What to Know About Eye Shadow and Liner
What are the common ingredients in eye makeup?Eye makeup is used to contour, define, and highlight eyes. All eye makeup contains preservatives to keep it free from bacteria and to extend its shelf life.Eye shadow adds color, brightness, and definition to the eyes. It comes as powder, cream, or liquid and contains base fillers, binders, slip, and preservatives. The base fillers, which make up 25-30% of eye shadow, absorb moisture and/or provide color pigments. Examples include mica, talc, and kaolin clay. Binders, including zinc, magnesium, silicone, paraffin wax, and mineral oil, help eye shadow adhere to the skin. Slip (such as silica or nylon) allows eye shadow to glide on smoothly.Eye liner adds definition and comes as pencil, pen, gel, and liquid. Ingredients vary but usually include waxes, stearyl heptanoate (an emollient to protect and moisturize skin), pigments such as iron oxides, titanium dioxide, Prussian blue, and preservatives. Mascara lengthens and emphasizes eye lashes. I...