Are Fake Eyelashes Safe?
In this day and age, bigger is better. Fake eyelashes, often known to the makeup world as “falsies,” are all the rage right now. Applying false eyelashes is simple albeit tedious: you apply eyelash adhesive to the edge and glue them down as close to your natural lash line as possible. Once laid down correctly, they make your eyelashes look fuller and longer, but is it worth the potential damage they can cause?
Fake lashes have become an eye makeup staple. Read on to learn more about the potential risks before you try this trend!
What’s in Eyelash Glue?
Every brand’s formulation is different, but here are a few common ingredients in eyelash glue.
- Water
- Latex
- Acrylates
- Formaldehyde
- Cellulose Gum
- Ammonium Hydroxide
- Fragrance
These ingredients may sound scary, but again every formula is different. Ammonium hydroxide is known best for its use in cleaners, but it’s also considered safe for use in food by the FDA. Formaldehyde, on the other hand, is a known carcinogen. Latex, while not necessarily harmful to the average person, is prone to causing allergic reactions.
How To Prevent Eye Irritation
Here are a few ways to prevent fake eyelashes from irritating your eyes, starting with the most effective.
Skip False Eyelashes
It’s an obvious answer, but also one that may not sound doable if you’re a fan of this trend. If you can’t cut them out of your beauty routine completely, limit their use as much as possible. Don’t put them on to go run errands or hang out with a friend who doesn’t care what you look like anyway.
Use Natural Lash Glue
The dangers of eyelash glue are more well-known these days, which means that some brands have put out glue that isn’t full of harmful ingredients. Take a look at the back of the package before you buy and make sure everything is safe.
Remove Lashes Carefully
If you can’t commit to doing one of the above, at least make sure to take the best care of your eyes as you can. Keep the eyelashes far enough away to keep the glue out of your eyes, and rinse your eyes thoroughly once you take them off.
More Risks of Fake Eyelashes
Lash glue may be the most common and direct reason that false eyelashes can be irritating. Still, there are a few other factors that can pose a danger to your eye health when it comes to fake eyelashes.
Loose eyelashes
Like with natural eyelashes, individual false lashes can shed and get lodged in the eyes.
Damage from tools
Many people choose to apply their lashes with their fingers, but tweezers and similar tools are just as common. Putting fake eyelashes on is a good way to train a steady hand, but no one is completely safe with these tools near their eyes.
Bacteria
Germs and bacteria from your fingers can easily transfer to your eyes or lashes. Wash hands thoroughly before touching your eye area to minimize the risk of bacteria entering your eyes.
It’s important to protect your eyes in any way that you can. If you believe you may have an eye infection, schedule an appointment to see one of our eye doctors in Lapeer, Fenton, Grand Blanc, Oxford, or Flint.
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