Be careful when using makeup around your eyes!
While most cosmetic products are tested to prevent them from being too dangerous, they can still cause harm to your eyes in a few different ways. To protect your eyesight and enjoy the benefits of cosmetics, it’s a good idea to understand the risks.
How ‘Safe’ Cosmetics Can Still Harm Your Eyes
1 – Allergies
Unless a cosmetic is specifically marketed as hypoallergenic, there’s a chance it’s using materials that a person could be allergic to. The preservatives used, in particular, can trigger allergies in some people.
Ideally, makeup getting your eye should only cause mild discomfort, and it should be easily washed out. If you experience significant pain, swelling, redness, or blurry vision you should call your eye doctor ASAP for help.
2 – Abrasive materials
Many types of cosmetics, such as mascara, are made up of particles which can be abrasive if they get into your eye. This can lead to scratches on the cornea (outer lens) of your eye, and other damage. This is also true of skin exfoliation products, which are specifically designed to be abrasive.
If products such as these get into your eye, try to avoid even blinking. Keep the eye open – hold it open if you have to – and get it under water immediately to clear out the abrasives before they can do damage.
3 – Dry eyes
Even if the materials in makeup aren’t directly harmful to the eye, many of them can disrupt the flow of liquid around your eyes. This leads to dry eye. While it can be counteracted with basic eye drops, it’s better to avoid dry eye entirely – especially when dry eyes are a common problem even without cosmetics making the situation worse.
If you find yourself experiencing dry eyes when using a particular kind of makeup near your eyes, try a different brand.
4 – Improper application
Finally, there’s the matter of applying the makeup. Many products, such as eyeliner and mascara, involve putting small pointy tools dangerously close to your eyes. Always be extra careful when applying products such as these. Something like an eyeliner pencil could easily damage the eye if your hand slips.
Valley Eyecare Clinic in Phoenix wants to help you preserve your vision. If something goes wrong with your makeup, or you just want to learn more about eye-safe makeup usage, please contact us for more information!
