Is It Safe To Use Lip Liner On Your Eyes?
Per Allure, if there's another way of doing something, TikTok will find it, like with the latest TikTok beauty trend — using lip liner as a tool for creating the perfect eye look. (Admittedly, lots of the TikTok hacks create truly incredible looks, with the ideas being totally game-changing.)
There's no arguing with the fact that the end result looks great, but are makeup tools like lip liner, eyeshadow pigments, and other eye products, interchangeable? Can you really use a lip liner to create an eye look? Is there any danger in doing this?
The issue with these kinds of beauty trends is that, while they're wonderfully creative and can result in some rather unique looks, there are concerns around safety. So is it safe to use a lip liner on your eyes or could swapping these products around cause issues?
We've done a little digging about the newest trend, so that you don't have to. Here's what we found out.
What do the experts say?
When it comes to one of the popular TikTok trend of using lip liner as eyeliner, one that got over 4 million views, it looks great but just how safe is it?
Per Allure, it's important to use caution when using this hack. Makeup artist Kasey Adam Spickard explains that "there are pretty strict guidelines outlined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about what is cosmetically eye-safe," which means a product produced for use on your lips may not be safe for use on the eyes.
Ginger King, a cosmetic chemist is completely against using lip products around your eyes, per Allure. "The pigments are not interchangeable. One can get an allergic reaction such as swollen eyelids," adding that if a lip product has been used on your lips it may carry contamination, which could lead to a multitude of eye issues.
But if you insist on trying this lip liner TikTok hack, be sure to sanitize it with a cleanser that has alcohol in it and, if it is a pencil, try using a sharpener to clear the pencil of any contaminants before using it on your eyes.
Why might lip liner be unsafe to use on the eyes?
According to StyleCheer, it's important to be aware that while lip and eyeliners appear to be the same, they have different key ingredients and those ingredients make a huge difference. In fact, the ingredients in lip liner can make it dangerous to use as eyeliner, especially if you don't take the proper precautions to disinfect it with an alcohol-based cleanser, per Allure.
Also, high amounts of ingredients like fats, alcohol and waxes in lip liner, aren't exactly safe to use on eyes, per StyleCheer. So while it appears to be similar to eyeliner, it definitely isn't the same and shouldn't be used interchangeably without taking the proper steps to ensure that you're using them safely. "These higher amounts are necessary so that the lip liner doesn't dry out your lips but can cause irritation and discomfort to the skin around your eyes."
So it's probably not a good idea to use lip liner on your eyes.