The concealer sounds like it may be causing the issue if it's grainy. I use Benefit Erase Paste over my eye cream. It's super smooth and lasts all day.

How long have you had the shadows? Metallic shadows, especially cream have a short lifespan and can get contaminated quickly. I would suggest taking 2 days off from applying any eye makeup and moisturizing your eye area with cream/petroleum jelly. Sanitize the shadows with rubbing alcohol and clean your brushes in the meantime. Then go back and see if irritation still occurs. As for primers, I'd suggest something that mattifies which will help.

Personally, I don't like using Covergirl because I've had allergies to their products.

I would definitely consider moisturizing more, and getting a quality primer

Could be that your brush needs cleaning due to gathering bacteria. I'd recommend applying with a clean finger tip next time to see if you still get irritation. I'm really good with make-up and ingredients, so if you knew the ingredients, I could probably tell you exactly which ones are irritants.

Have you ever showed allergic reactions to other makeups? What's the brand? I too am HUGE on funky eyeshadows.

It doesn't doing like you're overdoing application, but does sort of sound like bacteria from the brush. You can clean the bristles.

So you are using primer? It could very well be the primer too! Using primer and then eyeshadow could definitely do it. What primer brand and do you know the ingredients?

I usually try to use highly pigmented colors so that I don't need primer unless it's to prevent creasing. I try to stick with only a natural moisturizer as primer or my own homemade one.

Sorry to hear your eyes are irritated though. Hopefully you'll get it cleared up soon. I definitely wouldn't switch to a sponge. Those are wasteful because they absorb more of the makeup than they put on, and they are a bacteria's BFF a lot of times. But it's okay to use them and dispose of them. Either switch to a new brush or try your clean finger tip for a day or two to narrow down the causes. If it's still irritated and showing no signs of clearing, it's probably the shadow

Oh, and to help heal the irritated skin faster, you can use aloe vera. It's safe and will heal irritations, dryness and any other skin problem like a miracle. I use aloe gel straight from my plant because I know it's safe and more potent, but a good aloe product from a reputable company will suffice. I had to stick some of my aloe up my nose hole last week because of a sore I had in there. It healed it in only 3 days.

You can just dab a little of the aloe onto the affected lid being careful not to get it in the eye. It's safe and a natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. If you have an aloe plant, you can cut a chunk off, slice the green outer leaf and rinse the alloin (neon yellowish green stuff from the inner leaf) and either smash up the clear gel inside or put it in a blender to make it an actual gel.

Get something hypoallergenic (maybe Physician's Formula) and give your eyes a break. And when you're home don't wear any makeup at all.

If it gets better, there's your answer.

I'd go without the metallic eye shadow for a week or so, keep moisturizing (although a cream or serum made specifically for eyes is going to be a lot more gentle than regular face moisturize) and see how it clears up.

I'm concerned about the talc or the mica, too. You may be sensitive to either or both. Once your eyelids have cleaned up, try using a gentle, higher quality eye make up, like Almay or Clinique or Bobbi Brown. They use better ingredients and may be more gentle on your eyes.

But, when ever you have an irritation the first step is to eliminate the possible irritant until you heal, then reintroduce something less irritating.

Also, I would toss that brush and start from scratch with a natural fiber brush. I wash the brushes that I use for my eye liner and my eye shadow every 2 days, in mild soap and let them air dry. I replace them if I have an eye infection (much less comnon since I don't have small children anymore) or if they start to look ratty or I am irritated and can't figure out what the problem is.

I wouldn't soak the brushes in alcohol. It won't do much good and will probably break down the material, letting more bacteria into the pores later. Just dump them and start from scratch, washing them every day or so.

Woah, since 2006? Get new brushes! Then get some brush cleaner to clean them with. I use Cinema Secrets Brush Cleaner. You can get it on eBay pretty cheap. I use a little spray bottle to wipe off the brushes daily and deep clean them in it every week or so.

MAC isn't super expensive, but it isn't cheap. However, it's waaay more pigmented than CoverGirl, so they last longer. You don't need to apply as much of it. I don't think I've ever hit the pan on any MAC shadow, but I have, like, 400 soo....yeah.

