If you’re reading this article right now, you’ve probably found yourself in a sticky situation (please pardon our puns) that you’d like to be rid of ASAP. You’ve got lash glue in your eye, and you’re looking for the best way to remove it.
Resist the urge to pick at it with your fingernails, as that likely will not work and may cause damage to your natural lashes. Instead, let’s cut to the chase. Here are some ways to remove lash glue from your eye area.
1. A Dedicated Adhesive Remover
- Saturate a cotton round, cotton swab, or spoolie with your adhesive remover
- Apply it with gentle pressure to the eye area to saturate the lashes
- Using gentle, downward strokes, wipe the stubborn adhesive
- Repeat until clean
If you’re going to use falsies, you really should have an adhesive remover on hand. Otherwise, it’s as if you’re locking your front door and throwing away the key. You know it can’t stay locked forever, and sure you could force it open or find a back door solution, but it would be worlds easier if you just kept the right tool around to unlock it when you need to.
Luckily, Lashify® offers two super removers: Melt Away Remover and Release Lash Remover. More on those later.
2. A General Makeup Remover
- Saturate a cotton round, cotton swab, or spoolie with your makeup remover
- Apply to the eye area to saturate the lashes as best you can
- Wipe the stubborn adhesive using gentle, downward strokes
- Repeat until clean
Dual-phase makeup removers will work best, but your standard liquid makeup remover is worth a shot. In those cases, be patient. The remover may take longer to get to work on the stubborn adhesive.
Always remember not to pull on or pick at your lashes to get excess bond off; you might damage your natural lashes, and no one wants that!
3. A Little Skin-Safe Oil
- Apply just a little bit of oil to a clean applicator, like a cotton round or spoolie
- Shut your eyes to avoid getting oil in them
- Lightly apply the oil to your lash line
- Wait a while, up to an hour, depending on the oil you chose
- Use a damp cloth to gently wipe the oil and adhesive off
By now, you know the cardinal rule of wearing eyelash extensions is keeping oil far, far away from your lashes, so they stay on longer. But if your goal is to release your lashes (and you don’t intend to wear them again), oil can certainly work.
Coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, castor oil, baby oil — any oil that’s safe for skin or consumption can work here. However, be aware that oils like these can irritate your eyes. While they likely won’t cause lasting damage, they won’t feel good at the time! Make sure to wash your eyes and face well after attempting this one to prevent excess oil on your skin.
Some oils work better than others. Of oils commonly found at home, coconut oil will likely work best and fastest. While castor oil also has an excellent track record for nourishing your lashes, and it will work eventually, it’s rather slow. Baby oils sometimes contain eye irritants, so use them with caution.
4. Steam
- Take a hot, steamy shower
- Stand in front of a steamer for a few minutes
You’ve also probably heard to avoid steam and steamy showers in order to prevent the lifting of your lashes. In this case, if you want your lashes to lift all the way off, steam can be a simple, natural way to do that, though it’s certainly the slowest method.
It would then follow that steam can be used to lift leftover adhesive from around your eye. You may just have to spend a lot of time in the shower or in front of the steamer to get this to work.
What To Do if the Adhesive Is in Your Eye
If the glue got IN your eye, don’t panic. We know how much that stings, but we can help.
If you got glue inside your eye, the first thing you should do is rinse your eye with clean, lukewarm water for a minimum of five minutes. Depending on the amount of glue you got in your eye and the strength of the brand, you may need to rinse for up to 15 minutes.
We can hear you saying, “But I just put my lashes on, and I’m not supposed to get them wet for 24 hours!” True. However, the health of your eyes takes priority. Medical care will probably be more expensive than lash replacements — seriously. Remove your lashes first if possible, but rinse your eye regardless.
You can rinse using any of these methods:
- Try pouring a pitcher of lukewarm water across your eyes over a sink. Try to start from the inner corner of your eye, so the water flows toward your ear.
- Stick your head under the faucet or shower head and let the water run directly from the tap (careful not to let the water run too hot or too cold).
- Fill a small basin, like a mixing bowl, with lukewarm water and submerge the top half of your face. Blink your eyes underwater so that the water can actually reach the troublesome glue.
