Eye Friendly Cosmetics
What you put near your eyes matters more than ever
The Eye Friendly Rating (EFR)
What is EFR?
The Eye Friendly Rating is a two tier screening system that helps you identify which products carry the lowest chance of causing discomfort around the eyes. That includes contact dermatitis, meibomian gland dysfunction, dry eye, and blepharitis.
It is based on the presence or absence of ingredients with documented mechanisms for causing those problems, grounded in the TFOS DEWS II reports on ocular surface disease and the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety fragrance allergen list.
One single standard applies across every category on the site, cosmetics, cleansers, and eye drops included. Products are not held to a different standard based on how close they get to the eye.
Why have EFR?
For a decade I managed my own allergies, dry eyes, blepharitis, and sensitive skin. Across a career testing more than 100,000 pairs of eyes, a pattern kept repeating. A significant proportion of my female patients described the same thing, that their face wash, creams, or makeup seemed to trigger irritation or dryness.
EFR exists to give you clearer, evidence-aligned information when choosing products that sit close to your eyes. It is a guide to help you make informed choices based on current ocular surface science, not a medical diagnosis tool.
Why it matters
- Essential oils, fragrances, and surfactants may destabilise the tear film
- Loose powders can migrate into the eye via the lash line
- Volatile compounds and fragrances may increase irritation for sensitive users
- Certain occlusive waxes may block meibomian gland openings
Did you know? With every blink, your eyelid has a conveyor belt effect, moving particles toward the eye.
In clinic I have seen this repeatedly. A patient presents with dry, red eyes that have persisted for months, and the mascara they use every day contains dimethicone and carnauba wax. Changing the product is often part of what settles the symptoms, alongside the rest of their eye care routine.
The EFR criteria
Criteria updated 1 September 2026
Why we moved from three tiers to two
As the TFOS research developed, it became clear that two groups of ingredients matter most when assessing eye safety. Those that directly irritate the ocular surface, and those that raise wider questions for the skin and endocrine system.
With that clearer evidence base, the old Bronze, Silver and Gold structure no longer made sense. Bronze has been retired. There are now two tiers.
Silver, the baseline comfort standard
Tolerated well by most people, including many with mild sensitivity. A product qualifies for Silver when it is free from all of the following:
- Synthetic fragrance
- Formaldehyde releasing preservatives, including DMDM Hydantoin, Quaternium-15, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Diazolidinyl Urea, Bronopol, and Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate
- Methylisothiazolinone (MI) and Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI)
- Phthalates
- Parabens
- Phenoxyethanol
- TFOS flagged ocular irritants, including Benzalkonium Chloride, Chlorhexidine, Thimerosal and phenylmercuric compounds, denatured alcohol at leave-on concentration, and sulfates such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate at leave-on concentration
Natural fragrance is permitted at Silver, as are PEG compounds and petrochemical derived ingredients. Those are Gold criteria.
Gold, the least chance of reaction tier
Gold includes every Silver requirement, and adds three further criteria:
- No petrochemical derived ingredients
- No PEG compounds
- No fragrance ingredient, natural or synthetic, that appears on the EU SCCS list of 26 established contact allergens
Gold does not require zero fragrance. It requires the absence of those specific named compounds, whether they are synthetic or occur naturally inside an essential oil. Ingredients such as chamomile, rosehip, aloe vera, green tea, calendula, oat, cucumber, and vanilla are not on that list and do not block Gold.
If any of the 26 listed allergens appears anywhere on the ingredient list, at any amount, the product does not qualify for Gold. Suppliers do not disclose exact concentrations to us, so we apply presence alone rather than the EU percentage thresholds. The product may still qualify for Silver, because the Silver fragrance rule applies only to synthetic fragrance.
A stricter rule for eye drops and ocular sprays
Products designed for direct, repeated contact with the tear film, meaning eye drops, ocular sprays, and eye washes, follow a stricter preservative rule than cosmetics:
- Silver may contain a mild preservative such as Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sorbic Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, or Dehydroacetic Acid
- Gold must be entirely preservative free, with no preservative of any kind
This is a deliberate exception. Repeated exposure to any preservative on the ocular surface accumulates irritation over time, even preservatives that test as gentle on skin. Standard clinical guidance for frequent eye drop use is to choose preservative free formulations regardless of which preservative would otherwise be used.
This rule applies only to products in direct, repeated ocular contact. Cosmetics, cleansers, and moisturisers continue to use the general classification above.
