Some folks with dry eyes say that their eyes feel more irritated with makeup use. Indeed, makeup can worsen dry eye symptoms like irritation and redness. Before completely giving up on cosmetics, let’s see which are the better options out there and what makeup habits can give dry eye sufferers a better chance at keeping the eyes comfortable.
1. Choose cream over powder eyelid makeup.
Loose makeup particles that end up in the tear film may further irritate the eyes. For this reason, cream eye makeup is better than powder eye shadow or foundation. For the same reason, avoid glittery makeup.
2. Keep the mascara and eyeliner away from the oil gland openings.
There are oil glands lining the lid margins that are essential to keeping the tears from evaporating quickly. Being mindful of where the mascara and eyeliner go can prevent clogging up these glands. Mascara use should be limited to the tips of the lashes and the eyeliner in front of the lashes. Do not tightline. Tattooed eyeliner can lead to meibomian gland loss and tear film instability.
3. Use only makeup with safe ingredients.
Because cosmetics are not required to undergo stringent testing, I recommend carefully looking at cosmetics for ingredients that are known eye irritants. The Environmental Working Group’s website is a great source of information. Be on the lookout for preservatives like benzalkonium chloride, formaldehyde, and parabens. Phenoxyethanol and chlorphenesin, parabens highlighted in a 2020 study, were so toxic that meibomian gland epithelial cells died after 24 hours of exposure to these parabens at or below human approved dosage.
4. Replace old makeup.
Being mindful of the time to replace and dispose of used cosmetics can prevent complications like styes and eye infection. Liquid eye makeup should be thrown out after 3 months. Expired used liquid makeup can become home to bacteria. Even unopened expired makeup can dry out. Old mascara tends to crumble and can leave particles in the tear film.
5. Practice good makeup application and removal habits.
Lastly, good makeup hygiene can prevent a lot of complications. Wash the face and eyes prior to makeup application, and use a gentle cleanser to remove makeup. Remember: forgetting to remove makeup at the end of the day can expose the ocular surface to chemicals and bacteria for an even longer period of time, increasing the likelihood of ocular surface irritation, redness and eye infection. Also, don’t forget to clean the makeup applicators.
Cosmetics shouldn’t have to contribute to dry eye symptoms. Carefully considering what makeup to use and practicing good makeup hygiene may help dry eye sufferers enjoy a little eye treat. Next time, we’ll go over specific optometrist- approved cosmetic products.
Sources:
Cornea. 2015 Jul;34(7):750-5. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000000452
Exp Eye Res. 2020 Jul:196:108057. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2020.108057. Epub 2020 May 5
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