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Eye shadow, mascara, eyeliner, brow pencil, kohl, and even fake lashes. These are all common eye makeup people use or things that enhance your eyes. In this article, we provide 3 different ways that eye makeup can harm your eyes. We also go over some strategies that can help you with issues caused by makeup on your eyes.
Eye Makeup-Is It Really Safe?
In some makeup tutorials, you’ll see social media influencers putting lipstick or other products not meant for their eyes on their eyes. For example, some influencers use lipstick as an eyeshadow so that there’s a glittery and smooth effect on their eyelids. But this and other things like sharing makeup, using the same makeup for many months, and other common behaviors can cause a host of issues.
So, as for whether eye makeup is safe, the questions you should be asking yourself are:
- What ingredients does my makeup contain?
- Is it safe to use these ingredients on my eyes?
- Am I using the makeup as it was intended?
- Am I using the same makeup beyond its expiration date?
Doing the research by looking at the ingredients in your makeup can help you stay safe. It’s also important to use the makeup as it was intended. For example, if you have some sort of infection in your mouth or a cold sore on your lips, using lipstick as an eyeshadow can make the infection or cold sore spread to other parts of your body such as your eyes. You can stay safe by following the directions on the makeup. You can also stay safe by monitoring any eye issues as they arise. You should discontinue using a product if you notice issues with your eyes.
3 Ways Eye Makeup Can Harm Your Eyes
Now that you have a basic understanding of what to look for before applying makeup to your eyes, here are 3 ways that eye makeup can harm your eyes.
1. Allergic reactions
If you aren’t monitoring the ingredients in your makeup, it’s possible for you to have an allergic reaction. This is especially true if you’re unaware of being allergic to certain ingredients. For example, WebMD, a leader in health information, outlines two types of allergic reactions. One is your skin reacting negatively to a product. This is called irritant contact dermatitis. The other is allergic contact dermatitis which is when your immune system is affected by the reaction.
In both cases, you’ll feel extremely uncomfortable and may need to see an ophthalmologist. If you notice any immune reactions, you may need to go to a hospital.
2. Eye or Skin Irritation
If you’ve ever had liquid eyeliner seep into your eyes or had mascara get into your eyes, then you’ve probably experienced eye irritation. Irritation can be caused by the product getting into your eyes, or in the case of allergic reactions, the makeup having contact with your skin. If you’re constantly experiencing irritation on your eyes, it’s important that you stop using the product that’s causing the irritation. If the irritation continues or gets worse, you may need to seek professional help. It’s very important that you address any irritation before it gets worse. Ignoring any signs of eye issues can be harmful to your eyes.
3. Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is when portions of your eye or even your whole eye turns pink. Conjunctivitis is contagious and can spread. So for example, if you’re using a product in one eye and it becomes pink, it’s important to avoid using that makeup on other areas of your body. This is especially true if the other eye has yet to be exposed to that product. Conjunctivitis tends to be a major issue if the makeup has expired. That’s why it’s important to not use expired makeup.
Maintaining Healthy Eyes
The best way to maintain healthy eyes is by following the directions on your makeup. It’s also important to stop using makeup once it’s expired or if it has been used for an extended period of time. That being said, if you’re experiencing issues with your eyes, here are some other crucial tips:
- Make sure that you’re getting regular eye exams. During an eye exam, your ophthalmologist will be able to identify any issues with your eyes. Your eye doctor will also ask you questions about what you’re using on your eyes, including eye makeup. If you’re in the state of Utah, we, at Wolcott Optical, can help you.
- Make sure to remove eye makeup every day. Don’t leave your makeup on while you sleep. Remove it before going to bed.
- Make sure that you’re aware of any allergies before you use certain products. Using products that you’re allergic to can have serious consequences as we mentioned before.
Remember, maintaining healthy eyes is possible!
