I absolutely love neon colours, pink in particular. So you can imagine my excitement when these bright hues started trending earlier this summer – from lime yellow and highlighter green to vivid orange and blinding blue.
I excitedly bought myself one of Huda Beauty's neon palettes (the orange one is the most versatile, in my opinion), also adding neon eyeliners from Kryolan to my professional kit, and began experimenting with different looks.
A few weeks ago, when I was scrolling through Instagram, I came across a post by Estee Laundry – a vigilante account that brings the shady goings-on in the beauty industry to light – about Huda Beauty's neon palettes, the inner label of which claims that the product is not safe for use around the eye.
The warning is not printed on the label at the back, but on the second layer of the label, which not many buyers would think to check. Even though the packaging does not explicitly call the product an eyeshadow palette, it has been presented as such on the brand's social media platforms and website.
In 2014, a similar situation unfolded when Urban Decay launched its Electric palette. Even though it added the disclaimer that a few of the pressed pigments were unsafe for use around the eyes, it was still clearly marketed as an eyeshadow palette. Other brands, including ColourPop Cosmetics, Anastasia Beverly Hills and Jeffree Star Cosmetics, have issued similar warnings in the past, except that they are clearer to spot on the packaging.
Digging a little deeper reveals that this fine print is mandatory because the pigments used to make neon colours are not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for application around the immediate eye area, as it's thought that they could cause severe allergic reactions, resulting in dermatitis, swollen eyelids and blurred vision.
According to Kambiz Silani, an optometrist from Los Angeles, the biggest problem is that no one knows what the long-term consequences of using such dyes could be. “We are mostly concerned about the products being absorbed by the delicate, thin skin around the eyes, as well as products entering the eye and causing eye symptoms.”
Having said that, in the EU, which is typically known to have stricter regulations, the ingredients are considered safe. In a statement to Teen Vogue, Huda Beauty said it was the US-specific restriction that caused the confusion, but added that it was deemed safe to use everywhere else in the world.
While the orange hue in Huda Beauty's palette caused me no detrimental side effects (even though I have sensitive eyes), the neon pink hue did stain a bit, but was easily removed with a dash of coconut oil.
Neither the matte nor glitter formulas – which I used mainly to highlight the inner corners of my eyes – caused any issues, but as with any product that is used around the eyes – neon or not – it is best to proceed with caution.
If you are willing to give this trend a go anyway, there are plenty of options to pick from. I love the Suva Beauty eyeliners and NYX’s pocket-friendly eyeshadows. However, if you want to steer clear, use the matte and glitter shadows to create a serious pop of colour to plump up your lips instead of your peepers.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
Winner: Shafaf, Sam Hitchcott (jockey), Ahmed Al Mehairbi (trainer)
5,30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
Winner: Noof KB, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: The President’s Cup Listed (TB) Dh380,000 1,400m
Winner: Taamol, Jim Crowley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
6.30pm: The President’s Cup Group One (PA) Dh2,500,000 2,200m
Winner: Rmmas, Tadhg O’Shea, Jean de Roualle
7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Listed (PA) Dh230,000 1,600m
Winner: Ihtesham, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: AF Mekhbat, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dolittle
Director: Stephen Gaghan
Stars: Robert Downey Jr, Michael Sheen
One-and-a-half out of five stars
The specs: 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE
Price, base / as tested: Dh263,235 / Dh420,000
Engine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6
Power 375hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque: 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.4L / 100kms
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
Bugatti Chiron Super Sport - the specs:
Engine: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16
Transmission: 7-speed DSG auto
Power: 1,600hp
Torque: 1,600Nm
0-100kph in 2.4seconds
0-200kph in 5.8 seconds
0-300kph in 12.1 seconds
Top speed: 440kph
Price: Dh13,200,000
Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport - the specs:
Engine: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16
Transmission: 7-speed DSG auto
Power: 1,500hp
Torque: 1,600Nm
0-100kph in 2.3 seconds
0-200kph in 5.5 seconds
0-300kph in 11.8 seconds
Top speed: 350kph
Price: Dh13,600,000
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Nope'
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