***Story originally aired June 3, 2013***
Women have been looking for ways to darken and thicken their eyelashes since the days of Cleopatra, but many of the latest lash-enhancing trends can be risky for your eyes, according to new research from Consumer Reports.
False eyelashes can trap dirt and bacteria, creating irritation and infection and the eyelashes can be difficult to remove.
Up-and-coming singer Vanessa Racioppo wanted her eyes to pop at a photo shoot for her CD cover. But she said the fake eyelashes made her miserable -- her eyelids ached and taking off the lashes was difficult.
"I had to, like, soak my eye and pull really hard. And then I kind of pulled some of my eyelashes out. There was irritation," said Racioppo.
Actress Kristin Chenoweth wore sunglasses on the "David Letterman Show" after her eyelids swelled up.
She got what are called eyelash extensions, where single fibers are glued to your individual eyelashes.
"The risks of eyelash extensions are not only an allergic reaction to the glue but erosion of the inner surface of the eyelids. They can cause permanent damage to your natural lashes," said Consumer Reports’ medical advisor Dr. Orly Avitzur.
The most common complaint about eyelash extensions is women ending up with shorter, stubbier lashes after they remove them and some say parts of their eyelashes have fallen out.
The Internet promotes even more exotic eyelash enhancements, weaving tiny glass beads onto ultra-thin wire and applying them with an adhesive to your eyelids.
"It doesn't take an expert to see trouble coming with sharp objects placed so close to the eye," said Dr. Avitzur.
Consumer Reports says you're far better off just using mascara to give yourself fuller, thicker lashes.
Consumer Reports ShopSmart says you should replace mascara every few months, but you don't necessarily need to buy an expensive mascara. A tried-and-true choice is Maybelline Great Lash Mascara for a little more than $6 a tube.
