So I wanted to get a status update on glitter in eye cosmetics. They also confirmed that certain commonly used color additives in Pressed Pigments remain non-permitted for eye area use (I mean, while I was on the line with them, so-to-speak, I figured Id ask!).
With regards to biodegradable glitters (and PET etc for that matter) I hope the FDA will assess the safety of ingesting them in small quantities. Thank you so much for this thorough and fantastically researched overview! Thank you, Hannah!
Most brands that sell glitter, whether with or without a warning, do not include information regarding particle size (this is normal; were not seeing microns listed on Sephora listings! In my quest to try and to provide information to readers, I considered looking to ophthalmologists, who would likely be the ones seeing the impacts of glitter.
Apply tape (if its very sticky, remove a bit of the stickiness on the back of your hand) with light pressure on the glittery area and remove, and start again with fresh tape, and go on for as long as youve removed as much as you can. Find swatches by color, product, formula, etc. Per my doctors notes and what he told me, it was a plastic particle that was removed. 
I wear contacts and Ive suffered from irritation.
Ive been wearing heavy eye makeup for over 15 years, and this is the first time Ive gone to an eye doctor because something was stuck in my eye. Curious how two shades compare to each other?
), so Im glad Lit listed those measurements so we can have some visual idea of various particle sizes. The FDAs position is that FDA has not approved the use of glitter or polyethylene terephthalate as a color additive in cosmetics or any other FDA-regulated product. EUs CosIng database permits the use of glitter or polyethylene terephthalate without any limitations or restrictions, per searching their database. Glitters are not eye safe and it drives me nuts when I see companies (like ColourPop) put glitters in eyeshadow palettes especially ones that are aimed at more juvenile customers. Whatever goes on my face is going near my eyes, too, but I dont use anything specifically for my eyes . I want to recommend a tip to anyone and everyone that use glitter, no matter what type or size it is: Remove it with tape. I had Lasik a few years ago and I love it, I had to have a touch up as they didnt quite do it strong enough.
Those who still want to risk glitter, Id like to plug Eco Stardust (https://ecostardust.com/pages/non-bioglitter-amnesty) You can send them your plastic glitter to recycle and you can get a discount on their actually biodegradable glitter. elf glitter Yeah, I am bitter about it. Because of my age (advanced) and problems Ive had with my eyes (retinal tears), this whole business of these non-eye-safe glitters is an important one to me but even younger people with healthy eyes well, a lot of them are concerned about this ongoing inclusion of these plastic based glitters in eye products. 
And Gute Besserung for your eye! Youll primarily be looking for this ingredient: polyethylene terephthalate. I dont know why I never thought of using a humidifier. After my headache with the FDA in 2012 and your responses from them, Im convinced they really dont care about safety at all. Light, Neutral undertones. 
This post is focused on the first concern as I recently had to go to an eye doctor after-hours to have a plastic particle removed that had gotten stuck to my upper eyelid immediately after I removed my makeup (not during wear) that would not flush out at home. Aside from the health concerns, its kind of odd to me that microbeads have become verboten but PET based glitters remain popular. Why does one brands Pressed Glitter come with a warning but another brands does not? I read it like a lawyers brief. contact us directly.
And disappointment. I thought that might be their secret sauce so I looked for dupes that had that ingredient and at the time I couldnt find any (I did purchase some of the Ambient Lights).
In 2009, MAC glitters came with this warning: Keep entirely clear of eye area. Its incredible how very small particles can cause searing pain on the eye so magnified! There are certain ingredients that are prohibited from use, and there are color additives that have limited or restricted use. Alternative ingredients need to be used.
This post is so, so amazing, and the reason there need to be people like you reporting thoroughly, critically, and honestly. Approved for use: Eyes Lips, Face (but please use caution around the eyes). Im not here to to tell you to wear glitter or to not wear glitter. Of all the things we are exposed to over the course of our lives Im sure a few specks of glitter are the least of my worries, but I do sometimes think about it, especially with the glitters that are specifically designed to break down. However, larger-sized Synthetic Mica and Borosilicate products are currently permitted.
