Eye Makeup

Trying to maintain healthy skin and keeping yourself beautiful has many pitfalls. Many persons are allergic to the eye makeup and skincare products they use. This is especially so because makeup remains on the skin for long periods. Even makeup labeled as being hypoallergenic can lead to adverse reactions.

Symptoms of allergic reaction to mascara and eyeliners are: runny / watery eyes, itching, swelling of the eyelids and puffiness under the eye and cysts.

Thankfully there are steps that can be taken to avoid eye makeup allergies.

·    Do not use eye makeup over three months old; anything older than three months should be thrown away

·    Do not share eye makeup, especially eyeliners and mascara

·    If after using a product you notice any irritation of the eye, discard the product

·    Avoid using eye makeup if you have an eye infection, or if you previously had an infection as using makeup will only make the condition worse or may result in re-infection.

·    Keep eye makeup cool, anything over 85 degrees can damage the ingredients that keep eye makeup safe. If you live in tropical climes consider disposing of eye makeup more often than every three months.

Skincare Products

Allergic reaction to skincare products occur more often than most of us realize. Reactions to look out for are rashes, burning and swelling. Signs of an adverse reaction to a product can occur anywhere on the body, but in many instances the face is the most affected area because most products are applied there.

Be warned that developing an allergic reaction to cosmetics and skin care products is not always immediate. Reactions to a product can take days, weeks and in rare cases, even years to develop.

Here are some more tips to help in avoiding cosmetic allergies:

·    Never share makeup

·    Always wash your face and hands thoroughly before using makeup

·    Properly remove makeup at night

·    Clean brushes and other applicators used to apply makeup regularly

·    Discard all open makeup after six months

·    Ensure that you properly close all makeup after use

·    Keep makeup in a cool place and out of direct sunlight

·    Keep a list of products and ingredients that you are allergic to handy when shopping for makeup

·    Throw out makeup if it looks different from the original in any way

·    Do not add water to makeup as this may provide a breeding ground for harmful bacteria

·    Check expiry date of makeup before purchasing

One great tip is to test new cosmetic products on other parts of body before using for the first time on the face (under the arm is the best place). This way if it turns out you`re allergic to something you find that out prior to applying it on your face!

Apart from following the above tips, be an informed consumer by keeping abreast of information on makeup; being informed can go a long way in helping you maintain your skin’s health in a safe way.

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