Beauty fan shares controversial trick for applying eyeliner – but doctors warn it could leave you with ‘puncture sores’

A STUDENT claims her makeup beats other beauty looks because she uses a ballpoint pen as eyeliner.

She was once publicly reprimanded by a doctor for putting paint around her eyes.

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Shelagh Kratz (@shagzcantshred) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19, posted a viral video online using a Papermate ballpoint pen to paint your winged eyeliner.

“When I tell people my secret to long-lasting eyeliner, it’s a ballpoint pen,” she wrote in the caption.

She stated that her makeup was “better” that day due to the writing instrument allowing for “super precise” application.

The marketing student also believed it was more “sweat-proof” as it stayed smudge-free longer while she was out clubbing than when she wore regular eyeliner.

CONCERNED CROWD

After posting the hack on TikTok, many flooded the comments to ask what pen she used.

Some expressed their concern by commenting, “Is this safe?”

The YouTuber, who often makes makeup tutorials and exercise videos, says she has only done this a few times, as she knows it “may not be the best for your eyes”.

She also said she would not want to “advocate paint poisoning.”

Julian Prosia, a certified optometrist, responded to Shelagh’s video by calling the TikTok trend “ridiculous.”

“I found it self-explanatory not to use pen ink in or around the eyes,” Dr. Prosia said.

Another controversial makeup trick she shared showed her using sunscreen to enhance the contours of her face, using a “lower SPF” as a base and then a higher one on her high points.

However, many claimed she was “risking skin cancer” by deliberately using lower levels of sunscreen to add contrast to her skin tones.

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“I have some controversial makeup shots,” Kratz said.

“With this one, I went completely without eyeliner. I was on a trip to Albania and I dropped my eyeliner in the toilet.

“We were leaving and I was in trouble. It had to be ready in the next few minutes.

“I was doing a full face of makeup, like my going out glam for club makeup.

“I thought, ‘I have a Papermate pen. You know what? This will work.’

“It’s just a regular ballpoint pen. I used it like a regular eyeliner to make a winged flick at the end, adding a little pizazz.

“I honestly think that day was one of the best days I’ve done my makeup.

“We all know how to control a ballpoint pen, so it’s super accurate.

“If there was a ballpoint eyeliner, it would be a great business idea.

“It lasted much longer [than normal eyeliner]. It held my sweat because I was dancing.”

ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY

In response to the negative comments, Kratz stated that she doesn’t want to “advocate paint poisoning” and admitted that she only did the “secret” trick a few times when she was desperate.

“I prefer it, but I recognize that it might not be the best thing for your eyes,” she said.

“I think I only did it three or four times because I was really out of eyeliner.

“I saw doctors or medical professionals on Instagram below my video and thought. ‘My God, of course I’m not advocating paint poisoning or anything like that.’

“I don’t do this every day. I have since bought a regular eyeliner.

“The responses have been really funny. They say, ‘Oh, that’s nothing, I used to use Sharpie in high school back then.’ I don’t know if I would be so bold.

“It’s been a mix of finding people who do the same thing and people who want to try it and are curious about the results and whether it works.

“And there have been people saying, ‘This is horrible for you, don’t spread stuff like this online where kids can watch it.’”

Kratz also revealed that this isn’t the first time a makeup trick of hers has gone viral due to controversy.

After posting a video sharing a contouring trick, where she applied sunscreen to the high points of her face to create a natural highlighter, many responded angrily, stating: ‘You’re going to get skin cancer.’

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Despite this, Kratz said it works for her and that she usually applies a base coat of SPF beforehand.

“Every now and then my TikTok videos blow up and people get really mad,” she added.

“I posted a video of me applying sunscreen to my face as a contour, but in the same way you apply highlighter.

“I would leave blank spaces where you want to be tan and put a little sunscreen on the parts where you want to be pale.

“It gives your cheeks and nose a nice flush.

“I’ve actually been doing this for a few years, probably since I started doing makeup.

“What I haven’t shown the internet is that I actually put on a protective layer or lower SPF first.

“It’s always the stupidest videos that you never expect to go viral.

“General [the response was] negative, they say, ‘You’re going to get skin cancer.’

“But I use SPF all over my face and then apply it.

“I’ve never had a problem with it and I’ve found it works.”

DOCTOR’S ORDERS

“Even though there is no major toxicity associated with ballpoint pens, as they no longer use lead, the eye is still a very delicate structure,” Dr. Prosia added.

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“The skin on the eyelids is the thinnest on the body, so if someone is picking up a ballpoint pen, which can be very sharp, it could damage your eyes if you’re not careful.

“Also, it’s not suitable for the eyeball or eyelid, so it’s probably not a good idea to use it in and around those areas.

“One person could use it and could be fine, but it could also encourage young people who don’t really know the risks to do it.

“It can really harm the eyeball. You may have puncture wounds or toxicity and inflammatory problems.

“The biggest advantage of TikTok is that it is influencing the younger generation.

“If you’re an adult and you’re using this on your eyelids and you’re careful, you might not have any reaction, but that young girl who’s trying to be like you might poke her eye out.”

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