Is Eyelash Glue Safe for Your Eyes?

Your eyes are an incredibly intricate part of your body, and that’s why they have so many layers of protection. Your eyelids, eyelashes, tear ducts, and eyebrows are all there to protect those precious body parts. While most good quality makeup is designed for safe application around the eye, great caution should still be used to protect the area when applying and removing makeup. Dirty brushes or pencils can cause infections, while an accidental poke of a mascara wand can be very painful.

Daily eye makeup is temporary and easy to remove with specially formulated, skin-friendly makeup remover. False lashes, on the other hand, have a little more staying power, which requires more intensive product application. In this guide, we’ll run through how safe eyelash glue really is and the precautions you need to take to avoid long-term damage to your eyes.

Eyelash Glue Safety

Eyelash glue contains a mix of adhesives, solvents, and chemicals. It is generally safe on your skin for a short period unless you are allergic to any of the ingredients. Common ingredients that can pose an allergy risk are latex, parabens, cyanoacrylates, and formaldehyde.

If you are unsure about ingredients you could be allergic to, always do a patch test by applying a small amount of glue to the back of your hand. If your skin reacts, don’t use it further. Burning, itching, redness, and swelling are all signs of an allergic reaction.

With so many options for eyelash glue available, you can look for products specifically labelled as latex-free, cruelty-free, or free of parabens to match your needs.

Eyelash Glue Precautions

Applying lash extensions takes high precision. You need to get the lashes (and thus the adhesive) as close to your eye line as possible without the glue making contact with your eyes. The eyelash glue should be applied to the lash band and not onto the eyelid itself. The glue dries quickly, which means you don’t have much time before it sticks. Using a pair of tweezers or an applicator and laying the lashes from above can make the process a little easier.

If you do get any glue in your eye, immediately rinse your eyes with lukewarm water for at least five minutes. In the case that you accidentally glue your eyelids together, get some medical help, and don’t try to get them open yourself.

How to Remove Lash Extensions

There are a few ways to remove lash extensions without damaging your eyes or real lashes. The main thing to remember is that your natural lashes are delicate. If you don’t work carefully, or if you force the falsies off by pulling, your natural lashes will come out as well. You also want to be careful not to get any of the products you are using in your eye.

Dab a mixture of warm water and makeup remover on the top of the lashes to start softening the adhesive. You can also apply coconut oil as it will help break down the glue, making lash removal easier. If your lashes are reusable, avoid the coconut oil, as it will affect adhesion qualities in the future.

Regardless of how you choose to accent your eyes, hygiene and safety should always come first. You only have one set of eyes, so take good care of them.