Liners, Shadows, Primers, and Make-up Removal that Enhances your Look and Your Eye Health

Make-up and beauty routines are such a hot topic with so much information that we split it into two blogs! If you're looking for information on mascaras, eyelash enhancers, or extensions, click on last months blog "Extensions, Serums, and Enhancers: The Top 3 Things Your Eye Doctor Wants You to Know about Achieving Beautiful Eyelashes." Below we've continued our make-up series with information on eyeliners, shadows, primers, foundations, make-up removers, and those ever pesky dark circles and wrinkles!  A healthy beauty routine helps keep your eyes and skin healthy!

1.  Eyeliner Application

Eyeliner is probably the biggest make-up culprit that causes eye problems.  Why? Because most people apply it incorrectly.  I'm not talking about shaping the eye or how thick to put the liner on but where it goes exactly on your eye. Eyeliner should never go above your eyelashes.  The area above your eyelashes and below your eye is known as "water-line." This is a line of glands that secrete the oily part of our tears.  The oily part of the tears is responsible for keeping the rest of our tears securely on our eye so that our eye remains moist, comfortable, and our vision clear.  These glands are easily clogged because of their size and location and when you apply your eyeliner to that line, you've just blocked all of those tears for the entire time you're wearing the make-up. You may not notice it right away (especially if you're young) but damaging these glands results in itching, red, watering, irritated eyes and chronic dry eye for the rest of your life.

0697189001553612533.jpgEyeliner along waterline causing dryness and irritation

2.  Eye shadows, Primers, Brighteners, and Foundations

Cream is your friend here.  Avoid loose powdery or glitter based products.  Cream shadows and water-based formulas are best.  Powder and glitter can end up in your eye.  Not only does that disrupt the normal balance of your tears but it also can scratch your eye or get down in your tear glands and further reduce your tear balance causing irritation and dry eye.  If you're a contact lens wearer, always insert your contact lenses before applying any make-up to reduce the chance that a particle may end up underneath your contact. I keep a list of contact lens compatible make-up, eye creams, and make-up removers at our office for all of our patients but here's a quick and dirty summary of contact lens compatible make-ups:

  • Mascaras:  All Almay, Borghese, Clinique, Estee Lauder, Maybelline, Neutragena, and Physicians Formula
  • Eyeliners:  All Almay, Clinique, Estee Lauder, and Physicians Formula
  • Eye Shadows:  All Almay, Clinique, Estee Lauder, Neutragena, and Physicians Formula
  • Concealers:  All Almay, Estee Lauder, Neutragena, and Physicians Formula
  • Eye Creams:  All Estee Lauder and Neutragena
  • Eye Make-up Removers:  All Almay and Neutragena

*List updated as of December 2018; For a complete list, stop by our office at 110 East Harrison St., Farmington, MO

0550940001553612583.jpgHealthy Meibomian Gland Secretions with Clean Waterline

3.  Make-up removal

Oil-free removers are the best way to go to both remove your make-up and not damage your tears or ocular surface.  Always remove your contact lenses before removing your make-up so that your removers do not damage your contacts or coat your contacts if they inadvertently get in your eye.  I also recommend eyelid cleaner following your regular make-up remover to really ensure all of the dirt, oils, and make-up of the day are broken up and your eyes can breath and your tear glands function optimally. There are some really great over-the-counter eyelid cleaners that are inexpensive and great for every day use.  I recommend Ocusoft Lid-scrubs or Systane Lid-scrubs for this most often.  Both are gentle, medicated, safe for your eyes, and will remove all of the left over make-up and grime from the day. Bonus they are easy to find everywhere! They're also pre-moistened and individually packaged which makes it easy to swipe and go!  If you already have dry eye or your eyes are more sensitive then Ocusoft Plus Lid-scrubs or Heyedrate Lid and Lash Cleaner are great and effective options. If you've already got "the mites (discussed in last month's blog)" we need to be a little more heavy duty and we can talk about that at your exam!

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4.  Dark Circles, Fine Lines, and Puffiness

Unfortunately, there is no magic formula for this.  The best piece of advice that I can give my patients is STOP RUBBING YOUR EYES! As I mentioned in an earlier blog, the skin of our eye lids and around our eyes is very delicate. The more handling, the more damage that occurs, which results in puffiness, fine lines, wrinkles, and dark circles.  Use a cool compress to sooth your eyes when you feel like rubbing. Avoid water-proof make-ups as they are more difficult to remove. And treat your allergies! Often dark circles are the result of poor circulation resulting from slow sinus drainage. Have you ever heard of "allergic shiners?" Keep up your with primary care doctor or allergist to keep your sinuses open and draining and your allergies under control for a healthier appearance of your eye. Drink water and get sleep!

My mentor used to always say his favorite part of the day was "happy, healthy eyes" and I think we can all agree we are the happiest when we LOOK and FEEL our best! Your make-up routine should enhance your eyes and not diminish their natural beauty! See you in the office!

Dr. Courtney Kwan, OD

                                                                                                                                                                                   

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You never need an appointment to browse our optical but if you're ready for your eye exam, call us at 573-756-5665 or reach out on www.fvcmo.com!

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