Eye Makeup Safety

While mascara and eye shadow make your eyes stand out, they could harm your vision if you are not using them correctly. Eye injuries and infections from using makeup improperly happen all too often. Over time, bacteria and fungi can grow in your eye cosmetics that you don’t want to transfer to your eyes.  Here are a few makeup tips to keep your eyes healthy:

• Always wash your hands before you dig into your makeup bag and start applying eye cosmetics. Make sure that all eye cosmetic applicators are clean before you use them. It’s a good idea to wash or replace all brushes and sponges frequently.
• Don’t hold onto old makeup – throw it away after a few months.
• Don’t use mascara that is dried out. Don’t add saliva or water to moisten it. It’s best to replace mascara every two to four months.
• Don’t mix and match cosmetics. Use what’s intended for your eyes on your eyes only — don’t use the same pencil
• Never share your cosmetics with a friend, not even with your best friend or sibling! Another person’s germs may be hazardous to you.
• Hold still! Resist the temptation to apply makeup in the car or on the bus. If you hit a bump or come to a sudden stop, you risk injuring your eye with a mascara wand or other applicator.
• Skip eye cosmetics when you’ve got an irritated or infected eye.
• Just say no to glitter. Yes, glitter in your makeup can add some sparkle to your eyes, but it can also add sparkles in your eyes causing redness and irritation.
• Read labels and avoid harmful ingredients. Those containing kohl sometimes contain lead. Other ingredients you should consider avoiding include talc, BHA, urea, sulfates and phthalates.
• Be diligent about carefully removing eye makeup at night, especially the mascara that can stick to the lashes.

If you do scratch your eye or are concerned about any irritation, visit your eye doctor at Gailey Eye Clinic to make sure that complications such as eye infections don’t occur.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration  “Eye Cosmetic Makeup Safety” 18 December 2006.
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