THE STORY

EYES WIDE PETRIFIED

What do frogs and your eye makeup have in common?  If you guessed Formaldehyde, you get a gold star!

AMY GALLANT SULLIVAN

Think back to your high school days in biology class… You may recall that revolting image of a glass-jarred petrified frog, frozen in the glowing-green-toxic goo. Now imagine that the very same putrid-smelling proteus-conservator is doubling as the chemical preserving agent in your cosmetics.

Shudder, right?

Now let's assume your eye makeup is laced with formaldehyde. Imagine your eyelids gelled with the same toxic-green-goo as the frog… Do you think that it would elicit a similar reaction as our unlucky amphibian? Perhaps, petrified eyelids? According to Harvard research, mainstream cosmetic products, such as mascara, eye shadow, eyeliner & eye makeup remover typically contain preservatives to prevent microbial growth. The concentrations approved for consumer use are toxic to human ocular surface & adnexal cells.* Sometimes preservatives are important to prevent bacterial & fungal contamination in cosmetics and hygiene products. But beware. Common preservatives used in makeup & beauty products frequently include formaldehyde, as well as formaldehyde-donating preservatives.

Bottom Line: Formaldehyde is not eye-friendly — in eye makeup it can cause irritation, dryeye, inflammation & dermatitis

SOURCE:

* Chen X, Sullivan DA, Sullivan AG, Kam WR, Liu Y. Toxicity of cosmetic preservatives on human ocular surface and adnexal cells. Exp Eye Res. 2018 May;170:188-197. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2018.02.020. Epub 2018 Feb 24. PMID: 29486163.