Eyeshadow Allergy

[WindingRoad]

I was curious if any of you have ever had an allergy to your eyeshadow. I believe I am experiencing one now. I am noticing little red, irritated, scaly patches right where I put my crease color on outer edge my eyelid crease. It happens to be a red which I read online tends to cause more allergy issues than most. I use Almay, trio for greens. I just bought a new one and I don't recall having any issues before. How odd.

[Sheri L]

yes, sounds like an allergy to me (I am a makeup addict...put it on to ride...put it on to camp..put it on to mow the lawn...you get the picture) anyway you could easily be allergic to the eyeshadow, or if it is old, it could also be contaminated....also, how old is your application brush? If old, how often and how do you clean it?

[ny biker]

I developed a rash on my eyelids more than 20 years ago after using a gray eyeliner. It was a brand that was supposed to be hypoallergenic. After that I stopped wearing eyeshadow or colored eyeliners. It wasn't worth the expense and irritation of the trial and error required to find products that wouldn't cause problems.

In the past couple of months I've bought one of the Almay trios and a few of their Pure Blends shadows. The skin under my eyes is looking older so I thought eyeshadow might help brighten things. None of them has caused a rash, but a couple of them irritate my eyes a bit. I don't really like the colors, either.

[jessmarimba]

Not sure if it's really an allery for me, but those goopy Revlon colors make my eyes really itchy. In my case it's probably eye makeup getting in my eye and for some reason theirs stick around in my eye longer - I've never had any irritation on the outside of my eyelid though.

[ny biker]

I just bought a new one and I don't recall having any issues before. How odd.

Allergies are an immune system problem, so you will have at least one exposure to an allergen with no symptoms before you start having problems. I developed an allergy to cashews just last year, even though I could eat them without problems before then.

[WindingRoad]

This is an almost new eyeshadow, its the same exact type as I had before? So the brush is new too.

[OakLeaf]

It could definitely be the eyeshadow, but might be something else too. I sometimes get a little eyelid eczema, and changing to the type of contact lens solution that starts as peroxide and neutralizes to plain saline didn't help.

[tulip]

I've had that on my eyelid. It's very uncomfortable, as you've figured out. I don't wear eyeshadow, so maybe it's just coincidence that your eye started bothering you at the same time that you bought new eyeshadow.

In any case, the eyeshadow probably isn't helping. I do not remember what caused it or how I got rid of it, as it was a few years ago. I hope you find relief soon!

[oz rider]

Allergies are an immune system problem, so you will have at least one exposure to an allergen with no symptoms before you start having problems. I developed an allergy to cashews just last year, even though I could eat them without problems before then.

Exactly. I developed a severe allergy to a Revlon nail polish that I had used previously - initially welts but the following day my lips turned inside out, breathing difficulties etc. So be careful if you persist with it WindingRoad.

[WindingRoad]

The eyeshadow I had did have some sparkly stuff in it too. I just bought some Neutrogena and in a more natural color with no sparklies. So far no itching or burning. Keeping my fingers crossed.

It's really weird because most of the irritation that was on my eyelids was exactly where I put the dark wine colored accent color. I think it may be the dye in the reds.

[indysteel]

The eyeshadow I had did have some sparkly stuff in it too. I just bought some Neutrogena and in a more natural color with no sparklies. So far no itching or burning. Keeping my fingers crossed.

It's really weird because most of the irritation that was on my eyelids was exactly where I put the dark wine colored accent color. I think it may be the dye in the reds.

One of the Pilates instructors at my yoga studio just found out the hard way that she's allergic to red dye. She had her hair colored and quickly developed all sorts of severe problems. She was laid up for a week because of it. She said she had a minor skin reaction a few years ago from red dye but didn't think anything of it at the time.

So, with that in mind, I'd be careful with red dyes in the future--if that was indeed what caused it.

[shootingstar]

I wear foundation and lip gloss /colour occasionally. Now maybe less than twice per month...and I've returned to work full-time.

But haven't worn any eye makeup for past.....30 yrs. At the time I was experimenting, I found just to wear mascara seemed to make me feel more tired. And in the end, not adding much to my eyes unless I really did pile on a ton of eyeshadow, etc. which I didn't want to be bothered.

I've always felt uneasy seeing eyeliner, etc. so close to the eye tissues. My sisters use it often.