For some, makeup is just a tool for hiding blemishes. For others, it is a hobby and a passion. Whether your morning makeup routine is three minutes or 30 minutes, applying information technology in a way that keeps your eyes safe and healthy is important.

If you are living with keratoconus or wear specialty contact lenses to aid correct your vision, it is of import not only to follow general best-practices, only as well to keep some additional considerations in mind. Having said that, protecting your eyes doesn't mean you take to stop wearing your favorite products. Here are some tips for keeping your eyes healthy, while still embracing fun and trendy looks.

Best Makeup Practices for Healthy Eyes

As i of the most sensitive areas of the body, anybody should be careful about what products they let near or inside their eyes. Consider these general precautions when choosing your next beauty purchase or getting ready in the morning:

  • Continue information technology clean: Practicing good hygiene is disquisitional to keeping your optics salubrious. This means do non share makeup, even with close family or friends, and never use samples at stores. Throw away all heart makeup after three months, as bacteria can easily abound in any flossy or liquid formulas and crusade serious infection in the center. Never add anything to your makeup, whether information technology is water, oil, or other solutions, in an attempt to thin it out or get in concluding longer. It is always amend to just buy a new product rather than risk potentially dangerous contamination.
  • Read labels: According to experts, products that contain preservatives or ingredients such as kohl, talc, BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), urea, sulfates and phthalates tin irritate your skin or eyes. Take fourth dimension to read the labels on whatsoever new products you consider trying, or visit a site that provides safety ratings on thousands of cosmetics. If something you lot use has been causing or contributing to your eye irritation, consider trying a hypoallergenic alternative. Many allergen-gratuitous products are bachelor, even at your local drug store.
  • Resist the crazier trends: While things like glitter and specialty contacts may seem fun for a night out or a Halloween costume, try to avoid them all together as they tin can crusade potential impairment to your optics.

Makeup and Keratoconus

For those who are living with keratoconus and habiliment contacts, whether they are soft, scleral, rigid gas permeable (RGP), or hybrid lenses, ownership the right products alone is non enough to keep your eyes protected. It is also of import how you lot apply them. Changing your morning time routine may exist hard, simply incorporating small-scale changes can exist important to your long-term eye wellness.

  • Order matters:According to the American Optometric Association, information technology is best to put soft contact lenses in your eyes before applying makeup. However, for those who wear RGP or scleral lenses, it is recommended that the lenses be inserted after applying makeup, and so as non to get anything on them during application or cause them to shift.
  • Break bad habits: Although for some information technology may exist a difficult habit to break, avoid putting eyeliner on your lash line. According to the American Refractive Surgery Council, keeping the infinite between your lashes and eye clean is important considering the small glands aid lubricate the eye and keep it comfy and healthy. For those who wear specialty contacts, applying dark eyeshadow with an angled brush under your lower lashes, rather than using a pencil eyeliner, can help eliminate the need to touch your lids and crusade contact shifting. It is besides best to avert waterproof mascara when possible, every bit information technology may stick to or stain contact lenses and can be more than difficult to remove.
  • Remove contacts earlier makeup remover:At the terminate of the mean solar day, exist sure to remove your contact lenses before taking off your makeup so that you don't rub any oily makeup remover or potential dirt from the twenty-four hour period within of them. Later, dabbing your optics with a cotton wool brawl of remover tin can assist soften the makeup, making it easier to rinse off, rather than having to rub.
  • Allow your optics to fully heal: Finally, do not wear makeup if you've recently had eye surgery, including FDA canonical cross-linking. It is important to wait until your dr. tells y'all that it is safe to do so, and when you exercise, purchase fresh makeup to avoid infections. If you experience any discomfort, practise not rub your optics. Centre rubbing can lead to more serious bug, including impairment to your cornea and infection.

Again, protecting your eye health doesn't mean that you have to stop wearing makeup altogether. Simply taking an extra moment when choosing and applying your makeup tin brand a big difference.

If yous have any questions about your makeup and routine, or experience pain, sensitivity, redness, swelling, or persistent eye rubbing, speak with your dr..