3 Mascara Myths Debunked
Many of my patients struggle with wearing I make up all day. They put on make up in the morning, but it starts to run down their faces by afternoon. The problem is redness, irritation, and watering. It's the ingredients in the eye makeup: mascara, eye shadow, and eyeliner that are irritating to the eyes.
Did you know that women use an average of nine personal care products every day? And, the beauty industry in the United States is highly unregulated. There has not been a new law past in the United States since 1938. As of today, there are only 11 ingredients banned from beauty products made in the United States. Whereas in Europe, there are over 1100 ingredients banned from their ingredient lists.
When I discuss changing makeup products with my patients, I am often met with resistance. I can understand this. We are women and we love our makeup. Perhaps we have been using the same brand of makeup for many, many years. We have gotten used to a certain look or aesthetic that our current makeup routine provides.
The average American woman applies mascara 9 times/week. That is more than once a day if you have trouble with math. So, we apply it and then we reapply it later. And, some of these mascaras contain ingredients that are toxic to the structures in our eyelids.
There are a few myths out there about makeup, which deserve to be debunked in this age of transparency. Here are some of the myths I hear most often:
I've never had a problem with it before, so it must be okay
As I stated earlier, the beauty industry is unregulated. Makeup companies can change their ingredients or the proportion of those ingredients without warning to the consumer. Something that once served you well, could change in a heartbeat.
And, I hate to use cigarette smoking as any kind of example, but it seems fitting in this instance. We all know cigarette smoke can cause cancer. However, it doesn’t give a smoker cancer on day one. It doesn’t cause cancer, the week or even the month after you start smoking. It takes years for the toxic chemicals to build up in your lungs and develop and it doesn't happen to everyone. But, it is a known carcinogen.
The same can be said about your eye makeup. The effects are cumulative. These toxins are building up in the tissues of your eye and will cause problems in the years to come. Some of these effects include endocrine disruption, allergy, carcinogens, reproductive system failures, and the list goes on. Yes, I did say carcinogens in your mascara. Crazy, right?
It's a Reputable / Expensive / Department Store Brand
Some of the most common brands I hear from my patients are Estee Lauder, Lancome, and Bare Minerals. These brands may be associated with being high-end or perhaps more natural. My patients feel like the ingredients in their products should be of high quality and safety. After all, these brands have been around for a long time. You have used them for years and feel comfortable with the reputation of the brand.
Another expectation is that a higher price tag should have higher quality ingredients. Unfortunately, a higher price does not equal non-toxic ingredients. In general, I would say there is no correlation between price and the toxicity of the ingredients. There are toxic ingredients in both low priced and high priced make up products.
The product is labeled as all-natural, organic, ophthalmologist approved, or for sensitive eyes
Again, unfortunately, there is no standard set to regulate the use of these labels. A beauty company can label their products however they would like. There is nothing to regulate the ingredients they must include when they use a particular moniker.
Have you ever seen the "fat-free label" shining out to you in the middle of the candy aisle? Yes, it's true that Sour Patch Kids candy is fat-free. But, that doesn't mean those sour candies are good for you or that they won't make you fat.
The same can be said about the label "organic". Even if a plant is grown under an organic environment, it doesn't ring true that it can't be harmful to your skin. Maybe it is still too acidic to be in contact with your skin all day.
So, how are you supposed to know which brands to use? You can download the list of 26 ingredients to avoid in your self-care products here and check the labels of your favorite products.
Otherwise, you can check the Environmental Working Group website, and check out their Skin Deep DataBase. You can type in the name of your favorite cosmetics and see their score.
Let's dive into the ingredients of a couple of the more popular mascaras
Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara
Here's what Estee Lauder has to say about their product, "Extreme 10-hour wear. Smudgeproof. Flakeproof. Clump-resistant. Eyes look brighter, wider, more seductive. Extreme Bold Volume™ formula is a blend of three high-volume fibers in a mousse-light base. The formula acts almost like lash extensions, multiplying and growing the look of lashes. Fortified with conditioning Lash-Advancing Vitamin Complex."
Again, the formula sounds great. The product will even condition your lashes. That is important in keeping them strong so that they don't get brittle and break off. However, the fibers contain in the formula can fall off into the eye during wear and irritate the surface. And, it contains these toxic ingredients as well
Paraffin - can lead to non-reproductive organ system toxicity
Laureth - can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, or lungs
Maybelline Total Temptation Blackest Black
This is was my personal favorite mascara for years. I wore Maybelline all through high school and college. You could always find it at any drug store and it made my lashes very dark.
This is what Maybelline has to say about their product, "Give in to Total Lash Temptation! Build on bold volume to create irresistibly soft, separated, and dense lashes coat after coat. Features a creamy and whipped formula infused with coconut extract."
It sounds great, doesn't it? And, it includes coconut extract a healthy ingredient. This stuff has got to be good for your lashes. But, when we take a closer look at the ingredients it is filled with stuff that can harm your eyes:
Mica - high bio-accumulation hazard and non-reproductive organ system toxicity
Paraffin - can lead to non-reproductive organ system toxicity
Sodium Laureth Sulfate - can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, or lungs
PEGs - contamination concerns
Butylene Glycol - can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, or lungs
Cetyl Alcohol - can lead to non-reproductive organ system toxicity
Now, contrast these toxic ingredients with the nourishing ingredients in the 2 brands I do recommend:
Eyes Are the Story Eye Proof Mascara
My favorite mascara is something new to the market. Eyes are the Story Eye Proof Mascara was developed by a team of eye doctors. I love this mascara because it looks great, and doesn't irritate my sensitive eyes. Use the code: winkwink to get 20% off your first order.
The benefits of this mascara include:
- Highly pigmented proprietary formula: non-flaking, non-drying, non-burning, non-irritating
- Safe for sensitive eyes, dry eyes, or contact lens wearers
What doesn't this mascara include:
- FRAGRANCE
- PHTHALATES
- PARABENS
- GLUTEN
- GMOs
In addition, the mascara comes in a smaller tube size. This decreases the probability that the mascara tube will become contaminated by bacteria. It also encourages you to throw away the tube more readily and open a fresh tube before the product has time to dry and flake.
Beautycounter
Beautycounter Volumizing Mascara
Clean, plant-derived ingredients, like carnauba wax and rice bran wax, replace harmful emollients, while bataua oil helps soften lashes. This formula goes on smooth and does not flake at the end of the day.
CONCLUSION
Until the beauty industry comes up with regulations, you will have to be your own watch dog for the health of your eyes and body. Makeup companies can change the ingredients of your favorite products without warning, the price doesn't always indicate the safety of the ingredients, and labeling can be miss leading.
Did you notice, we didn't even discuss whether or not the mascaras were waterproof? I covered why I don't recommend waterproof mascaras in a previous blog. You can read about why waterproof isn't good for your lashes or your eyes here.
Want to know which ingredients you should be avoiding in your eye makeup. Download the list of ingredients to avoid here. Ready to come clean and learn about setting your eyes up with the best beauty and makeup routine? Enjoy clearer vision and whiter eyes with the CLEAN makeup course. In 5 steps you'll learn about how to get the best beauty routine for your eyes and know which products are best for your eyes.
