Puffy Eyelids: Mascara Allergy! (Page 1)

Mascara has only been around since 1913 and was originally made with coal dust and vaseline. To avoid side effects, you might try using only natural cosmetics and makeup w/natural herbs and oils and doesn't contain any chemicals that can harm your health. Many manufacturers include thickeners and chemicals to make the product last longer...(And test them on animals)...

As for your allergic reaction, avoiding the allergen is the best treatment...and if the swelling doesn't go down, Id suggest that you see a dermatologist.

Yes, I am going to be twenty and about five years ago I started having the hardest time wearing any eyeshadow or eye make-up at all because my eyelids would SWELL! I guess I wore my make-up too much and the chemicals just irritated the sensitive skin of my eyelids to where they will never be the same since I still have to deal with it. I have tried so many different mascaras, eyelines, and eyeshadows, and have had NO luck! Now, I use Physician Formula eyeliner (which is excellent) and mascara...but is always makes my lashes fall and that is no good, but it is pretty good about not irritating my eyelids.

Tyr to stay away from "talc" materials in the make-up. Look in the ingredients on the back of the products. Most of Physician Formula's products are talc-free so maybe try that. But, "hypo-allergenic" doesn't cut it for me. Hope this helps somewhat.

I had the same thing, for the past couple of month my right eye would get itching and dry and irritated underneath my eye, well two days ago both my eyes started to swell and got red and itchy and I think that I am allergic to nickel and I wanted to know if there was metal in mascara.

I was looking around and I don't think that nickel is in any mascaras. However, if you use an eyelash curler, that may contain nickel and may cause some irritation. Try switching make-up though to mineral or Physician Formula products (talc-free). Right now I am using Almay (50th anniversary, blue & white tube) and I have had maybe one time, if at all. It has very good reviews. It is very hard to pin-point a certain element or ingredient to our eye flare-ups, so I just keep trying new stuff.

ALSO, really look at your eye make-up remover! When I used to take my mascara off with baby oil, that would irritate my bottom lids and at the corners of my eyes. USE VASELINE!!! It is amazing!

I'm allergic to nickel as well and now have an allergy to my eye make up. I have tried Physican's Formula, Jane Iredale, Lancome, and Este Lauder that all claim to be hypo-allergenic, but I still get a reaction. I don't know what to try next. I feel really ugly without mascara and don't like to go out without it.

I have been allergy tested for cosmetic allergies. There were 4 major ingredients that I had a reaction to. These have many synonyms. My diagnosis lists a number of "other" ingredients that you are "probably" allergic to as well, if you test positive to "these" ingredients. It's never ending and a nightmare. I was told that there nay be other ingredients I am allergic to, that cannot be tested for. It's trial and error. I have the eyelid and eye area swelling, itching, red, etc. It's horrible. I developed an allergy to T.G. hair products and I've switched to Aveda and this has been better, but I still have to watch other hair products. My hair touches my eyes. My eyebrows would itch, too. I'm allergic to beeswax (listed on my diagnosis as a possibility) Almost all mascara has beeswax. I found one by Estee that seems to be ok, so far, that does not contain beeswax. I think it's "Sumptous." I've purchased and returned so many products. I am now using CeraVe cleanser and putting 6 drops of vitamin E oil on my hands and patting on my face. Hoping to heal my face as well. Especially the eye area. It's so red and dry. I'm using Cera Ve AM and PM. I just tried an Estee product for sensitive eyes. It's burning while I'm typing. Get tested. And use that information in purchasing products. I've been on the internet for a week. I've tried Clinique, Clarins, and Estee. I've been using Arbonne for a year, with mild irritation. Couldn't use their eye cream. It really burned, which was for their most sensitive eyes. All of a sudden, I was reacting more severely to their products. I guess my skin had just had enough. I've just started using olive oil to remove my eye make-up again. I hate the way it feels, and it always gets in my eyes and blurs my vision. I got on this site looking for a good eye make-up remover for sensitive skin. Just keep researching and trying. But if possible, get tested. It gives you a baseline. Good Luck, and I will keep this website to help me gain information for products and reactions. When my eyes get like this, it adds 10 years to my appearance. Go to a family-owned health food store. The people there should be very knowledgeable. Jolene

Hi,

I'm having a really hard time with mascaras right now. I'm having the best luck with one of the Mary Kay mascaras, Lash Lengthening Mascara. Tried the Ultimate mascara, but am very allergic to it.

But what I really wanted to share with you is a hair care line that I've had awesome luck with. It's made by Earth Science, and is fragrance free (because, of course, I'm highly allergic to fragrances). Not too expensive, and my hair looks amazing. I'm totally sold on it, and won't ever use anything else. You can get it at Whole Foods, and other smaller health food stores, or buy online. The company has an online store, shopearthscience.com. Very reasonably priced.

I just noticed they have an eye makeup remover, several facial cleansers, and a moisturizer that I am going to try.

In general, your best bet is to go to health food stores to find your personal care products.

Yes ,For the past couple of years I have noticed that I am allergic to mascara It does happen more around allery season.It takes a good four days for my eyes to get back to normal... its miserable. .I have not found a macara yet that at some point I havent become alergic to.I hope that a company can come up with a solution I love wearing makeup .they just put to many chmicals in them.

