Makeup · Eyes
Eyeshadow
Doctor review pending
Adds colour and depth to the eyelids; a primer stops creasing.
At a glance
- How long to wearMost of the day with a primer
- When to removeEvery night, before bed
- After openingAbout 12–24 months (powder)
- Patch testIf you've had eyelid rashes
Choosing it for deep skin
- Lids are often darker than the face. A clear primer plus your concealer helps colours show true.
- Rich, non-chalky mattes and gold, bronze, copper and jewel shimmers suit deep skin.
- Check the label says the shade is safe for the eye area. Some pigments are not allowed near the eyes.
- Buy NAFDAC-registered, labelled palettes, not loose unlabelled pigments from the market.
How to apply
- Wash your handsWash and dry your hands first. Germs on your fingers can cause eye infections.
- Sit still, never in a moving vehicleA bump on the road can push an applicator into your eye. Apply only when you are still, even as a passenger.
- Prime the lidTap on a thin layer of primer and let it set.
- Add a crease shadeSweep a soft shade in the crease to blend the rest into.
- Pat on the lid colourPat, do not swipe, for stronger colour.
- Blend the edgesBlend with a clean brush. Do eyes before face so fallout can be cleaned.
How long to wear it
- With primer it lasts most of the day. In heat, blot the lid; do not rub.
- Remove it every night. Hold an oil-based remover on the closed eye, then wipe gently.
- Never sleep in eye makeup.
Don’t use it if
- During a stye, conjunctivitis or any eye infection.
- During eyelid eczema or swelling.
- After eye surgery, until your eye doctor says makeup is fine.
- Glitter shadows if you wear contact lenses.
- On young children's eyes.
Safety and the evidence
Some colour additives allowed in cosmetics are not allowed around the eyes. Some pressed pigments say "not for eye area".
Evidence D — regulator guidance · FDA — Eye cosmetic safety
Trace nickel, chromium and cobalt in eyeshadows can trigger eyelid rashes in metal-allergic people.
Evidence C — market surveys
Unregistered market cosmetics in Nigeria have shown heavy-metal contamination.
Evidence C — Nigerian market surveys (mostly lipsticks and powders) · Sani 2016 — Kano cosmetics metals
Eyelid rashes are often caused by nail polish on fingers, fragrance or lash glue, not only eyeshadow.
Evidence C — patch-test case series · DermNet — Eyelid contact dermatitis
Evidence grades: A systematic reviews or several trials; B at least one trial or consistent controlled studies; C observational studies, surveys or case reports; D expert opinion.
Keep it clean
- Never share eye makeup, not even with a close friend.
- Shop testers are often contaminated. Test on your hand with a fresh applicator, never on your eye.
- Throw away eye makeup you used during an eye infection.
- Wash eye brushes weekly. Cream shadows keep about 6 months; powders about 12–24.
Important
See a doctor if
- Go to an eye clinic or emergency the same day for eye pain, a change in vision or new sensitivity to light.
- See a doctor for a stye that is not improving after a few days, or keeps coming back.
- See a dermatologist for an eyelid rash lasting more than 2 weeks; patch testing can find the cause.
Emergency in Nigeria: call 112 or go to the nearest hospital.
Sources
Doctor review pending. Education only, not a diagnosis. Product types, not brands.