The Best Make-up For Sensitive Eyes

Suffering with sensitive eyes every time you apply or remove your make-up? You’re not alone. According to the British Journal of Dermatology, over 11% of women and 3% of men in the UK reported suffering sensitivity and allergic reactions to eye products, with symptoms such as swelling, irritation and inflammation.

The good news? There’s a treasure trove of fabulous make-up products specially formulated for sensitive eyes. We tell you what the best make-up for sensitive eyes to use is and how to avoid irritations at all costs.

Eye sensitivities and irritations when wearing make-up

How do you know if you have sensitive eyes?

According to ophthalmologist company OCLI, “If the skin around your eyes becomes itchy, red, puffy or scaly after using make-up, you have probably developed an allergy or sensitivity to one of your cosmetics.”

The reason? Usually, an ingredient in the product is to blame. The skin on the eyelid has few oil glands, so it tends to be drier and more easily irritated. But there are make-up products that people with sensitive eyes can use.

One in four people has a skin reaction to beauty products and fragrances. But while certain make-up products may make your eyes feel irritated and inflamed, it does not necessarily mean you are having an allergic reaction. Eye sensitivity can be caused by a strong ingredient or an overload of too much make-up, whereas an allergic reaction is when your eyes completely reject a specific ingredient.

Symptoms of eye sensitivity and irritation

● Rash – this is an allergy, not a sensitivity.

● Allergies – burning, stinging, itchy skin or hives.

● Dry skin

● Itching

● Scaly skin

● Watery eyes

● Flaky skin

● Swelling

Causes of eye sensitivity and irritation

There are a number of skin conditions that can cause eye irritation when wearing make-up, such as allergic contact dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis.

● Allergic contact dermatitis is a type of skin inflammation that occurs when your skin comes in contact with an ingredient to which you are allergic. It is a delayed type of reaction that usually occurs between 48 and 72 hours after exposure. Symptoms range from itching, redness and swelling to blistering and scaling in more serious cases.

● Irritant contact dermatitis is a type of skin inflammation that occurs when the skin comes into contact with an irritating ingredient. Unlike allergic contact dermatitis, it can be caused by a wider range of irritants, such as harsh chemicals, detergents, solvents, and soaps.

In addition, some common ingredients in cosmetics and skincare products include parabens, talc, sulphates, preservatives, and many more.

Ingredients in eye make-up that cause sensitivity and irritation

For many, eye make-up is a highly valued member of our beauty arsenal, so how do we shop sensibly to avoid triggering a reaction? Of course, everyone’s sensitivities will be different, and there is no blanket rule on what ingredients to avoid, but here is a list of our potentially problematic contenders that can cause allergic reactions:

● Parabens: these preservatives extend the shelf life of your products by preventing bacteria growth but are controversial man-made chemicals that can irritate skin plus disrupt your hormones.

● Thimerosal: is a preservative and antiseptic that contains a type of mercury. It no longer appears in the bulk of cosmetic products but still occasionally pops up in the ingredient lists of eye products.

● Synthetic dyes: are often used to bolster the deep dark colouring of mascara but can aggravate the skin. And while we don’t often think of mascara as a scented product, fragrance does crop up now and then.