Silver and Gold, at a glance
| Criterion | Silver | Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Synthetic fragrance | Excluded | Excluded |
| Formaldehyde releasing preservatives | Excluded | Excluded |
| Phthalates | Excluded | Excluded |
| Parabens | Excluded | Excluded |
| Phenoxyethanol | Excluded | Excluded |
| TFOS flagged ocular irritants | Excluded | Excluded |
| Petrochemical derived ingredients | Allowed | Excluded |
| PEG compounds | Allowed | Excluded |
| Fragrance on the EU SCCS allergen list | Allowed | Excluded |
| Fragrance not on the EU SCCS allergen list | Allowed | Allowed |
| Preservatives, eye drops and sprays only | Mild permitted | None permitted |
What EFR is not
EFR is a screening tool, not a medical diagnosis or a clinical certification. It does not replace patch testing or professional advice for a diagnosed sensitivity.
Ratings are assigned by Eyehouse based on published INCI ingredient lists and brand disclosed formulation policy, not independent laboratory verification. EFR reflects the presence or absence of known irritant and allergen classes, not concentration or potency. A rating applies to a specific formulation at the time of review, so any reformulation requires a fresh review.
A note on natural sensations. Brief stinging from the natural acidity of manuka honey is a physical sensation rather than a chemical exposure risk, and does not affect a product's rating.
This is a working standard, revised as ingredient evidence, EU allergen labelling requirements, and our range change.
Petrochemical derived ingredients, and why they matter for Gold
Many common ingredients in cosmetics and even eye drops are derived from petroleum. They are widely used because they are effective and inexpensive. Health authorities generally consider them safe when properly refined, but some people, especially those with very sensitive skin or eyes, prefer to avoid them. Petroleum is also a non-renewable resource, so plant-based alternatives appeal to environmentally conscious customers.
Their presence does not prevent a Silver rating. It does prevent Gold.
Common petrochemical ingredients
| Ingredient | Petrochemical origin |
|---|---|
| Mineral Oil and Petrolatum | Always petrochemical, a byproduct of refining crude oil |
| Paraffin Wax | Always petrochemical, derived from petroleum or shale oil |
| Propylene Glycol | Often petrochemical, usually made from petroleum or natural gas, though plant-based versions exist |
| Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs) | Always petrochemical, synthetic polymers made from petroleum derived ethylene oxide |
| Polysorbates 20, 60, 80 | Often petrochemical, sorbitol reacted with petroleum derived ethylene oxide |
| Dimethicone | Always petrochemical, a synthetic silicone polymer with no naturally occurring version |
| Cyclopentasiloxane | Always petrochemical, another synthetic silicone fluid produced chemically |
| Isopropyl Myristate | Often petrochemical, an ester of petroleum derived isopropyl alcohol and myristic acid |
| Ethylhexyl Palmitate | Often petrochemical, an ester of petroleum derived 2-ethylhexanol and palmitic acid |
| Synthetic fragrance | Usually petrochemical, most synthetic aroma chemicals are petro-derived |
| Poloxamers | Always petrochemical, block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide |
| Caprylyl Glycol | Often petrochemical, typically synthesised, though it can be sourced from coconut |
| Acrylates Copolymer | Always petrochemical, a synthetic acrylic polymer derived from petrochemical monomers |
| Triethanolamine and Diethanolamine | Always petrochemical, ammonia reacted with petroleum derived ethylene oxide |
| Butylene Glycol | Often petrochemical, usually from petrochemical acetaldehyde, though it can be fermented from plant sugars |
Ingredients marked as often petrochemical can sometimes be made from plant-based feedstocks, but the natural versions are less common due to higher cost. Even many eye drops and ointments contain petroleum-based ingredients, using mineral oil or white petrolatum as emollients and surfactants such as Polysorbate 80 to help oils mix with water. We provide this so you can make an informed choice.
General guidance when choosing eye makeup
The points below are practical guidance rather than EFR criteria. They are worth knowing whichever rating a product carries.
- Mascaras: waterproof formulas are harder to remove, which usually means more rubbing at the lash line
- Eyeliners: take care with any product applied on or near the waterline, where it sits directly against the tear film
- Eyeshadows: loose powders migrate easily and can cause physical irritation
- Removers: heavy oils and fragranced formulas may leave residue along the lid margin
- Brow products: lanolin and fragrance are common triggers for sensitive lids
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