Everything You Need to Know About Eye Makeup and Eye Care
Makeup and cosmetics have been a major part of civilisations around the world throughout history. They have been a sign of wealth and status, distinguished between social orders, and even played an important role in religious and spiritual practices. In more recent times, however, makeup is more prevalent than ever.
Many of us refuse to leave the house without applying a little concealer or mascara. But few of us ever consider how makeup could affect our eye health. So with that in mind, in this article, we’re covering everything related to makeup and eye care, including the potential risks and best practices to ensure your eyes stay healthy.
The Different Kinds of Eye Makeup
Our eyes have long been described as the windows to our souls, and just as we tend to dress up the windows in our homes with fancy curtains or blinds, many of us often choose to frame our eyes with the help of various makeup products. The most common eye makeup products are:
Mascara: Modern mascaras are commonly made from natural waxes and oils such as beeswax or carnauba wax alongside pigments like iron oxide. Many products also contain polymers to further accentuate the lashes.
Eyeliner: Modern eyeliners come in a wide range of colours and can be used to create an inexhaustible variety of looks, from a classic cat eye to more playful designs. Depending on the colour, they may be made from iron oxide (black), ultramarine (blue), or chromium oxide (green), to name a few! These pigments are combined with waxes, oils, and other ingredients to help them stick to the eyelids.
Eyeshadow: Again featuring many of the same pigments mentioned above, eyeshadows are powder- or cream-based products designed to be swept over the lids of the eyes. Natural pigments are combined with fillers such as talc or kaolin clay to achieve a suitable consistency.
The Origins of Eye Makeup
The first iterations of many of the eye makeup products we use today are believed to date back to the ever-glamorous Ancient Egyptians. Both men and women would use cosmetic products to accentuate their lashes and eyelids, as well as to ward off evil spirits and protect their eyes from the sun.
Of course, these early cosmetics were very different to the products of today; for example, mascaras were reportedly made using a combination of kohl – a blend of several ingredients such as lead ore (which is now known to be toxic), malachite, or charcoal with animal fat or plant oils.
Thankfully, later versions of eye makeup products moved away from toxic lead ores. For example, later mascara iterations instead championed charcoal soot mixed with the newly invented petroleum jelly.
Eye Makeup and Eye Care
While our modern makeup products may not be made from toxic ingredients like lead, that isn’t to say they can’t be potentially harmful to us. Unhealthy makeup habits can often lead to undesirable problems such as spots, oily skin, and dryness. But other, often overlooked, negative effects can also come from careless makeup application – especially when it comes to our eyes.
So, let’s take a closer look at some of the potentially harmful effects makeup can have on your eyes.
How can eye makeup threaten your eye health?
Obviously, eye makeup products are designed to be applied close to the eyes. While this can usually be done safely – as the products are developed specifically with this in mind – some factors can cause a risk to your eyes. For example:
Getting product in the eye
Makeup products may be made from technically “safe” ingredients, but getting particles in your eyes is never a good idea. It can cause irritation and, in some cases, infection, which can threaten your eye health.
Using out-of-date products
It can be easy to forget to check the use-by date on your makeup products – or even to ignore the advice on the label to avoid wasting an expensive or favourite product. But these guides are given for a reason. Using expired makeup on any part of the body can cause serious problems. For example, they may contain potentially harmful bacteria or rancid ingredients that can lead to irritation and infection.
Sharing your makeup with others
If you’re at a friend’s house getting ready for a night out or a coffee run, it can be tempting to ask to borrow their makeup. However, this can be risky – especially when it comes to eye makeup. Sharing makeup and tools such as brushes is a common way of causing cross-infection of bacteria and viruses, including conjunctivitis. Sharing a friend’s makeup products may be convenient in the short term, but it is best avoided.
Using dirty makeup brushes
It can be hard to know exactly how often we are meant to clean our makeup brushes and sponges. However, failing to regularly clean your makeup tools can lead to them being contaminated with bacteria and fungi. It is generally advised to clean foundation and other brushes used for liquid or cream-based products daily, while powder brushes should be cleaned 1-2 times per week.
Applying makeup on the move
Applying makeup while you’re on the move, such as on a train or in the car, can increase your risk of not only ruining your makeup but also causing damage to your eyes. Being in a moving vehicle can mean you will be jolted unexpectedly, potentially causing the wand of your mascara or eyeliner pencil to enter the eye. This can cause corneal abrasions which, in some cases, may lead to bacterial eye infections.
Other Cosmetics Products and Habits that can Affect Your Eye Health
It isn’t just the application of eye makeup that can threaten your eye health. Other products and habits may also increase your risk of experiencing eye-related problems.
The Potential Risks of False Lashes
False lashes have become increasingly popular in recent years. Many people make regular visits to salons to have their eyelashes accentuated, while others will stick to self-applicated lashes – and most of the time, this goes without a hitch. However, it is important to ensure these products are applied in a safe and clean environment.
Getting adhesive in the eyes can threaten the integrity of the tear film, potentially leading to infection or even permanent scarring. Moreover, longer lashes may trap dust and debris from the environment which can then enter the eye. Thoroughly cleansing the lashes can help to avoid some of these issues.
Improper Eyelash Curling
Curling eyelashes has been a favourite beauty trick for decades as it can help them to look fuller and more accentuated. However, if performed incorrectly, this process can have risks of its own.
For example, eyelash curlers have the potential to break the lashes, causing gaps in your lash line, making them a less effective defence against dust and debris. Furthermore, it is important to ensure your curlers are cleaned regularly to prevent the spread of bacteria and germs around the eye!
Not Removing Makeup at Night
Most of the time, we wouldn’t think about going to bed without first removing our makeup. But sometimes, such as after a night on the town or a particularly long day, it is the last thing we want to do. But taking the time to cleanse your face of makeup (especially eye makeup) can be essential to your skin and eye health.
Makeup can block our pores, causing a build-up of oils which can lead to blemishes and irritation. Likewise, sleeping in eye makeup such as mascara and eyeliner can cause us to rub our eyes more, leading to the spread of dirt and potentially harmful bacteria around the eyes and face. Not only can all these things increase the risk of eye infections and irritation, but they can also contribute to premature ageing.
So, if you want to maintain your healthy skin and eyes, always remember to end your day with a gentle makeup remover!
Looking great and looking after your eyes don’t have to be mutually exclusive. To learn more about maintaining your eye health, get in touch with one of our knowledgeable clinic coordinators today. Or to learn more about our treatment options, Book a Consultation!