red paint around the eyes a no no?

I recently bought the wolf neon palette. With it there was a little note that says NEVER use red paint (of any kind) around the eyes per the FDA's recommendation. Is this true? What's so bad about red? It really makes me think twice about what is IN The paints! eek!

I dont know - but I heard this about UV reactive colors as well due to the chemical in them that makes them UV

Crap. I wanted to be a neon green witch for Halloween. I will probably still roll the dice, though.

I've put the neons (and red paint) on my own eyes. I can still see straight.

It is probably something to do with the pigments in the paint. Maybe they irritate the eye tissues.

Glenda

These are FDA Questions. Looking on the FDA site will answer them
FDA.gov is the site. look under cosmetics and then Novelty makeup.

It is written so that we understand, infact the novelty make up part is written so the children understand. go have a peek and then go to the color section to check which colors you can use near the eyes and which not. (have your paint there so that you can read the ingredient list.

http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductandIngredientSafety/ProductInformation/ucm143055.htm

Hope this helps

Jenny

If I can get a hold of my friend I'll ask him...he's working as a lawyer for FDA.

This is useful: http://www.mbm.net.au/health/cosmetics/index.html

Shannon, You are genius! You always find the best resources. You are the queen of resources. I book marked this one along with the FDA site

Jenny

Shannon- was there something in there about red dye #40? If so I don't see it?

Thanks for the link though. Once again it gives us MORE proof that the FDA is a big sham.

according to that page most reds ARE approved. I don't trust the FDA though when they let the whole country use harmful chemicals unknowingly. the very LEAST they could do is tell people the truth about grandfathering in chemicals KNOWN to cause cancer and not testing barely any of them at that.

Just Jenny wrote:These are FDA Questions. Looking on the FDA site will answer them
FDA.gov is the site. look under cosmetics and then Novelty makeup.

It is written so that we understand, infact the novelty make up part is written so the children understand. go have a peek and then go to the color section to check which colors you can use near the eyes and which not. (have your paint there so that you can read the ingredient list.

http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductandIngredientSafety/ProductInformation/ucm143055.htm

Hope this helps

Jenny

This is from Health Canada

Coal tar dye, coal tar dye base or coal tar dye intermediate
(including by not limited to toluene-2,5-diamine (95-70-5) and
toluene-2,5-diamine sulfate (615-50-9)). See also "p-
Phenylenediamine"
- According to section 14 of the Cosmetic Regulations, "no person
shall sell a cosmetic for use in the area of the eye that contains any
coal tar dye, coal tar dye base or coal tar dye intermediate." "Area
of the eye" is defined by the area bound by the supraorbital and
infraorbital ridges and includes the eyebrows, the skin underlying the
eyebrows, the eyelids, and eyelashes, the conjunctival sac of the eye,
the eyeball and the soft tissue that lies below the eye and within the
infraorbital ridge.
-The following coal tar dyes are permitted in the area of the eye: Blue 1 (3844-45-9) and lake, Green 5 (4403-90-1), Red 40 (25956-17-6) and lake, Yellow 5 (1934-21-0) and lake.

This is the whole document http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/person/cosmet/info-ind-prof/_hot-list-critique/hotlist-liste-eng.php

ahhh thanks Shannon.

The other site that was post listed at least a half a dozed reds that are approved.

Frankly I don't trust the FDA one bit. Look at household cleaners and things such as SPF that cause cancer and they are still touted as perfectly safe by the FDA. (puke) I'm almost sure Canada has higher standards.

The red issue is with the Red Lake #40......it is my understanding that the pigment does not use a coal tar base anymore, but it did years ago (and there may still be some places that do????). Red Lake #40 is a very strong pigment which is what gives many red products such depth of color. In high percentages, it can cause irritation (watering) of sensitive eyes....so it has to be labeled as "not approved for use on eyes". Most products keep the percentage of this pigment well below the problematic amounts, but still must be labeled that way if they contain the pigment.
I see from Shannon's post, though, that the Red 40 IS now approved......

aprilmoonflower wrote:I recently bought the wolf neon palette. With it there was a little note that says NEVER use red paint (of any kind) around the eyes per the FDA's recommendation. Is this true? What's so bad about red? It really makes me think twice about what is IN The paints! eek!

Here is a sheet from the FDA that gives a look at different colors in Cosmetics-

http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/VoluntaryCosmeticsRegistrationProgramVCRP/OnlineRegistration/ucm109084.htm

I tried to copy and paste but it didn't work for me correctly. So just click on the site listed above and it shows in a table what colors are approved and which are not.....Match 'em up to the ones listed on your particular paints and you will know whether that mixture is approved to be applied around the eyes or mouth

And for a quick look on the "novelty" section which mainly talks about face paint look at:

http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductandIngredientSafety/ProductInformation/ucm143055.htm

Hope that this helps.

