It's the summer of colored makeup, including lashes in every hue of the rainbow and Rihanna's colorful Fenty Beauty liquid liner, and brighter truly appears to be better. But before you go ahead and replace every item on your cosmetics counter with its neon counterpart, you may want to give the label a careful read.
Earlier this week, Estée Laundry, an anonymous beauty-focused Instagram account, pointed out that many beauty brands have recently released neon-colored palettes. In an accompanying Instagram caption and gallery, which highlighted products from Huda Beauty, LORAC, Juvia's Place, and docolor, Estée Laundry said that not all neon palettes contain warnings that note specific colorings aren’t safe for use around the eyes; Dazed reports that Huda Beauty's recently released Neon Obsessions Palette does contain the warning. Estée Laundry asked its followers what they thought, writing, "What do you all think of companies not disclosing that their neon/vivid palettes are “not safe for use” around the eyes?"
Instagram content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
Some Instagram users expressed concern, saying, "I think it's annoying and slightly dodgy" and called it "incredibly irresponsible," while others seemed less worried, writing, "I'm not bothered by it at all."
Should consumers be concerned about their neon-colored palettes? Cosmetic chemist Jim Hammer said yes, and added that it comes down to what colors you're using. "Neon eye shadows rely on fluorescent colorants, whereas regular eye shadows do not contain these colorants," he told Teen Vogue. "The U.S. FDA does not recognize neon, fluorescent or "Day-Glo" colorants as safe for use in the eye area. These are the colorants that are being used in the neon eye shadows, some of which carry disclaimers that the product is not intended for use in the eye area." He pointed to colorings created with: D&C Orange No. 5, No. 10, and No. 11; D&C Red No. 21, No. 22, No. 27 and No. 28; and D&C Yellow No. 7 as examples not approved for use around the eyes.
Instagram content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
These specific neon colorings aren't approved for wearing as eye makeup, but Hammer explained that other countries have differing standards. "Regulations are different in the EU and in Asia, so it is possible that some of these are approved for eye-area usage in those countries, but they are currently not approved in the U.S." He said further, "The FDA is usually pretty open to most ingredients used in cosmetic products, allowing all but a handful of really dangerous ingredients, so when they disallow colorants for certain uses, it's typically in the consumer's best interest to listen to what they say."
Huda Beauty addressed the concerns of its customers in a statement to Teen Vogue, saying, "At Huda Beauty it’s so important for us to listen to our community, and we appreciate all of your feedback and questions. We wanted to talk a little about the pigments in our Neon Obsessions Pigment Palettes and whether or not you can use them around the eye. Several brands, including Huda Beauty, have dealt with this U.S.-specific restriction and the confusion it can create. In this case, it’s only in the U.S. that some pigments used in these palettes are not yet FDA-approved for use around the eyes. That is why in the U.S. they are categorized as multiuse pigment palettes. Everywhere else in the world, these pigments are approved for use around the eye and are categorized as eye shadows."
Even if you choose to use colored products that are approved as eye shadows, the FDA notes that you can still experience an allergic reaction. In the case of a bad reaction, it's recommended that you contact your health care provider, and discontinue use of the suspected product immediately. If you experience a reaction around the eye, you should discontinue use of eye makeup until the area is healed.
For those that do wish to incorporate neon into their beauty routine, Hammer had another idea: "Neon colors are approved for safe use in other makeup items, for the face, lips, hair, etc. In my opinion, if you want to rock the neon colors, just keep them away from your eyes."
Teen Vogue has reached out to LORAC, Juvia's Place, and docolor for comment.
Let us slide into your DMs. Sign up for the Teen Vogue daily email.
Want more from Teen Vogue? Check this out: How to Do the Neon Makeup Trend
