TFOS Lifestyle Report on Cosmetics

The Science Behind a New Standard for Eye-Safe Beauty

What we put around our eyes matters. Yet the science of cosmetic eye safety has not kept pace with the beauty industry.

According to the TFOS Lifestyle Report: Impact of Cosmetics on the Ocular Surface, the FDA estimates that approximately 12,500 chemicals are used in cosmetic formulations, while fewer than 20% have undergone scientific safety review.* At the same time, there is still no universally accepted global standard specifically defining what it means for a cosmetic to be “eye-safe.”

Published in the peer-reviewed journal The Ocular Surface, the TFOS Lifestyle Report brings together leading experts to examine how cosmetics, beauty ingredients, and aesthetic procedures may interact with the tear film, meibomian glands, eyelids, and ocular surface, and how certain exposures may contribute to irritation, inflammation, tear-film instability, or ocular surface disease.

The report examines cosmetic ingredients and formulations, application practices, regulatory considerations, and emerging beauty trends, while also identifying significant gaps in the scientific evidence. Importantly, it calls attention to the need for greater research and a more rigorous understanding of the ocular effects of products used every day on and around the eyes.

 

Why This Research Matters to Eyes Are The Story

The culmination of the TFOS scientific landscape during the last 20+ years has inspired our Founder, Amy Gallant Sullivan, and her creation of Optocosmetics.

We believe beauty products designed for the eye area should be developed with the eyes themselves in mind, not simply the skin surrounding them. That means looking beyond traditional cosmetic performance to consider the delicate biology of the ocular surface and the needs of people with sensitive eyes, dry eyes, and contact lenses.

The TFOS Lifestyle Report reinforces the importance of bringing ocular surface science into the conversation about beauty. Its peer-reviewed findings and identification of critical research gaps help inform the scientific principles at the heart of our brand: collaborating with eye care professionals, thoughtfully evaluating ingredients and formulations, and advocating for a higher standard of beauty that respects vision health.

Because when it comes to your eyes, beauty and health should never be separate conversations.

Source: TFOS Lifestyle Report: Impact of Cosmetics on the Ocular Surface. Statements regarding cosmetic ingredients and safety review reflect information cited within the TFOS report.

Read the TFOS Lifestyle Subcommittee Reports: https://www.tearfilm.org/paginalong-subcommitee_reports/7624_7621/eng/