The thing is, to make a massive profit from selling lash adhesive I can understand why these lash companies buy from overseas. The profit mark up is HUGE. I mean, its a no brainer right? £2 a bottle to buy, to then sell on for 20 odd quid. Genius! But there's always a catch. When you buy lash adhesives from overseas, the cosmetic industry is not regulated the same way in which the UK regulate the sale of cosmetic products. Basically, there is god knows what in those £2 bottles of lash adhesives. Many lash techs in the UK are unknowingly using lash adhesives that are unapproved and unregulated that can have harmful side effects for themselves and their clients. Scary, right?
When I decided I wanted to go down the 'become a lash product supplier' route, I knew I wanted to find a UK manufacturer for my adhesives. Here at Third Eye Lash Artistry Pro, I can guarantee that the ingredients in my lash adhesives are 100% SAFE to use - because they are made in the UK. I could tell you every little ingredient that makes up one of my glues. The same could not be said for companies that buy from overseas. Now, this is not to say every manufacturer from the far east are bad either, but how can they sell a bottle of adhesive so cheap and still make a profit if the ingredients are high quality?
In the beginning of the year long search for the perfect manufacturers to the products that I wanted to put my name on and sell, I nearly fell victim to the 'dodgy' overseas £2 bottles. I was trialling many different manufacturers adhesives and I thought I had found the one - until..... I ask them to send me over the data sheets/full ingredient lists/certificates of said adhesives. This company WhatsApp's back to me a typed out message including a list of random ingredients, a certificate typed out fully in Chinese and very reassuring "We sell only safe glue for you" (exact reply). This did not fill me with hope that what was in the adhesives they were selling were the highest quality ingredients - or regulated in the UK. From that point, I decided to invest time into researching the meaning of safe lash adhesives. I knew then that I was only going to be trialling UK manufacturers going forward.
Fast forward a year, I found an amazing UK manufacturer who is able to thoroughly answer all of my questions regarding safe lash adhesive. I have trust in the adhesives I sell. A common thought might be "Well, to be safe and regulated, did there have to be sacrifice in the strength and retention power of the adhesive?". I can ensure customers that there is no battle between high strength adhesive and a safe adhesive. Both can be true. My clients retention is testament to that. This last year that I have been using LEOPARD LOCK (1-2 SECOND) and SERPENT SPEED (0.5 SECOND) myself and my clients have noticed a positive change in the retention of their lash extensions.
I do think it is a scary thought that so many lash techs out there are working with such low quality adhesive. But if we can help spread the word within the lash artist community I have hope that one day we will all ONLY be using high grade/cosmetic grade lash adhesives.
Jess @Third Eye Lash Artistry Pro