How To Use Cosmetics Safely Around Your Eyes

Face paint, glittery eyeshadow, long and colorful eyelash extensions. They may seem like a harmless way of enhancing your Halloween costume, but if not done correctly, certain cosmetic products found in your local drugstore could cause damaging eye infections. Remember these tips for safely applying makeup and cosmetics around the eyes.

Eye Makeup Safety Tips

Follow these basic steps to protect your eyes while using makeup. If you have questions about your cosmetics routine, or if you have an eye condition that may require special care, ask your doctor.

Avoid Glitter Eye Makeup

Be careful with metallic, glitter, sparkle powder, or face paint. Flakes can fall into the eye, get into the tear film and irritate your eyes. Glitter eye makeup is a common cause of corneal irritation or infection, especially for people who wear contact lenses. Larger glitter or inclusions in makeup can scratch the eye, much like getting sand or dirt in your eye. When using face paint, make sure to avoid the lash line. 

Applying Faux Eyelashes

Eyelash extensions can be done safely, if applied by a professional. Most eyelash extensions are placed using tweezers and a specially formulated, semi-permanent glue. There are also magnetic eyelashes, which are applied with an eyeliner with tiny magnetic particles in it.

Both magnetic and glued lashes can irritate the sensitive skin around the eyes or dip into the eye and scratch the cornea if not applied well. To reduce the likelihood of these possible complications, wear false lashes for special occasions only, and make sure to have a professional do it. If you experience any discomfort, see an ophthalmologist right away.

There's enough to consider with eyelash extensions that we produced a whole article about how to get eyelash extensions safely.

How to Avoid Eye Infection

• Only use cosmetics that are designed for use around the eyes. Avoid products that contain untested or harsh chemicals.
• Throw away eye makeup after three months and get new products. Infection-causing bacteria grow easily in creamy or liquid eye makeup.
• Before applying makeup, be sure your face and eyelids are very clean.
• Always apply makeup outside the lash line, away from the eye, to avoid blocking the oil glands of the upper or lower eyelid. These glands secrete oil that protects the eye’s surface.
• Never share eye makeup, even with family or close friends.
• When sampling makeup in stores use only fresh applicators and samples that have not been contaminated by multiple users. The safest choice is to avoid store samples altogether.
• If you develop an eye infection, like pink eye, immediately toss all of your eye makeup and don't use eye makeup until the infection is gone

How to Avoid Allergic Reactions

• Introduce only one new eye makeup or care product at a time, especially if you tend to have allergic reactions easily. Don't add another new product until you know you're not reacting to the first one.
• If you notice an allergic reaction to makeup:
  • Find out what the ingredients are so you can watch out for them in other products.
  • Let your doctor know. Your doctor may know about products that are prone to causing reactions, and about gentler alternatives.

How to Avoid Eye Injury

• Never apply makeup while in a moving vehicle.
• If your lashes are clumped together by mascara or another product, do not use anything sharp to separate the lashes. You can easily poke or scratch your eye this way.
• If you've recently had eye surgery, do not wear makeup around the eye until your ophthalmologist tells you it is safe to do so.

What About Heated Eyelash Curlers?

Heated eyelash curlers can help provide an extra long-lasting lift compared to mechanical ones. However, too much heat around the eye can be dangerous. It can cause lashes to fall out, damage the skin around the eye, or damage the eye itself.

“Human skin can sustain first-degree burns at 118 degrees Fahrenheit and second-degree burns at 131 degrees. Since the skin of the eyelids is especially thin, it will damage easier and at lower temperatures,” said Natasha Herz, MD, clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. These products often range from 100 degrees to over 200 degrees Fahrenheit. “Even more concerning is if the hand of the user isn't so steady or accidentally bumps against something, causing the curling iron to touch the conjunctiva or cornea. This would cause a thermal injury that, at best, will take a week to heal. If it causes a burn in the center of the cornea, over the pupil and in the line of sight, it can cause a scar that will cause permanent loss of vision.” 

If you are using a heated eyelash curler, here are some safety tips to keep in mind:

• Check the exact temperature of each setting and start with the lowest temperature possible
• Be careful not to pull too hard on the lashes
• Do not repeatedly go over the same area multiple times; this can cause heat damage
• Avoid using this product if you have sensitive eyes. If you're unsure if this product is right for you, talk to your ophthalmologist

What About Latisse?

Latisse is a prescription eyelash enhancer. It's applied to the lash line to promote the growth of longer, thicker eyelashes. There are some possible side-effects to watch out for, which is why it's only available by prescription.

You may have seen non-prescription beauty products for eyelash growth being sold in stores, but Latisse is the only lash growth product currently FDA approved. Since these other products have not been FDA tested, both safety and ability to promote eyelash growth has not been officially proven. The best way to ensure safe use of eyelash growth products is to consult with an ophthalmologist before using.

