Can You Use Liquid Latex As Eyelash Glue?

If you’re familiar with special effects (SFX) makeup, you may know that lash glue makes a great alternative to liquid latex. With that, you may wonder how it is the other way around. Can you use liquid latex as eyelash glue? Well, you probably shouldn’t.

Though it may be a no-brainer for those with a latex allergy, liquid latex should not be used around the eye area. Like, ever. We’ll go into more detail in the following sections. Just kick back, relax, and let’s dive into why liquid latex shouldn’t be used as eyelash glue.

Can You Use Latex As Lash Glue?

No, you should not use latex instead of your lash glue! The primary ingredients of liquid latex are latex rubber, water, and ammonia. Though these may not seem like a huge deal—many lash adhesives already contain latex rubber—there’s one outlier: ammonia.

Ammonia is a strong-smelling gas that can cause irritation and burns under some circumstances. Despite this, it is found in many places and is present as Ammonium Hydroxide in a multitude of beauty products. Ammonia has also been used in fertilizers and cleaners.

Liquid latex can come in two forms. Firstly, there’s cosmetic liquid latex, used for wig applications and special effects makeup (SFX). Otherwise, there’s liquid latex used for crafts, also called liquid latex rubber.

The variation of liquid latex used for crafts creates small molds for casting projects. The most common brand is Mold Builder. It is available at craft stores like Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and JOANN. Neither variation of liquid latex is safe for use as lash glue.

Both contain ammonia and are not approved for use around the eyes. Generally, cosmetic liquid latex has lower ammonia content (around 0.3%) than craft liquid latex. Craft liquid latex can have double or triple the amount of ammonia of cosmetic latex rubber.

What Can You Use Instead Of Eyelash Glue?

Luckily, there are a couple of things you can use instead of eyelash glue. Most of these lash glue alternatives are available in-store and online. We’ve compiled a short list of 8 of the most common eyelash glue replacements that the beauty community swears by.

8 popular products that can be used instead of eyelash glue include:

Eyelash extensions
Lash glue eyeliner
Liquid eyeliner
Magnetic eyelashes
Magnetic eyeliner
Mascara adhesive
Volumizing mascara
Self-adhesive eyelashes

All of the above make wonderful alternatives to stock standard eyelash glue. Thanks to the variety available, those looking for an eyelash glue alternative won’t have to search very far.

Can I Use Liquid Latex Instead Of Spirit Gum?

For SFX, liquid latex can absolutely be used instead of Spirit Gum. The two are almost completely interchangeable. Also, eyelash glue works wonders in place of either.

Now, one key similarity between Spirit Gum and liquid latex is that neither of them can go around the eyes. The ammonia content of liquid latex makes exposure to the eye dangerous. It could result in irritation and temporary blindness.

Spirit Gum is also not recommended for use around the eyes. It is further worth considering that liquid latex is weaker than Spirit Gum. It works better for creating effects rather than adhering them to your body.

That means that liquid latex can replace Spirit Gum as long as you can handle a lesser hold. It is likely a suitable replacement for short-term wear versus long-term wear. Liquid latex is fantastic at creating a texture for special effects scars, wounds, and other minor topical effects.

Minor prosthetics, false beards, and wigs are generally applied with Spirit Gum. For affixing large prosthetics and other flairs, it is recommended to use the adhesive Pros-Aide. Note that none of these are safe for use on the eyes and cannot replace lash glue.

Can You Make Homemade Lash Glue?

You should not make homemade lash glue. As appealing as the concept is, there are one too many ingredients in most homemade lash glue recipes that raise concerns.

There are lash glue alternatives available, though none are homemade. Most of these replacements can be found at just about any convenience store, so they’d be available in a pinch.

In all, homemade lash glue is risky and doesn’t have the same amount of hold that an alternative may have. It is safer to purchase a tried-and-true alternative. As it is, run-of-the-mill eyelash glue can pose a health risk if it gets in the eye.

Can you imagine what a concoction of homemade lash glue could cause? An eye infection would be the least of your problems. The worst-case scenario would include a scratched cornea and temporary blindness!

Thankfully, something like self-adhesive eyelashes doesn’t have the same risk. Trust us, there are tons of products worth trying out before caving into the tempting simplicity of DIY lash glue. Check out our post titled “Can I Use Homemade Eyelash Glue For Lashes?” for more detailed information on homemade lash glue.

Final Thoughts: Can You Use Liquid Latex As Eyelash Glue?

We can safely say that you should not use liquid latex as eyelash glue. Liquid latex is not safe to use on or around the eyes because of its ammonia content. There is roughly 0.3% ammonia in most cosmetic liquid latex. Other liquid latex products can have double or triple that amount, especially those used for craft projects.

It is far easier and safer for one to obtain a lash glue alternative. They’re widely available, safely tested, and approved by the masses. On that note, we also addressed homemade lash glue. DIY eyelash glue isn’t as safe as other alternatives and should be avoided.

8 types of products can stand in for eyelash glue. Most are quite innovative and prove to be far easier to apply than any ol’ eyelash glue. Again, they are available within and outside the United States and its territories. Finding one that works for you should be easy peasy.

You should never put anything that isn’t designated for the eyes around them, no matter what the trend is. Beauty trends come and go, but none are ever worth risking your eyesight or health. Stick to products that have some amount of backing.