Eyelashes can transform your makeup look, but lash glue allergies are actually very common, and can leave your eyes feeling uncomfortable, irritated or itchy.
As your lash glue sits so close to your lash line, any irritation is going to be noticeable, so here are some signs that your’re allergic to your false lash glue.
Why Lash Glue Can Trigger Irritation
Lash glue is made from chemicals like formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, cyanoacrylates, or added fragrances, and these can all trigger irritation for your eyes.
Your skin and eyes can react to these ingredients, even if you’ve worn false lashes for years, without any issues. It is the repeated exposure to the ingredients that increase your risk of having an allergic reaction, as your immune system can suddenly decide it doesn’t like an ingredient or formula anymore.
Always do a sensitivity test with any beauty products, but especially products you’re going to be applying to the eyes. Place a tiny amount of lash glue on your wrist, or behind your ears, and leave it for 24 hours to see if your skin reacts before you apply it to your eyes.
Redness Around The Eyes After Application
If you get redness around your eyes, after applying lash glue, that’s a sign that your skin isn’t reacting well with the lash glue. If your skin along your lash line turns pink or inflamed within minutes or hours of application, your body is reacting to an ingredient in the formula.
Look out for how quickly the redness appears, how far the redness spreads, and if the redness gets worse each time you use the lash glue. If you have a consistent pattern of irritation, it suggests you’re having an allergy to the lash glue.
Look out for common triggers like formaldehyde-releasing preservatives or cyanoacrylates, and try using gentler lash glue formulas like latex-free lash glue, or lash glues designed for sensitive eyes.
Itching That Does Not Go Away
If you get persistent itching along your lash line, after applying lash glue, it’s your body showing you that it isn’t tolerating the product. Ongoing itching is another sign that you’re having an allergic reaction rather than just a mild irritation.
If you get an irritation, don’t ignore it. Remove your lashes and gently clean the area gently. Before using any new adhesive, after having a reaction, do the sensitivity testing I mentioned above, and see if you’re getting any itching or redness over 24 hours.
Watery Eyes And Ongoing Discomfort
When you apply your lashes and lash glue, and your eyes start watering almost straight away, it’s another strong sign that the lash glue is triggering an allergic reaction.
Normal irritation from lash application fades quickly, but if your eyes keep tearing up, stinging or feeling gritty, it’s likely that it’s a lash glue allergy rather than a simple sensitivity.
When your eyes are watering constantly, it can wash bacteria and debris into your eyes, which can damage your eyes. You might end up rubbing your eyes for relief, but this can push the glue particles closer to the waterline, making an allergic reaction worse.
If you get signs of an allergic reaction, remove your lashes immediately and gently cleanse the area with mild soap and cool water, to remove any remaining adhesive from your skin and eyes.
Apply a cold compress to reduce the swelling and itching, and take an over the counter antihistamine like Benadryl, to help calm the allergic response, and apply a gentle hydrocortisone cream applied around (not in) your eyes, to ease the inflammation and redness.
