How to protect your eyes and contact lenses when using makeup?

From concealer to mascara, makeup is worn by millions of people each and every day, and it’s important when applying it to be doing so in a safe manner. Applying makeup around the eye area requires extra care to ensure you are protecting your sight from infection or even poking your eye out and causing long-lasting damage. 

For contact lens wearers, the challenge of protecting your eyes when applying makeup can seem even greater, as you need to ensure both your contact lens and eyes are being taken care of. 

Lenstore’s team of experts have outlined their top tips for applying makeup when wearing contact lenses, as well as exploring safety do’s and don’t when it comes to vision protection and makeup application.

Tips to protect your eyes

1. Wash your hands thoroughly

Before inserting contact lenses or applying any makeup, it’s important for you to wash your hands thoroughly first and ensure they are dried properly. This is the first step in ensuring no dirt is on your contact lenses and your eyes are protected as much as possible from any infection.

2. Always insert your contact lenses first

For contact lens wearers, it’s pivotal to insert your contact lenses before applying any makeup. Inserting them before reduces your risk of makeup getting on your tear film (the thin coating that protects your eye), and as a result, stops your contact lenses from being placed on a dirty surface that could cause irritation to the eye. 

3. Use the right products

There are a number of products and ingredients you should be looking out for as a contact lens wearer when applying makeup. Some of the biggest things to steer clear of include:

• Oil-based products - Oil-based products that can be found in creams and eye shadows can sometimes move around your face and enter your eye, which will affect your ability to see. Using this product can leave you with the risk of oil coating your contact lenses and clouding your vision as a result.
• Mascaras that contain fibres - Whilst many of us want long, full lashes, for contact lens wearers it’s important to avoid mascara wands that contain fibres. Usually made of rayon, nylon or silk, fibre mascaras can clump up and run the risk of falling into your eyes, which could lead to discomfort and infection.
• Loose powder products - When it comes to your eye-shadow or even blush, contact lens wearers will be able to protect their vision more with cream-textured products over loose powder. Loose powder products can enter your eyes far more easily than cream-based or pressed powders which can then result in irritation.

When it comes to finding the right product, looking out for signs that it has been tested by an optometrist, is fragrance-free to avoid any irritation or is hypoallergenic may also help reduce any risk when applying makeup with contact lenses in.

4. Stay away from your waterline 

Eyeliner is a staple product in many people’s makeup bags and is one of the most dangerous items for your eyes due to its close contact with them. For contact lens wearers you should be extra careful and apply this product to the outer part of your eye only. 

Whilst a common makeup technique is to apply eyeliner directly to your eye’s waterline (inner lash line), it can pose a risk to your eyes, especially for contact lens wearers.

Dr Alison Ng, of the Centre for Contact Lens Research at the University of Waterloo in Canada, conducted a study that investigated the risks posed by wearing eyeliner. In the study, Dr Ng recorded how many eyeliner particles entered the eye’s tear film after various application techniques.

Dr Ng comments; “We noticed that the makeup migration happened quicker and was greater when eyeliner was put on the inner lid margin”.

The study concluded that 15 to 30% more eyeliner particles enter the eye when applied to the waterline. It also occurs at an accelerated rate compared to other methods.

Dr Ng explains: “People who wear contact lenses are most likely to notice some problems. If they have eyeliner stuck to their lenses, increasing deposits might cause vision disruption as the lens becomes cloudier.” 

There is also the risk of the eyeliner pencil damaging the surface of the eye during application. If this is a regular occurrence, it can lead to irritation, swellings, or even an infection.

5. Replace your makeup regularly 

It is important for all makeup users, not just contact lens wearers to replace your makeup regularly in order to protect yourself from any build-up of bacteria that could cause an infection in your eye. 

Mascara has a shorter shelf-life and should be replaced every couple of months, whilst lip glosses can last a little longer at six months and foundation up to a year. 

Replacing your eye makeup regularly can help prevent common eye problems associated with using these products including conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink-eye, which can leave your eyes red, itchy and feeling gritty. In more severe cases of conjunctivitis, your eyes can also produce pus that can stick to the lashes. If you are experiencing this, it’s important to take some time without makeup, and allow boiling water to cool before gently wiping your eyelashes with a cotton wool pad. Conjunctivitis is contagious, so it’s important never to share your makeup products with others to reduce your risk.
Finally, if you find yourself with conjunctivitis it is important to remove your contact lenses immediately, as leaving them in can cause damage to your cornea. If symptoms worsen, it’s advised you visit your local GP to get it checked out.

6.  Keep your lenses as clean as possible

To ensure your eyes are protected, it’s key to ensure that your lenses are as clean as possible before inserting them. For those that use monthlies, this tip is extremely important. 

To take extra care of reusable lenses, please ensure each side of the lens is washed in fresh solution and rubbed for between 15-20 seconds to remove any dirt. Your lenses should also be left in the fresh disinfecting solution overnight, and you should look to replace your case at least once a month.

7.  Do not apply make-up whilst on the go

Whilst it may seem obvious, applying makeup on the go can increase your chances of cosmetics and other bacteria entering your eye. In a worst-case scenario, you could even find yourself getting poked in the eye by a mascara wand or eyeliner, which could lead to your contact lens breaking and even cause damage to your cornea.

Commonly asked questions

What happens if you get makeup in your eye whilst wearing contact lenses?

If you do experience makeup reaching your contact lens and causing irritation, the best thing to do is to remove them from your eyes as quickly as possible, and then also take your makeup off afterwards. If you wear these products often, it may be worth considering daily lenses over monthlies to ensure they are as clean as possible.

Be as careful as possible when removing them to prevent further irritation. When removing your makeup, opt for a water-based product or one for sensitive skin as the oil-based solutions may irritate your eyes further.

Can I wear eye makeup with blepharitis?

Blepharitis can cause symptoms such as watery, red and itchy eyes, whilst also causing discomfort and a feeling of burning or stinging in your eyes. To treat this condition, you can clean and treat your eyes by soaking a clean flannel in warm water and placing it on your eye for 10 minutes, as well as gently massaging your eyelid for 30 seconds to help reduce symptoms. 

During this period of time, to avoid any further irritation, it is advised to stay away from makeup where possible until the inflammation has reduced. Oil products should also be specifically avoided as they can clog the oil glands near the base of your eyelashes and cause redness.

How can I stop my eyes from watering when wearing makeup?

Unfortunately for some of us, our eyes water more than others when applying makeup, which can often lead to disastrous looks. However, you can help manage this by using eye drops before you apply makeup, which can help flush out any toxins in your eyes before applying your makeup or look for specific hypoallergenic makeup that will cause minimal irritation. Ensuring you have a good routine of removing your makeup can also help reduce longer-term issues with eye irritation and wateriness.

How should I use makeup if I suffer from dry eyes?

Dry eyes can feel extremely uncomfortable and it can in fact be your makeup habits that may be making your symptoms worse. If your eyes are suffering from dryness, there are simple ways to use makeup that will help prevent your symptoms from worsening, including replacing eye makeup regularly, using lubricating eye drops about 30 minutes before applying any makeup, and keeping the mascara to the minimum and applying it just to the tips of your lashes until your symptoms ease. 

There are lots of ways contact lens wearers can apply and wear makeup safely, which will also protect your vision from any other conditions.