Dry Eye and Cosmetics

General Advice

• Never sleep in makeup – remove makeup nightly
• Avoid placing eyeliner on ‘the water line’ inside your eyelashes
• Use primer before applying eyeshadow
• No glitter near the eyes. Cream eyeshadows tend to be less irritating than powders.
• If using false lashes, use either magnetic lashes or daily removable ones
• Never use waterproof makeup
• Do not share makeup or makeup brushes. Clean brushes regularly.
• Eyeliner pencils should be sharpened between uses
• Never moisten cosmetics with saliva
• Throw out any makeup used during an eye infection
• Throw out expired makeup
  • Look for the open cap symbol with an M and that will tell you exactly how long that package will last

Irritating Chemicals in Makeup

Particles within cosmetics migrate onto the ocular surface, destabilize the tear film and result in destruction and discomfort of the skin around the eyes and the eyes themselves. Since the FDA does not require approval of cosmetic products before they are brought to the market, many beauty products have irritating ingredients within them. Currently there are only 11 ingredients banned from use in US cosmetics. By comparison, there are 1300 distinct chemicals banned from cosmetics in the EU.

The Clean Beauty Initiative

To combat the proliferation of irritating chemicals common in makeup, the idea of ‘Clean Beauty‘ was born. Brands that promote themselves as part of the ‘Clean Beauty’ movement have committed to removing toxic ingredients from their products. However, there is no regulation of this term, and any brand can say they promote clean beauty. Finding ‘Clean Beauty’ products can be daunting. There are some websites you can use to look-up makeup and see if contains irritating or toxic ingredients.

• Skin Safe Products
• The Good Face Project

Specific Makeup Brands Committed to Healthy Ingredients

Below are some specific companies that are frequently recommended by eye care providers. We cannot vouch for these companies, and you should do your own research to find the makeup that is least likely to cause issues for your eyes.