AS anyone who suffers from skin sensitivities knows all too well, any makeup product can potentially cause a flare-up or allergic reaction, especially around the eye area – even products that haven't caused an issue in the past.
Thankfully, brands are wising up to the necessity to create eye makeup products, from shadows to concealers to mascaras, that won’t cause any itchiness, puffiness, redness, stinging or inflammation.
If your peepers are a tad on the sensitive side, we've rounded up the best makeup products for you…
1. Burt's Bees 100% Natural Eyeshadow Trio – Shimmering Nudes
- Burt's Bees 100% Natural Eyeshadow Trio, £11.99 at Look Fantastic – buy here
Burt's Bees is known for its collection of skincare, bodycare and makeup, made with natural ingredients and free from parabens, phthalates, SLS, petrolatum and synthetic fragrances.
This eyeshadow palette contains nourishing ingredients like bamboo, vitamin E, jojoba seed oil and honey and offers an easy smokey-eye tutorial in one compact.
Sweep the darkest shade onto the eyelid crease and the lightest shade onto your brow bone as a highlighter.
2. Clinique Lash Power Mascara Long-Wearing Formula
- Lash Power Mascara, £21 at Clinique – buy here
Clinique is a favourite with sensitive skin sufferers because it's a brand that does its homework: all mascaras are ophthalmologist-tested.
This long-lasting mascara can handle rain, sweat and tears, yet only requires a rinse with warm water to remove (another plus for minimising irritation).
3. W7 Very Vegan Eyeshadow Palette
- Very Vegan Eyeshadow Palette, £6.95 at W7 – buy here
Vegan brands and ranges are a smart idea when you want to avoid allergens and W7's Au Naturel palette contains 12 go-to neutral shades that won't crease and last well.
It also costs less £10, which is a steal for high quality eyeshadow that won’t irritate your eyes.
4. La Roche-Posay Respectissime Mascara for Sensitive Eyes – Volume
- La Roche-Posay Respectissime Mascara, £16.50 at La Roche-Posay – buy here
La Roche-Posay is firmly committed to creating gorgeous skin, body and makeup products that even those suffering from skin allergies or ultra-sensitivity can enjoy. This Respectissimme mascara gives va-va-voom volume – but was created with the needs of sensitive-eyed folk and contact lens wearers in mind so that you won't feel you're wearing anything.
A micro-aerated formula with ceramides, arginine and carnauba wax even strengthens and thickens lashes as you use it.
It goes without saying that the product is tested by dermatologists, 100% hypoallergenic and doesn't have any preservatives, alcohol, fragrance, parabens, colourants or lanolin.
5. Ciaté London Extraordinary Radiant Buildable Liquid Foundation
- Ciaté London Extraordinary Radiant Buildable, £28 at Look Fantastic – buy here
Let's not forget that our eye makeup application doesn't start with eyeshadow or mascara but usually with a base, like foundation.
Ciaté's five-star reviewed formula is hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and contains moisturising ingredients like squalene and hyaluronic acid – both helpful ingredients if you have sensitive skin.
It also gives non-cakey, buildable coverage with a dewy finish – making it an ideal highlighting base for your eye makeup.
6. BareMinerals Glimmer
- BareMinerals Glimmer, £15 at Look Fantastic – buy here
Fact: mineral makeup is a good bet for sensitive skin types, whether you're prone to redness or oiliness.
This lovely, shimmery eye shadow blends easily, so you won't risk irritating the skin by tugging at it.
7. Shape Tape Concealer
- Shape Tape Concealer, £24 at Tarte Cosmetics – buy here
Tarte's award-winning Shape Tape concealer is not only vegan, but includes tape technology to help smooth and blur the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The fan favourite product is approved by dermatologists to ensure it covers dark circles and lines without damaging the skin.
Boasting the title of crease-proof even with full coverage it might be time to join the hype and use this highly rated concealer.
8. Maybelline Hyper Precise All Day Wear Liquid Eyeliner
- Maybelline Hyper Precise Liquid Eyeliner, £5.99 at Boots – buy here
Just because you have sensitive eyes doesn't mean you don't want to stand out with a bold cat's eye or grungy, smudged liner look. Enter Maybelline: using ink technology for a lasting line, this liner has a 0.4mm tip to turn any novice in makeup artistry into the Da Vinci of eyelids. It's also water and smudge-proof, ophthalmologist-tested and safe for sensitive eyes.
