Eyeshadow and sensitive eyelids

This may be OT, I'm not sure. But I was thinking about Gigi's post yesterday and how many said they couldn't wear eyeshadow because they are allergic or get irritated, and I've heard this come up from time to time. I didn't think to answer at the time but might be able to help because I had this problem for a long time until a really knowledgeable MA helped.

I thought it was a blanket assumption, that I just couldn't wear it, but she told me a lot of people are sensitive to red pigments and if you avoid those you can be okay. It's tricky because the red is not always obvious. Pink and purple, sure, but a whole lot of browns also have red in them, as do some blues that lean purple. And I was thinking that a person not used to wearing eyeshadow would lean towards warm browns and shell colors as being natural and subtle, but those are the very ones that would have some red pigment, and bingo, rash, I just can't wear eyeshadow.

If you think you want to try, look for cool toned browns, cool taupe, champagne, cool greys. I have not had a problem with Laura Mercier Stellar (a pale champagne), Bamboo (cool taupe) Coffee Grounds (Deep cool brown).

Also get a super soft brush (I love Hakuhodo) because any scratchy brush can irritate sensitive skin and then it is the brush, not the eyeshadow at all.

I hope that helps! If anyone else has info on this, please share!

11 years ago

carter

Veteran

Interesting. So it's similar to the red dye so many folks have issues with? I also find tthat I have sensitivities to eye make up remover. However, if I put primer on my eyelids before the eyeshadow, the remover doesn't bother me.

pastrygirl

(website)

Good to know!

Mind if I add a few tips that I've discovered? My eyes are sensitive, so I always try makeup at the counter and leave it on for the rest of the day before purchasing. For me, the irritation can be overly dry eyes, watery eyes, or telltale itchy or red eyes. Any of those are an indicator that I can't use that product.

I also use eyelid primer, every time.

My holy grail makeup remover that doesn't bother me one bit is the one from Sonia Kashuk at Target. I have to use cloth/reusable pads for removal, though. Q-tips, cotton balls, tissues, etc., irritate my eyes like crazy, as well as the delicate skin beneath my eyes. (I use "cotton ball" pads from Homestead Emporium. They are so soft!)

Niki Lea

Thanks Peri! That's so interesting about the red pigments.

I have this problem from time to time, too, and it sucks because I like to wear eye shadow almost every day. Right now I'm wearing a creamy one from Revlon that doesn't bother me at all, except I get those annoying creases in my lids by mid-morning that I have to smooth out.

Something else I discovered that was bothering my lids was using the same make-up sponge on my face and eyelids. Some days I use an AHA face cream and then apply foundation or BB cream over it - then I was using that sponge on my lids too. What a mistake! Red, sore lids for days!

annagybe

I can't do any metallic greens. I have green eyes, so make up artists always want to do shimmering green eye shadow. I also have trouble with some liquid liners. So now I mainly do mascara with sometimes liquid liner.

Thistle

Interesting to know! I had given up on most make-up as it iritates my skin so much.

I know I have a sensativity to dyes, as well as to scents. Hense dye free, scent free lotions are a god send to me. I wonder if it is the red pigment!

Diana

Interesting! Although I don't wear eyeshadow often, I've always been surprised that I have no eyeshadow sensitivity since I have super sensitive skin and eyes. But it makes sense bc I hardly ever wear red or purple shades. It's almost always black/grey or maybe sometimes greens or blues.

Suz

Interesting. It doesn't surprise me, actually. I almost never wear eye shadow but when I do, I'm prone to irritation.

Peri

I'm glad that's helpful! As I said on Gigi's post, I love makeup. For sure the Stellar is zero red so that might be a good one to try first. It is so pale it doesn't show much by itself but one product at a time is the way to go if you are checking allergies.

Anna, I have green eyes too and they are always wanting to put me in purples. There is no purple without red, as we've all known since kindergarten! I so wish though, purple is great with green eyes. But interesting about green shadow. I wonder if it is really the metallic aspect rather than the green itself that causes problems.

Carter and Pastrygirl, what primers do you use? I've had trouble with primers and so I skip them as just one more product to potentially irritate. But my main issue with primers is that they seem to just emphasize crepey texture instead of camouflaging it. I'd be interested in trying one if it would smooth instead of highlight!

I use Urban Decay primer potion, the original one. I buy the small size they have at Sephora rather than the full size, in case I tire of it or it stops working. I don't LOVE it, but it does the job (my shadows don't crease at all or disappear throughout the day).

TraceyLiz65

Almay works for me after years of issues that would pop up,, interesting since I wear a lot of pinks and purples...

Gigi

Interesting, Peri! I am sensitive to stuff in general, and I was lucky to be able to test a lot of samples from a local all-natural makeup shop. What I found is exactly what you described: reds in general were very prone to irritating me, and the rich, warm browns were also irritants! I did find a champagny brown and a cool brown eyeshadow, exactly like you said.

The interesting thing is that it's not even a chemical dye that is irritating—it's the natural red pigment. By going to an all-natural-ingredient makeup shop, I was able to eliminate any chemicals that would have been potential irritants, so it was clear that the pigments themselves were a problem.

It's tough when a lot of my good colors (purples, warm browns) are irritating by their very nature!

BethL

That's so interesting, Peri. I've never had a problem with pigments, but I've had some difficulties with makeup removers, especially the ones designed for eye makeup. I still use the Clinique one that I first started using when I was in my teens! I've tried other brands, only to go back to Clinique every time. I've stuck with it now for years.

I tend to be a little too pink, so I use Benefit Lemon-Aid as an eyelid primer. It seems very gentle, if that helps anyone.

Suzanne (ambergreen)

Yessss to primer!

I don't have a particularly sensitive eye area, but on my skin, shadows fade out really easily. Primer has been one of those big revelations that has helped boost effectiveness.

But.

The UDPP type that is probably the most-vaunted of all primers, yes, Peri, has that same glue-like property on my old-lady lids.

The solution I use: a MAC Paint Pot in "Painterly." It is a soft, matte "nude" tone that is wayyy too boring to use as a shadow, but I bought for its flexible primer properties. I pat it on over a light application of my sunscreen/moisturizer that I let sink in. I am really pale so I thought it would be too dark, but it gets covered with shadow, so no problem. And none of that stiff, itchy feeling I would get with the other kind.

(Here's another tip though for those who like UDPP but not the price: Wet N Wild has one in their "Fergie" line for $5 that I believe might be quite similar.)

Oh yes, and makeup remover: I just use extra-virgin olive oil on a cotton ball. Safe, cheap, natural, and good for the skin. (I mean, don't get it in your eyes, but ya know.)

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