Is lash extension glue toxic?

Eyelash glue is one of the most toxic beauty products on the market. Many variants contain a cocktail of hazardous chemicals, such as paraben, ammonia, formaldehyde, lead, and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfanate, all of which cause skin irritation, redness, and swelling. You may feel immediate discomfort after exposure to an ingredient in eyelash adhesive. We refer to this as irritant contact dermatitis.

However, many cases of allergic contact dermatitis on the eyelids occur after several uses of a product. You may see some changes in the skin around your eyelid, but brush them for a few days until they bother you more. Since your reaction isn't immediate, you might not be able to easily associate it with eyelash extension glue at first. One of the main chemicals found in most eyelash glues is formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde is a carcinogen confirmed by the National Cancer Society and should not be on the skin, let alone in the eyes. However, be careful with glues that contain “formaldehyde-free” versions, as they have most likely replaced one toxic chemical with another. Cyanoacrylate is found in all eyelash adhesives, including eyelash extension glue for sensitive or allergic eyes. The ingredients in eyelash extension adhesives can vary dramatically from product to product, so be vigilant when inspecting and examining the components.

Eyelash ornaments, such as sticking small beads or glass crystals to the eyelashes or, more extreme, attaching small charms to the cables that attach to the eyelids, pose the same risks as eyelash extensions, not to mention an additional danger. Formaldehyde is NOT an ingredient, but is formed as a by-product during the production process by the breakdown of other components of eyelash extension glue. Semi-permanent eyelash extensions are applied to each strand of natural eyelashes with a semi-permanent glue, usually a cyanoacrylate adhesive. Companies like to say that their products don't contain formaldehyde because it makes them look healthier, but in reality, any eyelash glue that contains cyanoacrylate (which they all are right now) will release formaldehyde when it hardens.

As an eyelash technician, you will inhale it for many hours every day and you should ensure that there is an adequate ventilation system in the eyelash room. This is the material that ensures that the adhesive dries in a matter of seconds and keeps the eyelashes firmly in place for several weeks. Eyelash extension glue plays a vital role in the successful application and retention of eyelash extensions. Exposure to small amounts of formaldehyde that occur when wearing eyelash extensions is not harmful to health.

To remove temporary eyelashes, rub the top of the eyelashes with warm water, an eyelash remover, or eye makeup remover to loosen the adhesive. Its drying time is fast and the adhesion is strong, but the smoke, smell and irritation can be quite intense for some eyelash customers and can cause an allergy to eyelash extensions. For formaldehyde to be toxic to humans, it must be inhaled in large quantities over an extended period, and that's not possible during a normal process of applying eyelash extensions. However, it may surprise some of you, but eyelash glue is one of the most toxic beauty products out there.

Cyanoacrylate dries quickly and creates a strong but temporary bond between skin and eyelash extensions. .

Jeanette Swart
Jeanette Swart

Wannabe tv specialist. Passionate coffee fanatic. Infuriatingly humble tv enthusiast. Hipster-friendly social media trailblazer. General internet buff.