FDA: Use Eye Cosmetics Safely 　

Emergency Message System

November 26th, 2023

Whether you’re applying makeup every day, for a special occasion, or for a performance, it’s important to be especially careful around your eyes.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates all cosmetics marketed in the U.S., including mascaras, eye shadows, eye liners, concealers, and eyebrow pencils.

Eye Cosmetic Safety Tips - Preventing Infection

Keep everything clean. Dangerous bacteria or fungi can grow in some cosmetic products, as well as their containers. Cleanliness can help prevent eye infections.

Always wash your hands before applying eye-area cosmetics and be sure that any instrument you place near your eyes is clean. Be especially careful not to contaminate cosmetics by introducing microorganisms. For example, don’t lay an eyelash wand on a countertop where it can pick up bacteria or fungi. Keep containers clean, since these may also be a source of contamination.

Don’t moisten cosmetic products. Don’t add saliva or water to moisten eye cosmetics. Doing so can introduce microbes and overpower a product’s preservative capacity.

Don’t share or swap. People can be harmed by others’ germs when they share eye makeup. Keep this in mind when you come across “testers” at retail stores. If you do sample cosmetics at a store, be sure to use single-use applicators, such as clean cotton swabs.

Avoid using eye cosmetics if you have an eye infection. Discard any eye-area cosmetics you were using when you got the infection. Also, don’t use eye-area cosmetics if the skin around the eye is inflamed.

Use only cosmetics intended for the eye area on the eyes. Don’t use a lip liner as an eye liner, for example. You may expose eyes either to contamination from your mouth or to color additives that are not approved for use in the eye area.

Preventing Injuries, Allergic Reactions, and Irritations

Don’t apply or remove eye makeup in a moving vehicle. Any bump or sudden stop can cause injury to your eye with a mascara wand or other applicator.

Use care with false eyelashes or extensions. False eyelashes and extensions, as well as their adhesives, must meet applicable safety and labeling requirements for cosmetics. Since the eyelids are delicate, an allergic reaction, irritation, or injury in the eye area can occur. Check the ingredients to make sure you are not allergic to the adhesives.

Stop using a product immediately if irritation occurs. See a doctor if irritation persists.