Exploring synthetic fluorphlogopite options on TKB Trading, Cherika Moon also has a certificate of analysis that can be read (here), which listed particle size as 100 to 260 m. Browsing TKB Trading, which is an old school site where one can buy raw ingredients, their Mermaid Collection, which includes iridescent pigments using calcium sodium borosilicates includes particle sizes 60 to 400 m.
Its not both. Perhaps the key with the fluorphlogopite is that the shadow be very well put together, meaning not having any fallout.
I wish I could be of more help! I will say that the Ambient Lighting products are very finely milled, and while its used on the face, some people use highlighters (including me at times) as a highlight in the inner corner of the eye, or as an eyeshadow. Did your dry eyes ever get better post-Lasik, Christina? Support us by Sharing It! For US consumers, you can report cosmetic-related complaints to the FDA. Thank you for sharing the current status quo with us!
They need to get their sh*t together on this one before people end up with serious damage to their corneas! Light, Neutral, slight yellow undertones. 
Its been 10 years. The beauty standards are so confusing, just like pigments that are sold as eyeshadow in pallettes and then tiny print not eye safe like seriously, if they are going to do that, they should stick to making whole pallettes like that and let people pick up shadows, vs pigments. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this editorial Christine!
Thank you!
However, in looking at your list above and running the ingredients through my database, I see that PET is in quite a few highlighters (I know, not used on eyes, but still, interesting as I wonder if these products can scratch the face) and in one eyebrow product, Fenty MVP pencil.
The other eye used Fenty eyeshadows from the Smoke and Pastel Frost palettes with the rest being the same. Thats why we spend quite a bit of time in Vegas, and we usually drive down the coast at least once a year through San Fran, love Cali! From the organization American Academy of Ophthalmology, they included the title of a section as avoid glitter eye makeup but go on to say be careful: Be careful with metallic, glitter, sparkle powder or other makeup.
Thank you for this tip! Unfortunately, Lasik just makes dry eyes even more dry. But hey, as it can happen to anyone, this stuff just shouldnt be manufactured.
They treat a lot of military, law enforcement etc.
Im sorry about your experience but am glad that there was no permanent damage.
Thank you for taking the time to write all of this up!
This post doesnt seek to address or provide more information on the environmental impact of plastic glitter in cosmetics or viable alternatives; biodegradable glitter exists but it is unclear why it isnt used more often or if it is a safer alternative (based on my limited research). Youre lucky to live there, enjoy!
My understanding is it is (or was) a better method to avoid issues with things like night driving, especially as they are able to work on a larger surface with this method; ergo more tissue is available for treatment.
Combination skin. product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please Of the seven products tested, the only one that was noted as having any adverse event reported contained 46.272% of PET glitter with no size indicated; the other six products ranged between 8 and 12% concentration with three that provided size used and three that did not provide a size. After the surgery I was prescribed the same eye drops for another 3 months. 
Also, I hope youre healing well. Thank you for sharing this experience. I take photos of my eyes within an hour or two of application, so Im sure that helps, and if my eyes are very red, then Im usually not taking photos because that becomes the focus of the review vs. the actual product (and redness is typically unrelated allergies, dry eyes, etc.). Especially since a good amount of glittery stuff seems to be marketed heavily towards that age catchment. I have drier eyes, though I dont feel they are dry routinely, but Ive been told that Im unlikely to be a candidate for Lasik due to having some dryness currently.
Then soak my lashes with an additional cotton pad to get rid of the mascara. Dry skin. Craft glitter can be cut from glass, metal, and may be coated in dyes that are not suitable for cosmetic use. Hi Christine have been reading up about ingredients diligently ever since I discovered this post.
