Eye Makeup
Wearing eye makeup is such a common thing we often don’t consider how doing so can affect our eyes. But applying makeup can expose your eyes to dirt, bacteria and fungus so it’s important to use makeup mindfully! Follow these easy do’s and don’ts to keep your eyes safe and clean. Steps for responsible eye makeup use:
- DO keep an eye on the shelf life! Most of us tend to use our eye
makeup until it’s gone, but this isn’t the best way to ensure good eye health. Old eye makeup is more likely to be
host to bacteria or fungus that can lead to eye infections and other concerns.
Eye makeup has a shelf life of only 3 months, so you should throw it away and
restock regularly.
- DO Clean your brushes regularly. Makeup brushes are a prime
collector of dirt and bacteria, which means that they will spread bacteria to
your eyes every time you use them. Make a point of cleaning your brushes at
least monthly using a mild soap or baby shampoo to prevent bacteria and dirt
from building up.
- DO wash your makeup off at night. Using proper makeup removal
wipes or cleaners is essential for eye health. Leaving makeup on overnight will only
increase the likelihood of bacteria build-up, which contributes to
inflammation, and using the wrong removal wipes can compound this
- DO wash your hands before putting on makeup. It’s no secret that
washing your hands is the best way to prevent the spread of germs, and this is
true when it comes to applying eye makeup, too. You want to keep bacteria away
from your eyes as much as possible and washing your hands before applying
make-up is the best way to do this.
- DO store your makeup well. Keeping your eye makeup in a cool, dark place will help maximize the shelf life of it.
- DON’T put makeup inside your lashes. It can be tempting to get
that dark eye look by lining the area inside of your lash line, but this can
lead to both bacteria getting into your eyes, and the blocking of oil glands
that produce oils to protect your cornea. This is especially important if you
have dry eye syndrome or wear contact lenses.
- DON’T share your eye makeup. Sharing mascara wands can transfer
bacteria from one person’s eyes to another. No matter how much you love your
friends, swapping eye bacteria is never a good thing! Makeup brushes carry
bacteria the same way a toothbrush does, and you wouldn’t share those so treat
your eye make-up brushes the same way.
- DON’T put eye make up on while moving. Putting anything
potentially sharp and pointy like mascara wands or eyeliner pencils near your
eyes while you’re moving around or in a vehicle is just asking for a poke in
the eye. A scratched cornea isn’t something you want to deal with!
Ensuring everything is sealed when you put it away helps to
prevent the growth of bacteria, the presence of eye-irritating dust, and helps
stop oxygen from drying out liquid products. If makeup gets in your eyes take
these steps:
1. Remove contacts if you
wear them, then rinse your eyes with clean water until all traces of makeup are
removed.
2. Put in moisturizing
eye drops.
3. If you wear contacts either clean them very well or replace them if you get makeup in your eye. If they aren’t cleaned well, you will reintroduce the dirt or bacteria as soon as you put them back in. Don’t put them back in until the irritation has completely cleared.
4. Apply makeup with care
Before you continue your daily makeup routine, make sure you are
taking steps to keep your eyes as healthy as possible. Your eyesight is
invaluable, so you want to protect it as best as you can! If you suspect any
issues with your eyes, contact your optometrist for an appointment as soon as
possible!