After rinsing, gently pat your eyes dry. Monitor your eye for signs of irritation. If irritation persists after more than one attempt at rinsing, seek medical attention. If you’ve injured your eyes with lash glue, it may be best to take some time away from eye makeup and falsies so your eye can fully heal.
Types of Lash Adhesive
Traditional Drugstore Lash Glue
Look out for glues that contain cyanoacrylates, which are a toxin adhesive that can severely irritate your eyes. Chemically, they’re plastics. Not only do nearly all other lash glues contain them, but many lash glues also contain 90% cyanoacrylates. Yuck!
The most common types you’ll see making up lash glues are ethyl-cyanoacrylates, butyl-cyanoacrylates, and alkoxy-cyanoacrylates.
Ethyl-cyanoacrylates provide the strongest bond but may also be the most irritating. Butyl-cyanoacrylates and alkoxy-cyanoacrylates are better for the sensitive eye area, but their bond is not as strong. Plus, alkoxy-cyanoacrylate-based glues are by far the most expensive.
Whisper Light™
Whisper Light™ is Lashify’s super strong, non-toxic bond. Unlike drugstore lash glue, Whisper Light protects your natural lashes by providing a barrier that is both hydrating and nourishing for your lash line.
Whisper Light comes in clear and black. Clear Whisper Light goes on white, so you can see the line you’re drawing more clearly. This is the best choice for beginners, making it a bond that every Lashifier should have in their makeup bag.
Our Black Whisper Light is called Bondage. It gets its color from charcoflex, which is infused with charcoal powder and carbon black, both of which have anti-bacterial properties. Bondage contains biotin and helps the bond withstand heat, bacteria, and moisture. We recommend Bondage for people who have already mastered clear Whisper Light because it’s a little stronger and less forgiving of mistakes.
What Makes Whisper Light Different?
Whisper Light was developed specifically to pair with our Gossamers®. This bond is stronger and more gentle than other adhesives (not to mention the lack of cyanoacrylates and other toxins).
What About Lashify’s Removers?
Melt Away Remover is a dual-phase makeup remover. Before applying Melt Away Remover, shake the bottle to activate the dual-phase formula. In one phase, it collects polar debris. In the other, it collects non-polar debris. It’s hypoallergenic, paraben-free, and cruelty-free. It’ll gently remove mascara, other eye makeup, Whisper Light®, and other lash adhesives.
Melt Away Remover contains some amazing extracts, like papaya extract and orange extract. These ingredients provide antioxidants and vitamin C, which may help support collagen production. Melt Away also hydrates the delicate skin in your eye area and helps maintain healthy natural lashes.
Release Lash Remover goes on just like your mascara and comes in a compact, portable tube. It’s gentle and hydrating, and its packaging allows for more precise application.
Inside the tube, you’ll find our cruelty-free bond-dissolving oil. This cleansing oil is silicone-free and paraben-free. Instead of junk, it contains camellia and fermented oils, including jojoba oil. These oils not only help remove stray adhesive, but they can also help protect and nourish your lashes — both natural and fake!
How Do I Avoid Getting Lash Glue in My Eye?
Use less bond! It really can be that simple. Especially if you’re using Whisper Light, have faith in your bond. Just a little will go a long way.
Try applying the bond directly to the lash instead of directly to your lash line. Hold the lash in front of you using tweezers, and apply a very fine line of the bond to the spine of the lash. Then apply your lash line. This technique makes it easier for you to see how much bond you’re applying, so you don’t go overboard.
Here are some other quick tips on keeping adhesive out of your eyes:
- Wash your hands before applying — not only will this cut down on bacteria getting in your eyes, but it will also help prevent slipping.
- After applying, carefully use a swab to remove any stray adhesive around your eye area promptly. Don’t go to bed without following this step. We mean it!
- Clean your lash extensions between wears.
- Store your adhesives in a cool, dry place to preserve quality — if the quality stays at its peak, you’ll be less inclined to layer it on in thick lines because the thin lines will be strong enough.
Good luck, and don’t get stuck!
Sources:
What to do if you get glue in your eye | All About Vision
How to Get Eyelash Glue Off | Stylecraze
How To Remove Eyelash Extensions At Home Without Damaging Your Natural Lashes | BeautyStack
