Eye cosmetics are meant to enhance the appearance of the eye thus making it more attractive. It is believed that it boosts the confidence level of people. Currently available eye cosmetics in the market include liquid eyeliner, pencil eyeliner (Kajal), eyeshadow, glitters, eyebrow pencil, artificial eyelashes with glue, mascara, concealer, etc. Eye cosmetics are used worldwide and are safe when used properly. However, it also harms your eyes sometimes in certain conditions.
Side Effects of Eye Cosmetic Use
- Allergic Reaction: Some chemicals or ingredients (Parabens, Benzalkonium chloride, Retinol, Formaldehyde, Hydroquinone etc.) that are present in cosmetic products may not be suitable for some individuals resulting in redness, itching, swelling of the skin around the eyes.
- Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye): Even if most cosmetics contain preservative to prevent them from bacteria, sometimes bacterial growth occurs and cause conjunctivitis. Expired cosmetics and cosmetics that are used by multiple people might get contaminated and harm your eyes.
- Corneal Scratch: If not used properly, mascara, pencil eyeliner, and glitters might scratch your cornea and cause severe infections.
- Dark circle: The skin around our eyes is very thin and delicate. Concealers are used to cover up the dark circle around the eyes. These chemical-based products if not removed before bed or kept for a longer duration might trigger dark circles more.
- Blepharitis: It can be caused by the bacteria that are transmitted to the eye from the eye cosmetics like mascara and artificial eyelashes.
Do’s & Don’t of Eye Makeup
| Do’s | Don’ts |
|---|---|
| Always check the ingredients and expiry date of the product before buying. | Don’t use expired products. |
| Test products before use. | Avoid eye makeup if you have or recovering from an eye infection and you have recently done any kind of eye surgery. |
| Make sure your hands and makeup applicators are clean before doing makeup. | Don’t share your makeup products. |
| Apply contact lenses first before starting your eye makeup. | Don’t apply the makeup while you are driving or inside a moving vehicle or in a rush because it might cause ocular injury or corneal scratch. |
| Remove your makeup regularly at the end of the day with the right products. | Never use waterproof makeup. |
| Makeup brushes need to be thoroughly cleaned regularly. | Never use oil-free makeup remover as it removes the healthy oil from the skin. |
| Discard the cosmetics after 3-4 months of use. | Never apply eyeliner on the waterline (lid margin) of the eye to prevent it from scratching and blocking the oil glands present at the roots of the eyelashes. |
| Replace the makeup product if it doesn’t suit your skin. | |
| Be careful while applying glitters to prevent them from getting inside the eyes. |
The above-mentioned do’s and don’ts of eye makeup can greatly reduce the chances of ocular harm. It is important to be careful about the risk of infections, injury, and side effects due to eye makeup. In case, if you get any eye problems like irritation, redness, or swelling after using eye makeup, then the best immediate way to deal with this situation is to discontinue/avoid your eye makeup and consult with your eye specialist.
References
- “Eye Problems Associated With Eye Makeup: How To Keep Your Eyes Safe?” , prasadnetralaya.com
- How Cosmetics Can Harm Your Eyes,www.alfamilyeyes.com
- As glamorous as it may seem, eye makeup can pose these 5 health risks, healthyshots.com
Master of optometry (Sushant University)