Mascara has only been around since 1913 and was originally made with coal dust and vaseline.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.

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 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.