Also, since you need new brushes, some recommendations! Royal & Langnickle, Crown Brush, aDesign, and Sigma all make great brushes that don't totally break the bank. Most of my stash if from R&L.

I would toss the brushes. You can purchase inexpensive ones, I believe Kira had some good suggestions. Although more expensive ones, if well taken care of will last forever. I have some that are still in perfect condition and I have had them for almost 10 years. I have quite a collection, as I worked as a retail MUA for a very long time. You can get a small spray bottle and fill it with 99% alcohol (only 99% disinfects) and use it to spray the bristles of your brushes, as well as any cream or powder product before and after each use. Just allow the fumes to disapate before applying makeup. Brushes should be washed weekly, or more frequently if they get mucky from cream colors. Use a mild antibacterial soap and warm water. Wash the bristles by swirling them with soap in your palm and rinse till the water is clear. Don't forget to wash the handle as well. Squeeze out excess water and lay flat on a towel to dry. Don't stand them up when wet, as water will seep into the glue and cause the brush to come apart. A conditioner can also be used on natural hair brushes.

Mica and other shimmers are a known irritant in many people. The sensitivity to it can occur all of a sudden. I would suspect it is a combination of bacteria and the shimmers that are causing irritation. Pigments that contain red, like pinks and purples can also be irritating.

Any cream products that have separating or a smell like old crayons...trust me...you will know...should be thrown out. If the powders have a film on them that cannot be scraped away with a butter knife, or if they have a funny odor, they should be thrown away as well.

I hope this helps a bit! Good luck!

Yay!!! Sounds great! Although the high pigment shadows are pricy, they last much, much longer than regular ones. The HIP ones from Loreal are great!

Yay! Sounds like you did good. I hope that helps your issues.

I still say make a trip to MAC though.

Using shampoo or whatever facial soap you use is the best way to clean your brushes. Lather it and rinse until the fibers are clean and the water runs clear. Then let it air dry and you'll be good to go. Alcohol is only handy if you spot clean.

If you've had the brush for a while, you could toss it if you want but a good wash and you can still use it.

Ecotools brush set

As for the makeup, I would toss that. Talc is known to be an irritant for a lot of people.

"It would suck major dong if I couldn't wear eye makeup anymore" ha ha. Good thing you don't have to.

I find that Mac among others is rather expensive. A lot of their shades can be reduplicated and even purchased for less. If you want eyeshadows, I'd suggest checking Coastal Scents. Their pressed eyeshadows are 1/10 the cost of Mac and are comparable. If you feel like making your own, you can even buy loose micas/pigments and experiment.

I've worked for various makeup companies and most of them usually source their brushes from China and just customize it with their logos, etc. You don't need super expensive brushes because chances are they're coming from the same place. Sonia Kashuk, ELF and NYX are good inexpensive brushes/makeup brands. Even the brushes available from Sephora are quite good. I'm a makeup artist and I've had brushes from Sephora that have lasted for a long time. Unless you want a luxurious set of goat hair brushes, a few basic brushes will last with upkeep. As for drugstore, I rather like Maybelline and L'oreal and they've just released some new shades for fall.

Hope I made sense

I think you did. At least starting out fresh may help you pinpoint the issues. I wouldnt invest alot till you get everything cleared up, but then a visit to MAC might be a fun treat! I find their stuff to be higher than drugstore, but cheaper than many of the department store brands and so high in quality that I feel they are a good value. But I still advise waiting till you are healthy!

Sounds good.

There are also some really good brushes by a company whose name I can't remember, but the word "Natural" is in it, and the handles are made of bamboo (which is a great renewable resource) and the brush tips are good material.

I have at least 3 brushes just for eye liner, so I can air them out and clean them between uses. Two are the bamboo and I'm pretty sure one may be ELF.

If the problem continues, try Almay, Clinique or Bobbi Brown. Clinique and Bobbi Brown seem expensive, but they are VERY high quality. Almay was developed for sensitive and allergic skin. Bobbi Brown has sales and give aways ALL the time and you can get their stuff online.