Jenny

Again it is VERY specific about Henna only for hair and I never see any stink raised about all those that do Henna. I am not against it at all and if I had a lick of talent for that I'd be all over it, but why do we quibble over all these details and make no mention of the fact that Henna is only for use on hair.

Please don't get me wrong. I am not taking the this lightly, but as face painters we have to search, search, make conclusions, search more, read mds sheets, ect..., but the no no on henna doesn't get any plainer and here we still are.

There were two 'suggested' not to use colors for specific areas....

Red around the eyes and Blue on the lips.

I remember reading it was suggested because if someone has 'red eyes' or 'blue lips' that is usually a cause for some concern health wise...

It's not necessarily that the face paints are making the eyes red (as in an infected eye) or the lips turn blue (as in a sudden lack of oxygen), but that maybe the parents wouldn't be able to tell this if there were face paints causing this.

So it's a case of them assuming most people are stupid and wouldn't remember their kid (or an adult) was just painted with red on/near the eyes and with blue on the lips.

But hey, maybe there actually is some pigment in them that's bad near those areas...but if that's true, your skin is absorptive all over and it should just not be used! I'm sticking with the FDA thinks we're idiots and those colors used in those locations might confuse us when it comes to determining if our child is sick or not breathing....

wow that is something to think about Heather!

as for the henna, I had no idea it wasn't approved for use on skin..

Altered henna....AKA "black henna" is NOT approved for use on skin. It is actually illegal to use black henna on skin in MANY countries now. The FDA is clear that it is referring to henna that has had chemicals added to alter the color. The FDA's response in dealing with the "black henna" issue is to just not approve ANY henna for use on skin. My guess is that they just don't want the added hassle of actually going through the approval process for natural henna, and don't want to be held responsible if someone who claims they are using natural henna, but are in fact using unsafe altered pastes, actually harms someone.
Everything used in MY henna (and any reputable henna artist) is safe for skin. Also I know exactly what was put into each batch of paste because I mix my own. I can then make sure potential clients know exactly what liquids and essential oils were added. For example, Shannon said she is allergic to lavender, so I would design a paste for her that did not use lavender essential oil.....maybe geranium or cajeput instead. Also, if someone has a citrus allergy, I might use a coffee or tea brew instead of lemon or lime juice.
FYI
here is the info from the FDA's site:

What about henna, or mehndi?

Henna, a coloring made from a plant, is approved only for use as a hair dye, not for direct application to the skin, as in the body-decorating process known as mehndi. This unapproved use of a color additive makes these products adulterated and therefore illegal. An import alert is in effect for henna intended for use on the skin. FDA has received reports of injuries to the skin from products marketed as henna.

Since henna typically produces a brown, orange-brown, or reddish-brown tint, other ingredients must be added to produce other colors, such as those marketed as "black henna" and "blue henna." So-called "black henna" may contain the "coal tar" color p-phenylenediamine, also known as PPD. This ingredient may cause allergic reactions in some individuals. The only legal use of PPD in cosmetics is as a hair dye. It is not approved for direct application to the skin. Even brown shades of products marketed as henna may contain other ingredients intended to make them darker or make the stain last longer.

In addition to color additives, these skin-decorating products may contain other ingredients, such as solvents.

I see, thank you for clarifying. Is there a name for the good stuff or is it just called mehndi?

I knew black henna was illegal but I never thought much about it otherwise.

It's funny the henna for hair is not supposed to be used for skin but how would one henna one's hair without getting it on the scalp? I worked as a professional stylist specializing in color correction for 12 years and that is next to impossible if you want your roots covered! It's no secret either that if you go to ANY salon they will color your eyebrows, mustaches (for men) even with chemicals, and some even do eyelashes too!

The good stuff would be "natural henna". Only buy henna from a trusted source. Look for places that guarantee that their henna powders are 100% natural with no additives, chemicals, or pesticides.
I would not trust any site that offers "black" or "colored" henna at all, even if they also offer "natural henna powder", because if they are willing to sell any altered henna, then it could all have junk added.
It is easier to get henna powder and know that it is free of chemicals, but always be careful if you are buying pre-made paste. I would only buy pre-made paste from a highly trusted source, and make sure they list their ingredients.

With henna I wouldnt use anything supplied by anybody, unless you trust them 100%. Henna powder has a shelf life and goes "off" in the same way that dried herbs do. The best way to store it is in the freezer.

Most professional henna/mehndi artists source it direct from the growers in the country of origin themselves because they do not trust a third party to package "unadulterated"henna, they normally blend different types depending on their requirements or the weather. It varies as much as coffee!!

Unless you know the person selling it uses a lot, you have no idea of how old the powder actually is.

One artist I know has a chest freezer in the garage just for her henna. She rotates it out the same way as Walmart does their dairy products.

Reputable henna suppliers have all of their henna powder stored properly and have the crops dated.