9. VICHY Dermablend 3D Correction Fluid Foundation
- VICHY Dermablend 3D Correction Fluid Foundation, £23 at VICHY – buy here
VICHY’s Dermablend Fluid Foundation is hypoallergenic and designed with sensitive skin in mind. The lightweight texture ensures skin imperfections, redness and blemishes are covered to give your complexion a clear, fresh finish.
Providing a long-lasting, high mattifying coverage this foundation is perfect for individuals prone to oily skin and acne. It’s oil-free to moisturise the skin without adding excess oil to offer a radiant finish. One fan even labelled it: “The best foundation for problematic skin out on the market.”
10. Glossier Stretch concealer
- Stretch concealer, £15 at Glossier – buy here
Glossier is renowned for their cruelty-free make up designed to give you an ultra-fresh, dewy, effortless makeup look. Their stretch concealer nourishes and brightens the skin to offer a natural-looking coverage, while still covering those pesky dark circles and blemishes. Prefer a fuller coverage? This concealer is designed to be buildable to add layers of coverage to suit your own skin's needs.
It blends seamlessly into the skin and with no added fragrance and rave reviews, what’s not to love?
11. Magic Beauty Balm Stick
- Magic Beauty Balm Stick, £20 at Honest Beauty – buy here
Honest Beauty assures buyers of two things: high performance makeup and the peace of mind that these products can be trusted to use on your skin. The chemist-approved Magic Beauty Balm Stick hydrates skin to offer a delicious shimmer to give you that summer glow all year round.
As a skin care and make up product hybrid, this balm is suitable for your legs, lips and face as it highlights and soothes skin with nourishing ingredients. Botanical oils will replenish, protect and encourage cell regeneration offering a dewy finish to your skin due to the antioxidants and anti-inflammatory support in this magical balm.
12. Origins GinZing™ Energy-Boosting Tinted Moisturiser
- Origins GinZing™ Energy-Boosting Tinted Moisturiser, £32 at Origins – buy here
For lighter coverage with the ultimate protection look no further than, Origins GinZing Energy-Boosting Tinted Moisturiser with SP40. Renowned for their natural ingredients and high-quality products, Origins have created a tinted moisturiser to offer a radiant complexion that also blocks out UV rays from the sun.
With a hint of coffee and Panax Ginseng, this moisturiser hydrates skin and offers rejuvenating energy to brighten up your appearance with a flawless, sheer finish. Along with being suitable for sensitive skin, this product compliments all skin types from very dry to super oily.
Why are my eyes so sensitive to makeup?
One of the reasons eyes can be such a problem area for those suffering from sensitive skin is due to the ultra-thin eyelid skin and fewer oil glands. It means that the skin in the eye area tends to be drier and more easily irritated.
Some brands make it a priority to ensure their products work for people with sensitive skin, like Clinique: all of their makeup is allergy-tested, dermatologist-tested and fragrance-free (fragrance is often behind many sensitive skin symptoms). The brand’s Lash Power mascara has staying power for up to a full day but won't leave eyes red or itchy.
It's worth keeping an eye out for irritants you might not suspect too: nail polish can cause contact dermatitis, which can manifest itself – you guessed it – in the eye area.
What should I use to clean off my eye makeup from sensitive eyes?
In order to avoid the stinging of the century, it’s time to ditch your make up wipes and stick to water-based cleansers to remove your eye makeup.
Garnier’s Micellar Cleansing Water is a gentle cleanser designed to remove makeup by lifting the impurities out of your pores while simultaneously cleansing your skin. The micelle molecules in the cleanser lift makeup and grease away. Simply use the cleansing water on a cotton wool pad to wipe away the makeup from the day. Sleeping in eye makeup is the worst thing for sensitive eyes, it can cause irritation and even block the glands on your eyelids due to excess oil build up.
What ingredients in makeup could cause sensitive eyes?
In general, when choosing the best sensitive eye makeup, look out for brands that keep it simple, using paraben and sulphate-free formulas, natural ingredients, simple ingredient lists and no fragrances.
A high pigment content and ingredients like zinc can be irritating to sensitive skin, as can waxing agents often found in liners and mascaras. Vegan alternatives and mineral makeup brands tend to be safe bets for sensitive skin.
If you’re suffering from eye sensitivities, remember to always keep the area super-hydrated with a good moisturiser.
It’s also worth taking the time to regularly clean your brushes and sponges in order to avoid them becoming contaminated and causing infections.
Enjoyed our round-up of the best makeup for sensitive skin? We've also rounded up the best shampoos for itchy scalps.
If you need a new nail lamp (or you've never bought one before) we've picked out seven of the best.
And we've even sought out the best reusable cotton pads, if you're trying to go green.
Source: Read Full Article