Sunday, October 2, 2016

Makeup Allergies, and a Plea for Help!


Important November 2017 update: Most of the comments have been from people who have had Shape Tape issues. I have positively ruled that out as the cause of this issue for me. I'm sorry that so many have had issues with the product, but this is NOT a post about Tarte Shape Tape causing issues for me.

It has to do with lashes and lash glue. Trust me on that. I could put Shape Tape on my lid right now and not react (I've tested that theory); it's lashes (not 100% sterilized) and lash glues with latex, formaldehyde, and other nasty ingredients.

Warning: Less than Pleasant Images Ahead

I need your help! 


I've developed a sudden allergy to something that has literally cost me multiple days of work and my eyelids peeling. (Ewwww.)

Until the past month, I only once had a makeup allergy. The Tom Ford cream eyeshadows made my eyelids burn, so I immediately removed it and sadly passed it on. I tend to shy away from a lot of cream shadows as a result.

More forward to mid-September, 2016. After playing with some fun new makeup, I woke up with my eyes swollen shut.

These photos were taken on Day #2, after I seriously attacked it with antihistamines, topical creams, etc.





Day #3, the peeling took over.


I'm still not sure what caused it since I was playing with new makeup, but I had a few suspects given the location of the most inflammation:

  • Concealer- I don't normally bring it onto my lids  (Tarte Shape Tape)
  • Eyeshadow Base- I used a new one (NYX Milk Eyeshadow Stick)
  • Eyeshadow (but I used that several days prior without issues) (Urban Decay Electric Palette- the greens)
  • Eyeliner- I was trying a new one (Revlon ColorStay Gel Eyeliner in Blue)
  • False Lash Adhesive- but it was the same one I've been using for close to a year (Duo)
  • False Lashes themselves (contact allergy? I dunno) (Ardells)


It took about 5 days to be back to normal.

I swore never to use NYX pencils on my eyes again, banished the eyeliner, and bought a latex-free lash adhesive. I was just starting to feel better about life until this afternoon.

I was playing with the new Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics and was loving my look:



Everything was all cool. I was loving the Rebel Eyes trend and was already dreaming of a terracotta look for Monday.

About an hour later, I decided to try to add some lashes to pump it up.

Probably 30 min later, I realized my eyes were burning, so I rapidly removed my eye makeup and discovered this:



It was mostly my right eye but both eyes are impacted (as evidenced by the hurt). The shiny nature is some ointment that I already put on it. I know my brows are all over the place, but that's beyond the point of this.


What the heck?!?!?!?!


Here's the list of products I used:


  • Concealer: Tarte Shape Tape
  • Eye Primer: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer
  • Eyeshadow: Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics- Extra Bitter
  • Eyeliner: None
  • Lash Adhesive: Revlon Lash Adhesive (latex-free)
  • Eyelashes: Andrea #45s
I'm heartbroken. And now I want to know WTF is causing this!

Here are the only commonalities.

1. Urban Decay eyeshadows
     Mitigation: I've worn them for years without issues. It was a green look the first time, so it's not a red dye issue. That was a thought of mine.
2. False Lashes
     Mitigation: I wore lashes from January-September almost every day
3. Lash Adhesive
    It's not Latex. I'm wondering if there's another ingredient that's triggering this.
4. Concealer
     I don't have any reaction to it anywhere else....

I'm at a loss. I'm also changing jobs soon so I don't want to look like this all the time. So I could really use your help!!!!!!!!

Has anyone else ever run into something like this? If so, what was it? Please shoot me an email- it's quirkybusyandbeautiful (at) gmail (dot) com! Or leave a comment. I'm desperate to figure this out. I don't want to think that I have to give up on makeup. I adored the look I was playing with, but I've ended up with the same reaction.

I'm wondering if it's lash adhesive or the lashes primarily. I ruled out latex, but I wonder if there's something in both Duo and Revlon adhesives that's also in the Tom Ford cream shadows.

Help!!!

7 comments:

  1. How awful. You should test each of the products you used when you had the reaction on your inner arm. Possibly you can figure out which one/ones caused the reaction.

    Also, in addition to a hydrocortisone cream (use only 2x per day) you could try eyedrops that contain antihistimines such as Naphcon-A. It works great for itchy eyes from pollen or pet dander. You probably should talk with your doctor if this happens again.

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  2. I have been looking to see if anyone complained about Tarte shape tape. I put that on my face only in certain areas to cover dark spots and the next day I had a rash in those spots. The rash itched like hell. I tried over the counter treatments and nothing helped. I was at work the 3rd day with this rash and had to leave to go to my dermatologist the itching was terrible. I have a prescription topical gel that's working now. I know for a fact it was the shape tape because I applied nothing else on my face and it was only in those areas I applied it.

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  3. Same here with the shape tape. I got a red raw burning feeling after using it on my eye lids after a few days of use. I love using it all over my face but now avoid my lid area where the skin is most delicate.

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  4. I used the shape tape for my under eyes and had itchy burning eyes as well!

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  5. Same here!!! I was looking if someone had this reaction to tarte shape tape on their lid!
    I have suspected it to make my lids swallow and itchi and now im pretty sure...that's a bummer!!

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  6. I'm so sorry everyone's having issues with the Shape Tape... after another year of using it, I can eliminate it as the culprit. In my case, I think it was likely a combination of the Urban Decay primer (I just can't with most of their primers these days) and the lashes/lash glue.

    PSA: Most lash glues have Formaldehyde in them.

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  7. I developed a terrible rash all over my face after a month of using Shape Tape. I cannot think of anything else for a culprit. My whole face and eyes burn and itch, swollen too. It's been a week since it started 😥

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