Preventing Eye Problems for Makeup Wearers

Makeup can brighten your eyes and bring out their color. It can enhance your appearance and make you look more awake. Eye makeup can also cause eye injuries and infections. You don’t have to toss your makeup bag, but by taking certain precautions and following some tips, you can decrease your risk of eye issues while wearing your favorite eye makeup. 

Before you start

There are a few things to keep in mind before you apply your makeup. Consider the following tips:

Check the expiration date: When you think of makeup, you might not consider it has an expiration date, but it does. Look on the packaging to make sure your makeup has not expired. Although expired makeup won’t likely get you sick, it might increase your chances of eye irritation.

Don’t share: Don’t share makeup, especially eye makeup, with friends or family. Makeup brushes, sponges, and mascara wands can harbor bacteria. You don’t want to trade bacteria with someone else. 

Wash your hands: Washing your hands before applying makeup is a good habit to develop. Even though you might not use your fingers to apply your makeup, even dabbing away a little loose makeup with your finger near your eyes can transfer bacteria.

Check your ingredient list: According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, cosmetic products must state their ingredient list. Checking out the list can help you prevent using something that you know you are allergic to or that caused irritation in the past. 
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Makeup application tips

Although it might not seem likely, eye injuries and infections from makeup are not uncommon, but most are preventable. Consider some of the suggestions below when applying eye makeup.

Always use a clean makeup brush: Regularly clean your makeup brushes. You want to keep things as sanitary as possible around your eyes.

Stay away from the waterline: Some people use eyeliner on the waterline to shape their eyes. But even if it looks great, it can irritate the eyes. Instead, use eyeliner on the skin just underneath your eyes.

Take it slow: When you are applying eye makeup, such as liner, shadow, and mascara, don’t rush through the job. You are more likely to poke your eye if you are going too fast. Also, never try to put eye makeup on in a moving car.

Avoid certain products: Certain products may contain particles that can get into your eye and lead to a corneal scratch. For instance, mascara with fibers can easily scratch the eye. Also, avoid cosmetic contact lenses that are not prescribed by an eye doctor.

Do not use saliva: Avoid using saliva to wet a pencil eyeliner or thin clumpy mascara. Saliva contains bacteria.

Remove makeup nightly: Take off eye makeup gently at the end of the day. Do not tug on your eyelashes to get the mascara off. Instead, use makeup remover and a cotton ball or swab to get the makeup off. 
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Recognize signs of an eye infection 

If you develop an eye infection, make sure to stop wearing makeup until it clears up. Also, throw away all the products you used near your eyes, and clean your makeup brushes.

Recognizing signs of an eye infection as soon as possible helps prevent complications. Eye infection signs include:

• Pain in the eye
• Redness
• Discharge from the eye, such as mucus
• A gritty feeling in the eye
• Sensitivity to light

If you develop an eye infection, it is best to see an eye doctor. If you have any questions on ways to keep your eyes healthy, we are happy to help! Also, if you would like to ask whether an appointment with one of our eye doctors would be appropriate at this time, call our office at 508-746-8600.