Rebecca’s contact concern: I read at Consumer Reports.org that contact lens wearers should not use lash-extending mascaras because they contain microfibers that become trapped under the lens and scratch the cornea. What qualifies as a lash-extending mascara? Do the labels “lengthening” and “lash-extending” mean the same thing? Do they mean anything? If a mascara is labeled safe for contact lens wearers is it indeed safe?
The Left Brain’s cautionary contact connection: 
Excellent question, Rebecca. I’m a big fan of Consumer Reports so I tracked down the article you referenced along with a few other resources. It turns out that there is a real reason for concern in this case.
Contact concern
After reading what Consumer Reports said I found another source, The Look You Like: Medical Answers to 400 Questions on Skin and Hair Care, that describes the basic problem: lash extenders consist of tiny synthetic fibers in a liquid base. When the liquid evaporates the fibers are left behind on the lashes, making them look longer. But as these fibers become loose they can stick get in your eye and become stuck to your contacts.
I found additional details in a 1985 New York Times article that quoted Dr. Oliver H. Dabezies Jr., a clinical professor of ophthalmology at Tulane Medical School. Dr. Dabezies specified that the synthetic fibers used in masacaras are actually nylon fibers. I thought it was interesting that he notes using cosmetics with soft contacts is particularly risky because those types of lenses “are like sponges that absorb everything, including mascara.” So soft lenses are prone to clouding due to absorbed bits of mascara while hard lenses can trap nylon fibers that can cause painful scratches which can lead to eye infections.
Safety testing
What about mascara that claims to be safe for contact-lens wearers? According to the article, “even these claims, however, do not indicate whether the products have been tested with all types of lenses. Maybelline’s mascaras, for example, though labeled ”safe with contact lenses,” were not tested with the new extended-wear lenses. Nor has Max Factor’s ”For Your Eyes Only” line.” I recognize that this article is a bit dated, but it does make me wonder if these companies have updated their testing.
Which brands contain nylon?
I did a quick search and found several brands that use Nylon-6 or Nylon-12.
Yves Saint Laurent MASCARA VOLUME EFFET FAUX CILS Luxurious Mascara
Revlon Lash Fantasy Total Definition Primer & Mascara
You can do a quick check on your own brands by looking at the ingredient list for any chemicals that contain the term “nylon.”
The Beauty Brains bottom line
Based on what I’ve seen, if you wear contact lenses it might be wise to avoid using mascaras that contain nylon fibers. Product names like Longer Lash, Lush Lash, and Lash Lengthener, don’t really tell you very much, so to be safe you need to look at the ingredient list for any ingredient says “nylon.”
What do YOU think? Do you wear contacts? What kind of mascara do you use? Leave a lengthening comment for the rest of the Beauty Brains community.
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Thanks for answering my question, Left Brain.
I checked my Almay One Coat Lengthening mascara (labeled safe for contacts) and it does in fact contain Nylon-12. Almay One Coat Thickening does not appear to contain nylon though, so I’m going to pick that up the next time I buy a tube.
Thanks again.
I’m currently using Rimmel Eye Magnifier Eye Opening Mascara, Extreme Black. After checking the ingredients:
Water Aqua ,
Paraffin ,
Beeswax Cera Alba ,
Stearic Acid ,
PVP ,
Copernicia Cerifera Carnauba Wax Cera Carnauba ,
C18-36 Acid Triglyceride ,
Triethanolamine ,
Lecithin ,
Acrylates Copolymer ,
Panthenol ,
Propylene Glycol ,
Polyvinyl Alcohol ,
Phenoxyethanol ,
Methylparaben ,
Tocopheryl Acetate ,
Talc ,
Propylparaben ,
Benzyl Alcohol ,
Simethicone ,
Iron Oxides CI 77491 – CI 77492 – CI 77499 ,
Carmine CI 75470 ,
Chromium Hydroxide Green CI 77289 ,
Chromium Oxide Greens CI 77288 ,
Mica CI 77019 ,
Titanium Dioxide CI 77891 ,
Ultramarines CI 77007
I don’t see nylon listed.
Would anything else in there be bad for contact wearers?
I’ve been having a lot of problems with my contacts just of late, even scratched one eye. I took my contacts out (now I’m breaking out since I’m allergic to nickel =( ) I’m still getting things in my eyes, but it isn’t contact catastrophe like before.
So, I think I have my answer. I use Rimmel’s ‘NYLON IN YOUR EYES MASCARA’ or something like that. Sephora lists ingredients don’t they? Anyone have some recs for a good, lush, non-clumpy mascara?
I use Neutrogena Clean Lash Tint and I’ve never had any problems with it. I have not looked at the ingredients, and it doesn’t do a lot other than darken, but it is the only thing I’ve found that NEVER smudges and doesn’t flake off into my contacts or anything else. An eyelash curler and a couple of light coats make my lashes look pretty good.
Thanks for this information – who knew?? I’m going to check all of my mascaras now!
I just checked the ingredients for Too Faced Lash Injection Black mascara, and it looks like there’s no nylon. Yay!
Great article! I’m going to check all my mascaras asap now!
My Maybelline Define-a-Lash in the green bottle lists rayon as an ingredient. Is that the same as nylon fibers?
Hello,
I am wearing soft contact lenses (Acuvue Oasis) and using Yves Saint Laurent MASCARA VOLUME EFFET FAUX CILS Luxurious Mascara and I have never ever experienced any problem
Is Loreal’s Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara safe for contact lens wearers? It definitely is meant to lengthen lashes, but i do not see nylon listed in the ingredients. it does list rayon as an ingredient, i’m not sure if thats okay or not.
this article really helps a lot.thanks.i’ll be more cautious on buying mascara next time as i wear contact lens too(sometimes cosmetic lens,sometimes soft lens)
I don’t wear contacts but I do have a problem with mascara fibers they seem to build up despite scrupulous cleaning. I have a residue of black thread like debris in my eyes.The eye doctor suggested not wearing any but he is a male and unarare of how much I miss it. It seems to me Clinique has been a problem though I am told their simplest mascara has no fibers.Fresh makes a good one but it is expensive- I tried neutrogena OK not much oomph basically I need something that washes off easily not waterproof and has some lash building without fibers- thanks linda