#1. Don’t Share
Sharing your makeup products is an ultimate no-no! It’s similar to sharing a toothbrush … although, we’ll admit it’s a little less disgusting! Germs and bacteria abound on makeup applicators and products. If a friend asks to try your new eye shadow, point her to the store where you purchased it. If you’re sampling makeup in a store, ask for an unused, individual sample and a fresh applicator. Otherwise, avoid sampling at all!
#2. Toss Out Old Products
Go by the three-month rule when it comes to how long your makeup should stick around. It may seem wasteful, but older products are a breeding ground for nasty bacteria that can lead to eye infections. Creamy and liquid makeup products are especially susceptible to bacterial growth. At the end of each season, toss out the old makeup and buy new. Keep yourself on track by labeling new products with an “expiration date” three months out.
#3. Avoid the Waterline
Fashion and beauty magazines often display exotic eye makeup trends with eyeliner pencils and gels along the waterline. When you do this, however, you block the oil-secreting glands on the eyelid. The result is a common condition known as dry eye syndrome. Apply outside the lash line only.
#4. Skip the Glitter
Glittery eyeshadows might help your eyes sparkle, but these products can cause eye injuries. All it takes is one little flake to fall into your eyes for instant irritation. What’s more, experts believe glitter eye shadow worsens dry eye syndrome and leads to corneal infections. If you do get an eye infection, visit your eye care clinic as soon as possible. Then, throw out all your eye makeup and buy them all fresh.
#5. Test New Products Slowly
If your relationship with eye makeup includes a history of sensitivity and allergies, you should introduce new products gradually. Try one product for a few weeks before adding another to your beauty regimen. If you have an allergic reaction, stop using the product immediately and alert your Kansas City ophthalmologist. Also, reduce your risk of allergic reactions by purchasing hypoallergenic cosmetics.
#6. Clean Up at Night
This should go without saying, but it’s alarming how many people fall asleep without removing their makeup. Going to sleep with eye makeup runs the risk of getting tiny remnants of makeup into your eyes. Use gentle cleansing pads to remove eye shadow. Be thorough by lightly swiping a fresh cotton swab at the base of your eyelashes to get all traces of mascara that may get stuck on lashes.
Bonus tip–no matter how hurried you are, never apply eye makeup on the move. A sudden tap of the brakes can cause a mascara brush to scratch the surface of your eye causing a corneal abrasion. Wait until you’re stationary.
Prevent eye infections and injuries by using and applying your eye makeup correctly. Remember, ignoring these eye makeup tips could cost you dearly.