A bargain ain’t a bargain unless it’s something you need. ~Sidney Carroll, American film and TV writer
You have to be a pretty good detective when you have sensitive skin … and allergies.
Makeup counters, laundry detergents, and even shopping can be perilous. No wonder, since skin is the largest organ we humans have (about 20 square feet in area!)
A couple of months ago, my left eyelid became red, itchy, and teary, so I called my ophthalmologist’s office for help. I was told to buy a bottle of tears for dry eye.
But that didn’t do the trick.
I did a bit of online research and started to wonder if this might be an allergic reaction.
Could the groomer have bathed Dallas in a new shampoo? Had a cosmetic formulation I was using changed? Had I been shopping and inadvertently touched something that someone wearing an unfamiliar hand lotion had? Had I accidentally rubbed my eye while I was asleep?
The list went on.
Gradually, my right eyelid became raw and red, too.
Surely this wasn’t “pinkeye”?
I consulted my dermatologist, who determined it to be some sort of irritation, probably due to cosmetics. She prescribed a medicated cream for 10 days and told me to stop using all makeup.
She advised me to gradually add stuff back week by week until I figured out what caused the problem. And to avoid it thereafter.
Now, I don’t think of myself as vain, but facing the world “naked” isn’t high on my list of fun things to do, so I racked my brain for a shortcut.
Suddenly, it dawned on me.
About that time, I’d bought a new brand of mascara (the only thing I’d used differently).
TV ads promised it would make my stubby eyelashes long and thick, like the models.
And it worked! Just one coat proved that I, too, could have lashes Out. To. There.
But at what price?
The medicated cream has cleared up my problem, along with tossing out the miracle mascara and returning to the tried-and-true.
I guess stubby eyelashes are better than having red, raw, itchy eyes, don’t you agree?
Musings by an ND Domer's Mom 
There is a beauty in stubbiness that cannot be replicated by fancy brands and models!
I’ll have to take your word for that, Lucy. I’m still hoping to find a mascara that works but won’t cause eye irritation!
Is it worth getting them dyed? They do a patch test first to check for adverse reactions. It won’t give you any extra volume or length but it will give them definition without having to use mascara. Just a thought 🙂
I never thought of that! Thanks for giving me something to research this afternoon.
Here’s a grin. The eye drops I use to keep my glaucoma under control have the side effect of making eyelashes longer. When I still was wearing reading glasses, before my cataract/lens replacement surgery, I had to keep cutting my eyelashes to keep them from hitting my glasses all the time.
Of course, I don’t recommend glaucoma as the way to longer, lusher lashes!
Oh my goodness, Linda, I had no idea! I can’t fathom having to cut my eyelashes. On the plus side, cutting probably makes them appear thicker though, right??
Debbie, being in the beauty/cosmetic industry for so many years, I’ve seen this countless times with customers purchasing either makeup or skincare and having an allergic reaction such as yours. That’s why our return policy is such as it is. Any time a customer is either not happy with a product or has a negative reaction, they can always return/exchange it.
Glad to hear that your found out what was causing your reaction and that the cream the doctor gave you worked. Anything involving our eyes is very scary.
Have a super week, my friend!
Thank you, Ron, for confirming that this is a real issue. My dermatologist said I’d be surprised to hear how often this sort of thing happens. Of course, I suspect most people consulting a derm in the first place have sensitive or “problem” skin, so perhaps we’re the very ones that are prone to odd reactions.
You’re so right — “Anything involving our eyes is very scary.” None of us wants to walk around with blurry vision and eyes resembling pinkeye!
Enjoy the rest of your week! xo
Poor you! But I’m glad you worked out what was causing it. And I bet Dallas loves you just as much even if you can’t flutter your eyelashes at him… 😉
HaHa! Do Tommy and Tuppence ever wink at you? Every so often, Dallas winks at me and I always wink back. I suspect it’s some sort of sign known only to the animal, but I’m afraid to fall down on my communication skills by ignoring him!
They don’t wink, but they stare! I never know if I stare back will it look aggressive, but it doesn’t seem to bother them. My childhood dog used to sit in front of my mum and open and shut his mouth. My mum swore he was saying “bit”, meaning “give me a bit of whatever you’re eating”. I don’t know if she was right, but it worked… 😉
Dogs have that begging face down pat. Dallas is excellent at it!
Facing the world 🌎 without makeup? You are brave, really brave! 🙄😬🙄
Don’t tell my dermatologist, but no way was I going without makeup! That’s why I promptly figured out the source of the problem 😉
I absolutely agree, Debbie! Glad you figured out it was the mascara. These things are tough. I have random hives that cannot be traced to anything. I think they may be due to stress. I’ve read online that sometimes they crop up when people are “older” and are experienced for awhile then vanish. They do vanish from time to time, hopefully soon, they will forever. Allergies are awful!
You too, Lana? I get hives when I take medicines that don’t agree with me. They’re definitely not fun! With me, it’s not an age-thing but a skin-thing because I’ve had sensitive skin all my life. Life must be way easier without allergies, but I guess I’d rather have them than something fatal, huh? 😉
I would say that I would choose to have allergies over many, many things. They are so not fun, and with me, just so random and weird!