Does anyone ever get itchy eyes!

[Party Picassos Facepainting]

I have a problem. Don't know if it is the cold Chicago weather or my paints or my eyes. Occasionally, after washing off a design that is close to my eyes, my eyes go berserk! Bright lights and even closing my eyes hurts. This morning I used a wet, cold compress, eye drops and a submerged my face in a water solution, but to no avail. I slept if off, but they are still slightly irritated.

A few days ago, I was reading the labels on the back of my FX colors. There is a line that reads, Do not use near eyes. Are they joking? Isn't that were it is intended to go? Last night, I made a neon butterfly on myself with the rainbow cake and the fx black.

Is anyone else out there ever affected? Just curious. I am thinking twice about painting my whole face real soon.

[Sherry]

I have not had this exact thing happen, but I did have a slight itch when wearing face paints before with Snazaroo and DFX.  But nothing like what you're describing.  It could be something you're allergic to in the makeups or possibly what you're cleaning it off with if it's not something you normally use.  Baby wipes also irritate some people.

If it's one specific brand, it could be an ingredient in it that's affecting you.  I once face painted a boy with the Starblend red and his skin ended up all blotchy and red, so different people can be allergic to different things.

You mentioned the cold weather, so I'm wondering if it only seems to happen in the winter?  I know my skin gets so dry in the winter and if I wash my hands too much they get painful and I have to slather them in a little vaseline to get rid of the dryness and make my skin stop hurting.  

Also, about the line that says "keep away from eyes".  I asked Elena about this when I first started selling DFX and she said that meant not to get it in the eyes, so to use care around the eyes.  Technically the neons are not cosmetic compliant, so that's probably another reason why they have these warnings on them.

[Alison]

Thanks for the reminder.  I was very careful about only using paints that are specifically 'okayed' for near eyes - when I began.  Also stopped using the Snaz turquoise bcause it was hard(er) to wash off the skin.  I figured that if I had a problem, my customers would too.  Then, then would not be willing to buy face-painting anymore!

But lately I'd been inspired to use lots of the wild/fun/wow colors.  It's hard to stick to my rules when I'm right noext to painters who RELY on the colors to be wow.  Even though enough customers do recognize (and even comment) on the superiority of my 'real art'.   

I'm going to have to keep this stuff in mind when deciding where to use them on my designs.  This is important, and I think that ignoring the issue is just greedy.

[GaFacepainter]

The Wolfe Brother had a good tip for that very thing. They were saying for little kids they use Snaz black around the eyes for easy cleaning off, but Diamond for the line work.
     For the itchy part I've never had that happen specifically, but at the convention I was practicing on my arm so much it got a little irritated. I think that was more from scrubbing it off and trying again.

[Wildcatfin]

I stick to grimas or paradise black on faces, then it can do it all with no problems. Afraid Snaz black  is just too useless and melty...

I do get itchy eyes but only as I wear contacts and if the washed off paint gets in my eyes it sort of gathers in my contacts, yak!
You ddon't use baby wipes to wash off, do you? Lots of problems with reactions to them being blamed on the pain in te last few years...

cat x