Eyeliner

Clean eye makeup is high on the priority list, especially eyeliner since it gets in your eyes. Finding a natural liquid eyeliner with enough pigment that stays without irritation is a challenge.

W3ll People Expressionist liquid eyeliner is free of carbon black and toxic ingredients yet still delivers strong pigment and staying power.

Why It's Effective

W3ll People eyeliner applies easily with a thin felt tip applicator and stays put. Once dry, it becomes smudge proof and water resistant.

Organic rosemary and aloe nourish skin and provide antioxidants.

The brush glides smoothly without having to tug skin around the eyes. Expressionist can be used several ways:

• Thick line - use the side of the brush for a thicker line

• Thin line/tight line - use the tip of the brush to add definition or create a thin tight line

• Smudge - will smudge when wet just after application, then dries to a waterproof finish
  

W3ll People Expressionist Liquid Eyeliner

Why It's Safe

Many eyeliners get their deep black pigment from unsafe ingredients like carbon black or D&C Black #2. Carbon black is color made from the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons. It is toxic, possibly carcinogenic, and the FDA has even found carbon black unsafe for cosmetics used around the eyes. D&C Black #2 is carbon black that has conformed to certain FDA standards, such as limitations on the amount of certain impurities present like arsenic, lead, mercury, sulfur and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

However, according to the Environmental Working Group (“EWG”), D&C black #2 has high concerns for organ system toxicity. The Environment Canada Domestic Substance List classifies D&C black #2 as expected to be toxic and a high human health priority.

Expressionist liquid eyeliner is verified by EWG. EWG assesses ingredients based on data in toxicity and regulatory databases, government and health agency assessments, and the open scientific literature. Verified means the product avoids EWG’s ingredients of concern, offers full transparency, and has good manufacturing practices.

Instead of using harmful dyes, Expressionist uses iron oxides as a colorant.

““Aside from toxic ingredients, Expressionist does not cause any irritation, itching, or redness unlike many eyeliners.””

Additionally, W3ll people liquid eyeliner is free of the following unsafe ingredients commonly found in eyeliner:

• Parabens - antimicrobial preservatives that are immune and skin toxicants, mimic estrogen and disrupt the endocrine system, are toxic to the developmental and reproductive systems, interfere with gene expression, and are associated with cancer.[1]

• Imidazolidinyl urea - preservative that works by forming formaldehyde, which is a carcinogen and immune/respiratory/skin toxicant.[2]

• Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) - preservative that shows organ system toxicity in animal studies, with some carcinogenic. Animal studies also show skin, eye and respiratory effects. Associated with skin sensitization in humans.[3][4] 

• Phenoxyethanol- skin, eye, or lung irritant.  In 2008, the FDA warned consumers not to use Mommy’s Bliss Nipple cream because it contained phenoxyethanol which was harmful to infants.  The statement indicated phenoxyethanol could “depress the central nervous system and may cause vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration in infants.”  Phenoxyethanol remains a controversial ingredient and even “green” beauty products continue to use it as a preservative.[5]

• Cyclopentasiloxane - associated with reproductive toxicity and considered a substance of very high concern by the European Chemicals Agency for being persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic. It is restricted in the EU under REACH regulations. Cyclopentasiloxane may contain the impurity cyclotetrasiloxane which is a reproductive toxin.

  
  Aside from toxic ingredients, Expressionist does not cause any irritation, itching, or redness unlike many eyeliners.

Switch

Revlon ColorStay Liquid Liner contains D&C Black #2 (AKA Ci 77266), imidazolidinyl urea, parabens, and phenoxyethanol.

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eye Liner contains D&C Black #2, parabens, and phenoxyethanol.

How to Buy

Price at the time of publishing is $16.

Tips

Throw out any eyeliner after 6 months of use.

References

[1] http://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/chemicals-of-concern/parabens/#_edn33

[2] https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/formaldehyde.html

[3] https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Butylated-hydroxytoluene#section=Toxicity

[4] https://hpvchemicals.oecd.org/ui/handler.axd?id=6D30349E-EF9F-496C-A2AF-6D497D4F1CCA

[5] https://www.healthywomen.org/content/blog-entry/fda-warns-mothers-about-mommys-bliss-nipple-cream