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. 2022 Aug;44(4):403-413.
doi: 10.1111/ics.12776. Epub 2022 Jul 19.

Analysis of 275 DIY recipes for eye cosmetics and their possible safety issues

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Analysis of 275 DIY recipes for eye cosmetics and their possible safety issues

Céline Couteau et al. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2022 Aug.

Abstract

Some consumers have become very suspicious of certain health products such as medicines, medical devices and cosmetics. This can lead them to choose to make such products themselves. The aim of this work was therefore to analyse recipes for eye makeup and makeup removal products, as well as eyelash and eye contour care products. We collected recipes for do-it-yourself products found on blogs and social media (YouTube channels, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and TikTok) in French and English and then analyse their composition as well as how practical it is to make these recipes. We compiled and studied 275 recipes for products that can be used in or around the eye (periocular area). This work has shown that the quantities of the various ingredients are very imprecise, that the proposed substances are not suitable for the intended use and that the preservation of the finished products is not sufficiently guaranteed. The results obtained suggest that recipes for products intended for use in the eye or in the periocular area are not safe to use and that their use is likely to have relatively serious consequences.

Certaines personnes sont devenues très méfiantes vis-à-vis des différents produits de santé que sont les médicaments, les dispositifs médicaux et les cosmétiques. Dans ce contexte, elles font le choix de réaliser elles-mêmes leurs produits. Le but de ce travail était l’analyse de recettes de produits de maquillage et de démaquillage des yeux, ainsi que de produits de soin des cils et du contour des yeux. Dans cet objectif, nous avons collecté des recettes de produits à faire soi-même sur des blogues et des médias sociaux (chaînes YouTube, comptes Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram et Tiktok) de langue française et de langue anglaise, puis nous les avons analysé d’un point de vue de leur réalisation pratique et de leur composition. 275 recettes de produits utilisables au niveau de l’œil ou de la zone périoculaire ont ainsi été compilées et étudiées. Il ressort de ce travail que les quantités des différents ingrédients sont très imprécises, que les substances proposées ne sont pas adaptées à l’usage visé et que la conservation des produits finis n’est pas suffisamment assurée. Les résultats obtenus suggèrent que les recettes de produits destinés à être utilisés au niveau de l’œil ou dans la zone péri-oculaire ne sont pas sûrs d’emploi et que leur utilisation est susceptible d’engendrer des conséquences relativement graves.

Keywords: do it yourself; eye; periocular area; recipes.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Eye cosmetics corresponding to the collected recipes
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Colorant raw materials found in the mascara and eye shadow recipes studied
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Excipients found in various recipes studied
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Comparison of preservatives suggested in recipes with those of equivalent commercial products. * Benzyl alcohol, salicylic acid, sorbic acid and glycerin. ** Benzyl alcohol and dehydroacetic acid. *** Radish root ferment filtrate
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Various essential oils identified in the recipes studied

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