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Original poster

Allergic to eye make up?

31 replies

Mollymoofer · 30/08/2022 16:24

Hi - it doesn’t seem to matter what I do. I’ve thrown everything out and started again, I’ve washed my brushes and I’ve reduced wearing make up massively. But every now and then I do want to wear some and nine times out of ten one eyelid swells right up afterwards and I end up on ointment from the pharmacy. It’s getting me down.

Can anyone recommend a good clean make up provider? I’ve tried Boots, M&S, Yves St Laurent, Naked …..

I was wondering if Bare Minerals would be worth a go? Please help …. I need all the help I can get. 🙏

OP posts:
chillipenguin · 30/08/2022 18:47

So just to clarify you're using different eyeshadow each time?

chillipenguin · 30/08/2022 18:47

And are your brushes synthetic or natural hair?

Theblacksheepandme · 30/08/2022 18:53

I use the eyeshadow and mascara in this range and love it.

www.lavera.com/uk/products/make-up/eyes/eyeshadow

SirVixofVixHall · 30/08/2022 19:51

You could be reacting to a preservative, in which case it is worth trying Bare Minerals to see if that is ok.

Annonnimoouse42 · 30/08/2022 20:08

i think it ends up being trial and error unfortunately. I have a couple of autoimmune disorders and react terribly to some eye stuff. Funnily enough, i seem better with cheap stuff rather than expensive. No idea what it is I'm reacting too

DorritLittle · 30/08/2022 20:11

My DM is allergic to mascara and it feels like she had an eye infection. She now uses a La Roche Posay mascara and has no reaction.

chillipenguin · 30/08/2022 20:11

Are they all the same shade? Have you tried a different shade?

Check also Mica vs Talc

JurrasicCazza · 30/08/2022 20:12

Is it definitely the eye makeup? I'm allergic to certain brands of sun cream and some make up products with SPF in them.

Is it eye shadow, mascara or liner causing the issue? If its the eye shadow, have you tried just using a lipstick instead to add colour?

BendingSpoons · 30/08/2022 20:28

That's annoying. I am a bit allergic to foundation and have had success with a Body Shop one. This sounds more severe though. I hope you find something.

learieonthewildmoor · 31/08/2022 06:16

Clinique?

MistyRock · 31/08/2022 15:51

Could you try a cream eyeshadow, with zero glitter? Some eyeshadow has chunky glitter which can really upset the eye area. I've found the Urban Decay naked palettes to be way too glittery for me.

LadyEloise1 · 31/08/2022 16:26

I'm either allergic to mascara remover or the cotton wool I use to remove the mascara.
I'm sick of it.
My eye lids go all red and swell up. Often for almost a week.
I've always had sensitive skin and have scalp psoriosis.
Very pale eyelashes and I can't use mascara or get them dyed.

Theblacksheepandme · 31/08/2022 18:12

I use almond oil to remove my makeup.

SirVixofVixHall · 31/08/2022 19:47

LadyEloise1 · 31/08/2022 16:26

I'm either allergic to mascara remover or the cotton wool I use to remove the mascara.
I'm sick of it.
My eye lids go all red and swell up. Often for almost a week.
I've always had sensitive skin and have scalp psoriosis.
Very pale eyelashes and I can't use mascara or get them dyed.

Try oil as suggested by a pp, and washable pads or a flannel. It might be the bleaching agents in the cotton wool.

tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz · 31/08/2022 19:54

I have similar OP although I can't tell if it's the make up (literally only ever a tiny bit of concealer and mascara) or misceller water I remove with as it's always in the morning I wake up with swollen lower lid and under eye.

Plus I can go ages using the same product then randomly wake up with it as I did yesterday.

LadyEloise1 · 01/09/2022 09:14

Thank you @SirVixofVixHall.

Love your username.

rubysparkles1 · 01/09/2022 09:26

Is it the eye primer, eye shadow, mascara or eyeliner that’s causing your eyes to swell up?

rubysparkles1 · 01/09/2022 09:30

tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz · 31/08/2022 19:54

I have similar OP although I can't tell if it's the make up (literally only ever a tiny bit of concealer and mascara) or misceller water I remove with as it's always in the morning I wake up with swollen lower lid and under eye.

Plus I can go ages using the same product then randomly wake up with it as I did yesterday.

Try to avoid using concealer under your eyes or on your eyelids and see if this problem goes away. It could also be that you’re not removing your eye makeup properly if you wake up with swollen eyes.

Original poster
Mollymoofer · 01/09/2022 11:12

Wow, wasn’t expecting such a response - thanks everyone!

@chillipenguin im not using a different eye shadow each time but what seems to happen is I switch them over and after using them a couple of times I get a reaction. Pretty sure my brushes are synthetic as I’d avoid natural hair due to low level allergies to animals. (Is that what you mean? 😬)

Thanks everyone for the recommendations - I will look at them all. My current batch is all No7 - one a creme glider pen thingie which I really like, and the other is a palette called Shimmer All Night which looks like it might have a bit of glitter in now I look at it properly. Wouldn’t have occurred to me, so thanks @MistyRock for that suggestion.

Ointment is working thank goodness though I look horribly greasy and slimy of eye atm! 😫 Will def step back from glittery No7 and try some of the recs here, thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
Mollymoofer · 01/09/2022 11:12

Oh also - it’s always just the one eye and the same every time. Weird!

OP posts:
tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz · 01/09/2022 11:27

Mollymoofer · 01/09/2022 11:12

Oh also - it’s always just the one eye and the same every time. Weird!

Same! So weird! It's a fairly recent thing for me so I'm also wondering if perhaps HRT or thyroxine (new this year) have made me develop skin sensitivity

focuspocus · 01/09/2022 11:28

Although it does sound like an allergy I would ask If you have been to the opticians in the last couple of years? I have blepharitis and eye make up is just too uncomfortable. I didn't always have it, the optician picked it up about ten years ago.

tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz · 01/09/2022 11:28

Hi ruby possibly - I wonder if I'm trying to be so careful not to rub etc that as you say I'm not doing a great job at removing the teeny amount of make up I wear

Original poster
Mollymoofer · 01/09/2022 12:48

Yes been to opticians since the pandemic hit. Also at that HRT stage of life - all sorts of everything going wrong!

OP posts:
princessbear80 · 01/09/2022 14:54

LadyEloise1 · 31/08/2022 16:26

I'm either allergic to mascara remover or the cotton wool I use to remove the mascara.
I'm sick of it.
My eye lids go all red and swell up. Often for almost a week.
I've always had sensitive skin and have scalp psoriosis.
Very pale eyelashes and I can't use mascara or get them dyed.

You could try tubing mascara as you only need warm water to remove it. Instructions say warm water on a cotton pad but I just use warm water on my fingers and works fine. I use the no7 one.