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I was under the impression that Lit Cosmetics glitters were eyesafe because of their rounded shape. I avoided the obvious ones like ColourPop but didnt realise this applied to the PMG palettes and wouldnt have wasted my money if I knew. CosIng, which is the EU source for ingredient safety, seems to allow for use of PET glitter without restriction in cosmetics, but the in the US, when Ive asked industry insiders and brand owners that I know, the consensus is that no glitter is approved by FDA for usage on the eye and yet it is clearly being used by brands routinely.
participate respectfully. In the US, color additives require affirmative approval, whereas other types of ingredients can be used so long as they are safe, so the industry seems to be primarily self-regulating with respect to other ingredients used. glitter pink eyeshadow People have asked about the brand/product that was stuck in my eye, and given that no detailed lab analysis was done, a plastic foreign body was what was removed per doctors notes. Christine, thank you for doing this. Im allergic to some glitters. Light Plus, Neutral undertones.
Regarding the Borosilicate, I find it in three PM Decadence shades (likely the very three that I hate using because they feel gritty: Enigma, Sinful and Gold Standard); two ABH Sultry shades (Rose Quartz and Cinder) and one ColourPop Brown Sugar shade (Saute). . I am sorry to hear that you have experienced some eye issues as a result of your work on this blog, but I guess that it is not surprising, considering how much eyeshadow you apply on a daily/weekly basis, that one day you would be affected. BTW, I think you may be missing a clause after The FDAs position . It is important to note that not approved doesnt necessarily mean not safe but it doesnt mean that it is safe either.
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I am no chemist, but find my science degree comes in handy with these glitter discussions;).
Thats what I heard, so I was wondering if it was substantially worse and if it was manageable (worth it). Ive really only looked at finished cosmetics vs. raw ingredients, and it seems to turn up as polyethylene terephthalate. As adults, we can probably deduce for ourselves that putting chunks of glitter near our eyes has some inherent risks that younger kids wouldnt think about. Mascara flakes tend to be the worst culprit, followed by eyeliner and foiled shadows. chunky glitter eye We all super appreciate you. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an
Im personally not a fan of the new pressed glitter fad that many brands seem to be pushing, because the particles just seem too big & rough for me to feel comfortable putting near my eyes, even with glitter glue. removed.
Thank you for the work you put into this! Thank you for understanding! All the different types of glitter, how are we supposed to know?!
Thank you once again Christine.
Are they really dry? I will be using a Qtip along my lashlines first before cotton pads to sweep the rest away. Very Light, Olive, cool undertones. I actually tried to confirm with Lit that their glitters were eye safe, and they referred me back to my own warning notice posted on their glitters, so in a very roundabout way, they actually wouldnt confirm they were safe.
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Dry skin.
This is true for any and all reactions to cosmetics.
The law does not require cosmetic products and ingredients (except for color additives not intended as coal-tar hair dyes) to have FDA approval before they go on the market, but it does require them to be safe when consumers use them according to their labeling, or as they are customarily used. I am just wondering about your thoughts on poly methyl methacrylate as an ingredient I have read the CIR report but I am not sure if it confers the risks of PET glitter. Eyeshadow palette should be filled with eyeshadows. You also asked if the regulatory status of Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), and Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985) has changed in that they are now allowed for eye-area use. With knowledge comes power! A wag once said, The more I learn, the confuseder I get. How true.
I had my eyes done about 15 years ago using No Touch PRK method. They are my favorite posts on temptalia.
What I see as the basic problem, is that it would appear that the jury is still out when it comes to the FDA putting their foot down on cosmetics companies using PET in eye makeup. Oh my god!! I always read the ingredients in everything before I purchase, and the 1st time I ever saw fluorphlogopite as an ingredient was when Hourglass came out with their Ambient Lighting products.
So what about metallic eyeshadow is that and foiled the same??
PET can be so dangerous when the particles are even the size yours or mine were. There is also a final report on the safety of synthetic fluorphlogopite, which is also known as synthetic mica (CosIng database results for synthetic fluorphlogopite here). ?
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I know the beauty community is a force to be reckoned with when they team up. FDA considers glitter and mica-based composite pigments to be non-permitted color additives when used in FDA-regulated products, including cosmetics.
More safety and environmental regulations have been removed in the U.S. over the past couple of years. The final report provided no insight into guidance on particle sizes, concentration, etc. Having had one such run-in with a glitter piece from a Tom Ford eye palette, I am finished with glitter completely.