A new viral TikTok make up hack could be dangerous, a beauty expert has warned.
A new make up hack that involves putting a coloured pencil in water to soften it and use as lip liner has gone viral on TikTok. The ‘hack’ has been recreated by beauty fans across the globe, including influencers such as James Charles.
But, Saffron Hughes, a beauty expert at False Eyelashes, has branded the hack "irresponsible" and warned people from joining in on it. The hack, originally shared by @makeuponriri, could have unintended consequences for people trying it out.
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Saffron said: “While this hack is seemingly harmless, influencers trying out this trick is irresponsible and could cause harm to their readership.
"Fans are putting coloured pencils on their lips and eyes when coloured pencils have not been formulated to be used on the skin and could lead to adverse reactions. Using crayons as makeup could cause skin irritation, an allergic reaction or eye infections - all with the potential to lead to a more serious condition.
"Some TikTok users shared their lack of concern about the safety of the hack, stating that because coloured pencils are ‘non-toxic’, there’s no need to worry. This is incorrect information.
"Unlike cosmetics that have been appropriately formulated for the face, the ingredients used to make coloured pencils are not listed on the packaging. That means we have no inclination of how harmful those ingredients could be to the lip or eye area.”
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It’s not the first time that Crayola has been involved in a beauty scandal, either. Back in 2015, beauty bloggers were using wax crayons as a solution to cream blush.
Responding at the time, Crayola said: “As the manufacturer of children’s products, safety is our top priority at Crayola. Although our products are nontoxic, we do not recommend using them to make lipstick, eyeliner or other makeup and strongly discourage their use in this manner. They are not designed, tested or approved for this purpose.”
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