Makeup Hygiene and Your Eyes

You wouldn’t eat expired food, so why take the risk with expired makeup products?

Your eye health is just as important as the rest of your body’s health and shouldn’t be neglected or taken chances with. In this blog, we’re going to look at the importance of good makeup hygiene and safety precautions when it comes to cosmetics and your eyes.

The Risk of Expired Makeup

Most eye makeup products are applied very close to the delicate surface of the eye, where bacteria can easily spread and cause infections. These products all come with a shelf life, not just from the date of purchase, but from the moment they’re first opened.

Harmful germs can build up in makeup, just like with food. When you first open a product, make a note of the date so you’ll know when it’s time to replace it.

Regardless of the brand or price point, every product has a limited shelf life. Your £2 eyeliner and your £25 eyeliner can both cause eye infections once they’ve gone past their use-by date.

To stay safe, always check for the PAO (Period After Opening) symbol on all your products; it looks like a small open jar with a number and letter on it. (e.g. 8M means 8 months after opening, it’s time to part ways and get yourself a new one).

A general timeline to follow is:
• Mascara: Discard after 4 months
• Liquid Eyeliner: Use for 3 to 6 months
• Cream Eyeshadow: Use within 6 months
• Powder Eyeshadow: Use for up to 12 months
• Foundation: Discard after 6 months

Avoiding Eye Infections: Our Top Tips

1. Keep Your Products Clean

Always wash your hands and face before applying makeup. This will help to keep your makeup and applicators clean and germ-free. It’s also a good idea to sanitise your brushes after each use or sharpen your eyeliner pencil prior to using it.

2. Only Apply Makeup to the Outside of Your Eye

If the glands in your eyelids become blocked, this can result in severe dry eyes. Eye makeup applied to the inner lids and waterlines can cause a buildup of debris and clog the tiny meibomian glands that line the inside of your upper and lower eyelids.

These glands secrete nourishing oils that keep your tear film healthy and eyes comfortable. Keeping them clear and open is essential for your tear quality.

3. Never Share Your Eye Makeup

Sharing eye makeup, brushes, and eyelash curlers is never a good idea. Using the same makeup and applicators as others, especially those from makeup testers in the store, is a way for harmful microbes, such as bacteria and fungi, to enter your eyes and result in bacterial and viral eye infections.

4. Remove Your Eye Makeup at the End of Every Day

Sleeping with eye makeup still on significantly increases your risk of developing blepharitis, an inflammation of the eyelids.

For more information on blepharitis and our BlephEx treatment, click here.

Make it a habit to remove your makeup before going to bed using an oil-free makeup remover or wipe. This will help to prevent eye infections, contribute to better skin health, and make it easier to reapply makeup the next day.

5. Avoid Eye Makeup Containing Glitter

Be careful with metallic, glitter, and sparkle powder. Flakes can fall into the eye, enter the tear film, and irritate your eyes. Glitter makeup is a common cause of corneal irritation or infection, especially for people who wear contact lenses. Large pieces of glitter can scratch the eye, similar to getting sand or dirt in your eye.

6. Be Careful Using False Eyelashes

Most false eyelashes are applied using tweezers and a specially formulated, semi-permanent glue. There are also magnetic eyelashes, which are applied with an eyeliner that contains tiny magnetic particles.

Both glued and magnetic lashes can irritate the sensitive skin around the eye or dip into the eye and damage the cornea if not applied well.

7. Be Cautious 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 that you’re not reacting to the first one.

If you do notice an allergic reaction, identify the ingredients so you can avoid them in other products.

Ingredients You Should Be Cautious Of

Many cosmetics can contain harmful ingredients that may cause damage if coming into contact with your eyes. Here is a list of the most harmful ingredients which we may come into contact with on a daily basis.

• Benzalkonium Chloride (BAK)
• Coal tar hair dyes and other coal tar ingredients
• Ethanolamines (MEA/DEA/TEA)
• Formaldehyde
• Hydroquinone
• Isopropyl cloprostenate
• Oxybenzone
• Parabens (methyl-, propyl-, isobutyl-, and others)
• Petroleum distillates
• Phthalates (DBP, DEHP, DEP)
• Polyethylene glycol
• Propylene glycol
• Retinyl acetate, retinoic acid, retinol (Vitamin A Palmitate)
• Sodium Lauryl Sulphate
• Toluene
• Triclosan and Triclocarban

 

 

 

Your eyes are extremely sensitive, and so early symptoms of infection should never be ignored. If you notice redness, burning, excessive watering, itching, or any other unusual discomfort after applying makeup, stop using all eye products immediately. These signs can indicate an allergic reaction, irritation, or the early stages of an infection.

Should this occur, gently apply a clean, warm compress to the affected eye; however, don’t delay seeking medical advice. If the irritation persists for more than a day or worsens noticeably, consult your local optician or pharmacist for treatment.