How To Use Cosmetics Safely Around Your Eyes

Face paint, glittery eyeshadow, long and colorful eyelash extensions. They may seem like a harmless way of enhancing your Halloween costume, but if not done correctly, certain cosmetic products found in your local drugstore could cause damaging eye infections. Remember these tips for safely applying makeup and cosmetics around the eyes.

Eye Makeup Safety Tips

Follow these basic steps to protect your eyes while using makeup. If you have questions about your cosmetics routine, or if you have an eye condition that may require special care, ask your doctor.

Avoid Glitter Eye Makeup

Be careful with metallic, glitter, sparkle powder, or face paint. Flakes can fall into the eye, get into the tear film and irritate your eyes. Glitter eye makeup is a common cause of corneal irritation or infection, especially for people who wear contact lenses. Larger glitter or inclusions in makeup can scratch the eye, much like getting sand or dirt in your eye. When using face paint, make sure to avoid the lash line. 

Applying Faux Eyelashes

Eyelash extensions can be done safely, if applied by a professional. Most eyelash extensions are placed using tweezers and a specially formulated, semi-permanent glue. There are also magnetic eyelashes, which are applied with an eyeliner with tiny magnetic particles in it.

Both magnetic and glued lashes can irritate the sensitive skin around the eyes or dip into the eye and scratch the cornea if not applied well. To reduce the likelihood of these possible complications, wear false lashes for special occasions only, and make sure to have a professional do it. If you experience any discomfort, see an ophthalmologist right away.

How to Avoid Eye Infection

• Only use cosmetics that are designed for use around the eyes. Avoid products that contain untested or harsh chemicals.
• Throw away eye makeup after three months and get new products. Infection-causing bacteria grow easily in creamy or liquid eye makeup.
• Before applying makeup, be sure your face and eyelids are very clean.
• Always apply makeup outside the lash line, away from the eye, to avoid blocking the oil glands of the upper or lower eyelid. These glands secrete oil that protects the eye’s surface.
• Never share eye makeup, even with family or close friends.
• When sampling makeup in stores use only fresh applicators and samples that have not been contaminated by multiple users. The safest choice is to avoid store samples altogether.
• If you develop an eye infection, like pink eye, immediately toss all of your eye makeup and don’t use eye makeup until the infection is gone

In this video, Dr. Martín Guzmán, Specialist Ophthalmologist in Eyelid, Orbit, and Tear Duct Surgery, explains the risk of using false eyelashes:

@codetvision

El hábito de usar pestañas postizas o extensiones de pestañas, podría generar un problema importante con la salud de tu párpado. #parpados #pestañaspostizas #extensionesdepestañas #saludocular #maloshabitos #cuidadodelosojos #oftalmologo #chalazion #orzuelo #nolohagas

♬ original sound – CODET Vision Institute

Source: American Academy of Ophthalmology