OT Eye makeup sensitivity any advice?

OK, my eyes get itchy, watery and puffy when I wear eye makeup so I
just haven't been and it is so depressing. Today I finally went and
bought some Almay and some Physicians formula to see if they work.
Clinique doesn't. Nor does Estee Lauder. I've got the almay on now. I
bought eye liner and mascara too. But I can feel my eyes getting
watery. We'll see. Does anyone else have this problem and do you have
anything you have found that helps. I read somewhere that smashbox's
foundation primer under eyeshadow helps. Has anyone tried that?

Sam...

Stepping in where I have absolutely NO personal knowledge, but DW is
hyper-sensitive to darned near anything (sometimes I think that includes
air). She went to Merle Norman and gets her facial/eye makeup stuff
there.

She had been through the Clinique, Almay, all the hypo-allergenic stuff
she could get at normal retail outlets with no success and on advice of
a friend went to Merle Norman. One of the consultants there listened to
her and got her onto a series of products she can use without ill
effects (so far -- it's been over a year now since she started).

Darned stuff is expensive, but if she likes it, it works for me, too ;)

Karen...

Hmm. This is the third recommendation I've seen for Merle Norman. I'll
have to check.

jmcquown...

I hear you! I have dark blonde eyelashes but they are very long, so I want
to wear mascara to show them off. But have a similar problem in that my
eyes are sensitive and I wear contact lenses, to boot.

You might try (and I'm not going to say this won't irritate your eyes, it
might and DISCLAIMER: you didn't hear about it from me!) eyelash dye. It's
vegetable dye. Look up 'Natural Woman' online; it's shipped from England.

I've found Physician's Formula makes a nice mild eyeshadow.

Jo Firey...

With allergies I've found that less is more is the absolute rule for me. I
don't put much make up on my face. I usually skip the foundation when I do
wear it, just use blush and just a bit of liner. Someone mentioned Mary
Kay. That was a mascara I could wear. I use Clinique now.

Mostly I'm very careful to use as few products on my face as possible.
Rinse whatever I clean it with off VERY thoroughly. Don't rub or pull the
skin and just pat it dry with a soft towel if needed.

Also, and this took me years, I don't touch my face. No rubbing, scratching
resting hands etc. If you can master that it will cut way down on allergy
stuff. But keep your hands really clean anyway just in case.

Karen...

Yeah, I know i need to stop touching my face and eyes! It's so hard!