How To Use Makeup/Cosmetics Safely Around Your Eyes

Makeup is an excellent way to enhance your natural facial features and can even be a form of self-expression. People most often apply cosmetic products around their eye area and their eyelashes. However, the skin around the eyes is very delicate, and sometimes certain products or incorrect application techniques can cause irritation or infection. Your eyesight is precious and worth preserving, so if you choose to wear cosmetics, here are some tips on how you can do so safely around your eyes.

How To Prevent Infection From Eye Makeup

Bacteria and fungi growth in cosmetic products often cause itchy and puffy eye infections such as conjunctivitis. It’s important to be careful and practice good hygiene whenever you apply cosmetics near the eyes to minimize eye infection risk. Here are some precautions you should take when using liquid eye makeup:
● Do not use eye makeup longer than the suggested guidelines. Most liquid makeup products, such as mascaras, should be replaced every three months.
● Throw away dried-up mascara rather than trying to rehydrate it with liquids.
● Avoid sharing mascara with other people, and do not use store samples on your eyes!
● If you develop an eye infection, discard any eye makeup you were using to avoid re-infection. Make sure to wait until your eyes are healed before putting makeup on again.
● If you wear contact lenses, make sure to follow your optometrist’s guidelines about using makeup with contact lenses.
● Store your makeup in a cool, dry place to minimize the risk of deterioration.

How To Remove Eye Makeup Safely

As mentioned above, our eyes and the skin in the area are very sensitive, so make sure to always be gentle when removing eye makeup. No vigorous scrubbing! If you are wearing waterproof makeup, you can use vaseline, baby shampoo or a gentle oil-based makeup remover to take it off. Remember to remove all your eye makeup before bed as mascara can stick to eyelashes, clog tear ducts or flake off into your eyes.

Other Useful Tips

● Wash your hands before applying makeup– never touch your eyes with unwashed hands! This is the best way to prevent infections and irritations.
● Throw away hardened pencils– dried out eye pencils will require you to press more firmly for pigment and increase your risk of scratching your cornea during application.
● Clean makeup tools regularly– make sure to wash your makeup tools weekly to avoid bacteria growth.

Blink Vision Care is here for all your vision care needs. Our licensed opticians are dedicated to helping you find the best solution for your specific eye condition. We also stock the latest digitally made lenses and a wide range of frames to suit every personal style. Visit our eye clinic in Brampton today!