Halloween Makeup Safety Tips ~ GUILT/LUST

Gareth Pugh for MAC

It's that time of the year again, a time when we urge to dress up and look scary or as sexy as possible. Applying Halloween makeup sure is a lot of fun, experimentation, and we always try to impress others. However, there are several safety issues we should always keep in mind.

Fake blood dripping into your eye? Could be hazardous. Sharing makeup? Absolutely never! And of course, never ever share contact lenses! Here are a few more tips I've collected from various sources, including Health Canada and the FDA, so please keep these in mind:

Follow all directions carefully.
Don't decorate your face with things that aren't intended for your skin.
If your face paint has a very bad smell, this could be a sign that it is contaminated. Throw it away and use another one.
Like soap, some things are OK on your skin, but not in your eyes. Some face paint or other makeup may say on the label that it is not for use near the eyes. Believe this, even if the label has a picture of people wearing it near their eyes. Be careful to keep makeup from getting into your eyes.
Even products intended for use near your eyes can sometimes irritate your skin if you use too much.
If you're decorating your skin with something you've never used before, you might try a dab of it on your arm for a couple of days to check for an allergic reaction BEFORE you put it on your face. This is an especially smart thing to do if you tend to have allergies.
NEVER buy colored contact lenses without a prescription and a proper fitting! Yes, this is a very serious issue. Severe scarring permanently impairs vision and sometimes leads to blindness. A warning from the health authority: "Without a valid prescription, fitting, supervision, or regular check-ups by a qualified eye care professional, decorative contact lenses, like all contact lenses, can cause a variety of serious injuries or conditions. For example, lens wear has been associated with corneal ulcer, which can lead rapidly to internal ocular infection if left untreated. Uncontrolled infection can cause corneal scarring, which can lead to vision impairment, and in extreme cases, blindness or the loss of an eye. Other risks include conjunctivitis; corneal edema (swelling); allergic reaction; abrasion from poor lens fit; reduction in visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and other visual complications that can interfere with driving and other activities."
Be careful of those fake eyelashes. The fake lashes form a perfect environment harboring bacteria which can lead to fungal infections. Try to avoid wearing false eyelashes for more than 4 hours. Improper use and attachment of fake eyelashes can lead to permanent damage of natural lashes and hair follicles, in other words stopping your natural eyelashes from growing.