Healthy Make Up Habits
Eye care products & makeup are designed to make your eyes look more beautiful but can negatively impact how our eyes feel. The good news is they’re safe when used correctly, & safe ingredients are considered. So what can you do to keep your eyes healthy & beautiful when wearing makeup.
Take it Off.
Removing your makeup well at the end of the day goes a long way in keeping the eyes clear, comfortable & healthy. Sleeping in your makeup leads to blocked glands, irritation & infections. Sleeping in mascara can cause lash thinning & brittleness.
Don't skimp on lid cleanser or makeup remover, using plenty of remover not only ensures effective removal but also means less wiping & pulling on the lashes & eyelids. Avoid using soap & water alone too… it can make lashes more brittle & cause them to fall out.
Watch Where You Put It.
Make sure your skin, eyelids & lashes are clean before you put makeup on.
Avoid putting eyeliner on the inner rim or waterline of your eyelids – this technique, known as tightlining means more make up ends up in the eyes & you block the gland opening that actually keep your eyes comfortable & the rims of your eyes white & healthy. Putting it just outside the lashes, as well as being better for your eyes, helps make the eyes look more open.
Ingredients Matter.
Choosing better make up and personal care products can make a big difference in how your eyes feel and function, now and in the future. Switching products to ones that contain eye safe ingredients when possible can make a big difference. While the research is constantly evolving, there are some key ingredients in make up and personal care products that you should try and avoid if you want to keep your eyes comfortable and healthy. Get reading your packaging!
Isopropyl Alcohol Alcohol can often be found in in makeup removers and lotions and can be very drying for the eyes
Benzalkonium Chloride (BAK) This common preservative that dry eye sufferers should avoid in eye drops. It can be found in much higher quantities in makeup and can contribute to corneal irritation as well as meibomian glands damage. You may unfortunately find it in eye makeup removers “for sensitive eyes”.
Parabens Many parabens are carcinogens but they’re also hormone disruptors and neurotoxins, and bad news for our tears and ocular surface
Phenoxyethanol Another preservative, there is also concern for this chemical harming the meibomian glands.
Argireline (Acetyl Hexapeptide-3) In eye creams and concealers this can do an amazing job of removing fine lines and under eye bags in the short term, but it’s a neurotoxin that really should be avoided.
Formaldehyde / Quaternium-15 This is a preservative but there is research that links it to meibomian glands damage and hair loss (think, lash drop out!)
Isopropyl Cloprostenate This chemical is a synthetic prostaglandin, which can be found in lash serums BUT it’s pro-inflammatory and bad news for dry eye disease. It can cause red eyes and eyelids, pigment changes to the eyelid skin, decrease in fat around the eyes and meibomian gland damage.
Retinol The topical form of vitamin A is a great anti-ager but put this near your eyes can be harmful to the meibomian glands causing them to shorten. High doses of Vitamin A can also be devastating to the meibomian glands.
Sodium Laureth Sulfates Often in in face wash, this doesn’t agree with the tear film.
Keep It to Yourself
Never share eye make-up… you're sharing more than just the colour. You wouldn't share a toothbrush, so why would you share mascara or eyeliner? When multiple people use the same makeup, it’s been shown to mean more bacteria in the product.
Mind the Formula's you Use
Look for cleaner make up brands! Particularly avoid parabens which are linked to meibomian gland problems (think glands in your eyelids that lubricate the eyes and keep the rims looking good)
Don’t tightline or waterline - this means not putting the eyeliner on the inner rim of your eyelid. This is wear the gland opens are & blocking them with waxy eyeliner leads to problems now and in the future
Never share eyeliner
For shadow look for cream formulas, & if you can choose water based rather than oil. Glitter formulas can be very irritating for dry eyes so try & steer clear. Consider keeping your shadow in place with a primer. For eyeliner, eye pencils can be less irritating than liquid, gel or cream liners… & again you can sharpen them to keep them fresh.
When it comes to mascara avoid fibre or lash extending mascaras. Waterproof formulas also tend to be more irritating. Look for hypo-allergenic, oil- & fragrance-free formulas.
Go Clean.
Many makeups & makeup removers' ingredients can cause irritation and further damage to the eye surface & tear-producing glands. "Think Dirty", & the Skin Deep by the EWG can be great resources to find clean, safe products.
Cleaner brands of makeup are often also better for the eyes. Recommended brands include Eyes are the Story, Ilia Beauty, 20/20 Beauty, Omiana, Beauty Counter, Dr Hauschka, Westman Atelier & Oculaire Skincare.