Yes, I too recently had a reaction to mascara.
I bought Dior mascara. It is wonderful mascara but it makes my eyes swell and turn red and itchy. I wonder if it will get better with more use as my body gets used to it or if I should just stop using it.

I am allergic to cats and Dior uses cashmere in their mascaras, cat hair. I wore it to a wedding and my eyes itched the entire day. When I took it back to Sears they said that alot of woman react to it because of Cashmere. Thats what the little fibres are, it was Dior Show highly rated mascara only if you don't have a cat allergy. Perhaps salesperson could have told me that.

Cashmere comes from goats, not cats.

I haven't tried it yet but have seen a new natural mascara made by Josie Maran at Sephora & online. It looks very good and is made with Argon oil from Morocco and is supposed to be very therapeutic.

i just had a recent reaction to my left eye lid and im going to try a diff brand and see if it helps i would recommend leaving ALL your makeup off for at least two days. i know thats hard so try to keep liner and mascara off. if possible get an eyelash curler:) any suggestions? for brands?

I have been using Almay triple effect mascara, & about a month ago, my eye lid are super itch & puffy, it doesn't go away! Ah~
I don't have health insurance, & i was wondering what kind of hypoallergenic mascara should i try it?
Help! Please!!!!
xoxoxo

Almay is one of the worst-its suppose to be hypo-allergenic! I had not used mascara or eye shadow for over 10 years. Last year I developed further full blown face allergy (puffed up eyes, excema, red swelling of gace), it took a year but it turned out to be methoxycinnamte in sunscreen. I now buy titanium dixode products off the web - Lavera is the best. This inspired me to search for new mascara products - I tried Suncoat and it worked! The only draw back is it is not waterproof (its water based), so no crying or getting caught in the rain! The plus side it comes off real easy with just water which when your allergic to eye makeup remover is great! Hope this helps all.

I have had horrible problems with my eyelids being very swollen, red, and flaky the past couple of months. I stopped wearing mascara under a dermatologist's instructions. The symptoms are subsiding. A patch test just revealed a severe allergy to nickel. Do any of you know of any mascaras which claim to be nickel-free? (particularly waterproof). It sounds like I am not alone! That makes me feel better.

if you all suffer from allergic reactions to mascara...can we please post some useful tips or techniques to address the problem instead of going on your own personal crusades to promote your brand of makeup....thx!

'to help another is to see the light of Christ in your peers'

Clinique pruduces allergy tested makeup. Three years ago I experienced a heavy allergic reaction on my right eyelid - it was really swollen and red and I looked like the Beast from "The beauty and the beast" - it was terrible. My doctor told me to stop using makeup - but how could I being as vain as I am. I threw all my make up away and replaced it with Clinique. They have an allergy guarantee on their products - if you get an allergic reaction to one of their products you will get your money back. I have tried that with one of their products. However Their mascara ''Naturally Glossy'' I have used ever since and without reexperiencing any allergic reaction at all. So it is highly recomendable!
Of course this is not applicable to everyone as there is no such thing as completely allergy free products. Some people may react while others wount.

Nickel: I think that the amount of nickel is very low - In order to make the black colour in mascaras there wil always be a bit of nickel - it is however extremely little dozes, as there is a limit of what is legal. But completely nickel-free black mascaras don''t exist I have been told.

Below is my tip to everyone. I am also very sensitive to any cosmetics even to mascara but I just can''t live without mascara. What I am using now after a trial and error test to of mascara is the Revitalash mascara just too perfect to all who are proned to allergies and puffy eye.

Here are a few tips to avoid mascara allergy:

Use hypoallergenic mascaras, which are free of fragrances, oils and preservatives. They are less likely to trigger allergies
Use a trial and error method by using brands which do not use oil, preservatives and perfumes. In this way, you can find a brand which is suitable for you
Use water-based mascaras instead of oil-based mascaras
Sometimes, oily make-up removers can trigger allergies. Hence, check if the allergy is caused by the mascara or the remover
Make sure the reaction to mascara is not due to an infection

To answer to "Clinique may be the answer" .. yes, Clinique is supposed to be hypoallergenic and puts no scents in its mascaras. I''m in love with one of the mascaras and am discovering I just cannot use it. I stopped awhile back, not knowing if mascara was the issue. Have tried to re-start using the mascara twice- and each time it starts with itchy lids at lashline.. then itchy eyelids.. then itchy browbone and eyebrows.. all the way to the forehead btwn my eyes- itchy and when I rub forehead I get welts. I''m giving up on Clinique.

For me the best that will work is the revitalash mascara haven''t heard of allergic reaction so far and this is what I am using since the time I started using mascara. Revitalash is the best!

I think I have an allergic reaction to mascara. I don''t wear it very often and every time I get a super itchy face and then it swells up. I try every 6 months or so and BAM!(I''m done wearing it as now I have figured out the culprit) What has worked for you to make it go down. I''ve been to the doctor twice and they give me prednisone. Anything else that''s not so harsh that you can buy OTC?

I can't really live without enhancing my lashes. That is why mascara is a need for me. I have been using the Revitalash Mascara for about a year now and never felt any irritations nor discomfort. I am definitely amazed with this product. So why don't you try the mascara by Revitalash? As for my own experience, no allergic reaction at all. I am loving it.