An optometrist on the eye-watering effects of misused makeup

Good makeup hygiene is a thing – and not adhering to it can result in breakouts, an overgrowth of bacteria in your favourite products and more. Many of us are familiar with rules like always making sure to cleanse your hands with soap beforehand any makeup application to avoid spreading bacteria and causing common skin issues, and that any makeup brushes and tools should be stored in a clean and dry place and washed regularly – in fact more regularly than you would assume. We all know to be even more fastidious when it comes to our eye makeup storage and never sharing mascara or a palette, but have you ever thought about adhering to a few extra safety measures to avoid injury during application? Me neither, until Specsavers flagged it with me and now I’m ALL in.
Most makeup wearers will have experienced that sharp jolt of pain when accidentally touching your eye instead of lash with mascara, or the poke in the eye by an eyeliner pencil. Usually, it’s accompanied by a watery eye, which you brush off, dab with a tissue and then move on in with another coat. However, Specsavers Optometrist, May Young says what might feel like an insignificant accident at the time could actually be the beginning of a substantial eye problem.
“Lining your waterline (the inner rim of your eyelid) can put you at risk of scratches, obscured vision and infections,” says May, adding that as well as surface level injuries, “old or expired makeup can also cause more serious issues, such as conjunctivitis or painful styes”.
And despite the hype across social media, Specsavers recommends Kiwis reconsider using at-home lash tint applications, whitening drops and the like. “Things like whitening drops – or eye brightening drops – can cause a condition called rebound redness, which is when the blood vessels in your eyes dilate after the effects of the drops wear off.”

Other tips to help steer clear of makeup-induced eye damage include:
* Check the use by date of all your makeup products; most will have a specific use by date but as a general rule, try to replace your eye makeup at least every three months to avoid the growth of bacteria.
* Give ‘waterproof’ products a miss, including mascara and eyeliner. These can be hard to remove the cleaning process can cause irritation and blocked tear ducts.
* Avoid products that contain untested or harsh chemicals.
* Only apply makeup outside the lash line to avoid blocking the oil glands of the upper or lower eyelid.
* Clean your face and eyelids before applying any product and be sure to always wash it off at the end of the day.
* Never share eye makeup, even with family or close friends – would you share your toothbrush?!!!

If you develop an eye infection, like pink eye, immediately toss all of your eye makeup (yes, even that pricey Natasha Denona palette) and don't use eye makeup until the infection is gone.
Safe is better than sorry, amirite?

Photo by Alimarel on Unsplash