5 Ways to Prevent Makeup from Damaging Your Eyes

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, eye makeup is a common source of eye infections. The chemicals in many makeup brands can cause irritations in your eyes, such as eye redness, itchiness, bacterial conjunctivitis, and more. If you are allergic to any of the ingredients in the product, additional irritations and infections can occur.

Applying eye makeup can affect more than just your eyelashes and eyelids. Frequent use can potentially cause issues with the tear film and the eye itself. In order to keep your eyes healthy while still using eye makeup, follow these precautionary tips.

1. Avoid products with harmful chemicals. While these generally come at a higher price point, consider using products that contain fewer harmful ingredients (if any). If you have any allergies, using organic products will be better for you in more ways than one.
2. Discard any eye makeup after three months. You may notice on the packing an expiration from the opening date of the product. This is a good rule to follow in order to avoid the risk of infections. If you develop an eye infection, throw away all of your eye makeup, regardless of when you opened it.
3. Never share eye makeup. Sharing brushes and makeup palettes increase your risk of spreading bacteria. If you must, consider wiping down the top layer of the product and brush before use.
4. Wash your brushes. Since brushes can collect bacteria and dirt over time, it’s extremely important to clean your brushes as often as you can. This will help in preventing the growth of bacteria, which can spread to your eyes with continued use.
5. Remove all makeup before going to sleep. Be sure to use makeup remover, or a gentle lid scrub with mild shampoo and water, to cleanse your eyes and face before going to sleep. Doing so will decrease the risk of bacterial and oil build-up, which can lead to eyelid inflammation and other infections.