot to mention in the initial post that I have excema, 😛 so that’s worth factoring in.