Is makeup messing with your eyes?

Natural, clean, hypoallergenic – you may often see these ‘buzzwords’ used to describe some of your most favourite cosmetic products.

But did you know, these are all marketing terms without any legal definitions in the cosmetic industry, and may not necessarily imply that the product you are using is safe from harmful ingredients?¹

What does the science say?

Redness, itching, and burning are only a few of the signs that your makeup could be harming your eyes, and in turn causing common eye problems such as infection and dry eyes.^1,2

Many of the chemicals used in cosmetics are added as preservatives to stop or slow down the growth of bacteria, fungus, yeast and mould. However, there are concerns about some of them. They can cause irritation, allergic reactions or have the risk of longer-term damage to your eye health. These can be found in products such as eye shadow, mascara, moisturiser and primers.¹

As you wear it, makeup, such as foundation, mascara and eyeshadow can move onto the surface of the eye and block your tear making glands, leading to conditions such as dry eye.^1,2

Beware of aging products!

Over time, germs and bugs can move in to your favourite eye makeup, putting your eyes at risk of infection.^1,3 Old mascara can become infested with bacteria and mites while brushes and especially sponges, provide the ideal home for bugs to grow.¹

An ophthalmologist’s guide to eye makeup

You don’t have to go throwing out all your makeup just yet (maybe just the old stuff). We asked Nikolina Budimlija, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at the Institute of Eye Surgery in Ireland for her top five tips to minimise the risks of eye makeup and how to keep your eyes healthy – which includes sitting down for application and using clean fingertips rather than brushes and sponges.

To learn more about what she had to say, and more insights on cosmetics and eye health, download our latest information booklet BEAUTY INSIGHT: the latest science on cosmetics and eye health.