How to Remove Makeup From Around the Eyes

Remove all eye makeup at night before sleeping, especially mascara that can stick to the lashes. If not removed properly, eye makeup can cause irritation. In one example, a

• Vaseline is a very effective makeup remover. It's lubricating, soothing to skin and helps makeup slide off without unnecessary tugging and pulling.
• Baby shampoo is an inexpensive and ophthalmologist-recommended product for washing eyelids and the area around the eyes. These 'tear-free' soaps are often recommended to people prone to styes, chalazia and blepharitis for washing their eyes.
• Whatever eye makeup remover you use, avoid getting it in your eyes.
• Thoroughly rinse any remover off your eyelids.
• Brush a clean cotton swab along the base of the eyelashes to remove all makeup remnants.
• Be especially careful with exfoliating scrubs and don't use them around your eyes. Cleansers with scrubbing beads or gritty additions can scratch and irritate your eyes.
• Be gentle with your eyelashes and the delicate areas around your eyes. Eyelashes are important for keeping dust and dirt out of your eyes. They also keep your eyes from drying out by blocking air movement over your tear film.

Remove all eye makeup at night before sleeping, especially mascara that can stick to the lashes. If not removed properly, eye makeup can cause irritation. In one example, a 50-year-old woman who slept with mascara on for more than 25 years developed uncomfortable black lumps underneath her eyelids, which led to follicular conjunctivitis

Hundreds of questions that we want answers to. How to keep mascara stay, how to apply lipstick to dry lips, how to apply foundation on acne or even how to find the right shade of the foundation, the list goes on and on. That's why we have curated the list of the most common questions and after rigorous efforts from our beauty professionals, Makeup Artist and R&D team we are finally able to answer those.

Note* That the answers to these questions have been made keeping in mind the Indian context.

1. How Do I Keep My Mascara From Smudging Under My Eyes?

Make sure you don't apply anything creamy under eye over makeup and it's mattified under the eye. If a person have watery eyes or oily eye lids, Waterproof formulas are your best friend. It gives Dry to matte finish and only budge when in contact with oils or makeup remover, so they are pretty much guaranteed to stay on the lashes and not smudge.

2. How Do I Apply Lipstick on Dry Lips?

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If you've got chappy lips, prepping them is an essential part. Keep a lip mask, lip scrub and lip balm handy to ensure a smooth, hydrated canvas. A scrub can remove all the dead skin cells(chapped lips), a mask can make them plumped and hydrated and a lip balm will help in nourishment and hydration further. This is the best way to prep your lips, and the best when you are planning for a long lasting matte lipstick days. Say goodbye to chapped lips!Shop our best-selling

3. How Do I Apply Foundation Over Acne?

Got an Acne prone skin? No problem, you can still enjoy makeup.
Before you apply your foundation, Make sure you apply something which heals an acne, For eg. Acne gel. Follow up with a suitable moisturizer for acne prone skin and consider some color-correcting tricks to help neutralize your blemishes. If you have a pimple or acne that is red, neutralize it with a green color corrector. Use a small, stiff brush or a finger and tap the product directly onto the blemish. Then apply your foundation on top.

4. How Do I Find the Right Shade of Foundation?

First thing first - Learn about your undertones, There are majorly 3 types of undertone – Warm, Cool and Neutral. Select the shade in which your tone lies. You should always test the shade on your neck or jawline or forehead for the most accurate match. The shade which blends the best on the skin is your shade. It should not look too light or too dark when blended and settled, That's how you get perfect shade of foundation suitable to you undertone.

5. How do I stop foundation from slipping off?

Just make sure to wear a PRIMER! Always choose the right type of primer and foundation according to your skin type to prevent slipping or creasing, For eg. Choose a matte finish for oily skin and hydrating finish for dry skin. This is the easiest way to wear foundation so it stays longer. Also a quick tip - Apply a setting spray after blending your foundation and concealer before powdering your face.

6. Why Does Makeup Pill/cakes up? / How to stop makeup from caking up?

Pilling can occur if you’re applying thick layers of products or if you’re trying layer powder formulas over cream or vice versa. To find out what to do if your makeup is pilling, Make sure to go up step wise - Skin prep, Correcting, Foundation, Concealers, powder to mattify and set with a setting spray. Also, Consider taking small amounts of product always and blend properly. Remember, Less is more.

7. How to get the Perfect flawless dewy/glowy base?

Seamless base comes from the right skin prep, Make sure you are hydrated inside out. Always start with drinking a glass of water. Follow up with the best serum/serum mask sheet and a good hydrating moisturizer so that your skin look radiant, glowly and plumpy. Use a foundation as per your skin type and add a fixing spray which will melt your makeup, seep into the skin and gives you nice glowy finish. You can add illuminating primers or strobe creams as an additional step.

8. Does Lip Liner Actually Do Anything?

Lip liner has several uses. It can use as a Lip contour if used in brown shades. If you use it to outline the lips, it can help prevent your lipstick from feathering and define the shape of your lips. If you use it to fill in your lips, it can be worn on its own or to enhance the color of your lipstick and make it stay longer.

9. What is the most quick and effective 5 minutes makeup that can make the most difference?

A little concealer under the eyes is the easiest way to look more awake and bright-eyed follow up with the little blush, mascara and a lipstick and You're good to go.

10. How do I get rid of wrinkles? / How do I cover up wrinkles? 

Makeup enhances the features you already have, It can help conceal the flaws and imperfections, but it's not the answer to every beauty issue. You can not hide your wrinkles with makeup, But right skincare routine can help you make them look better, so make sure to use right moisturizers that contain retinol for anti aging and hyaluronic acid for intense moisture which helps the skin to plump up.


Did we miss anything?
Please let us know in the comments section and we will surely get it answered.