Expired Makeup Products And What They Can Do To Your Eyes

Which Makeup Products Can Damage Your Eyes?

According to research, mascara is the one product you should fear most. Even though it is a pity to throw away a half-used mascara, you should, because using mascara that is over three months old can increase the risk of pink eye and other inflammatory conditions. And we already know that our eyes are most susceptible area to infections. In the places where our lashes come out there are a lot of pores, glands, and tear ducts that have bacteria on them, and if you wear contact lenses you can also transmit fungus (which can grow on your lenses), and when we use a mascara brush, we automatically contaminate the said brush. Over time, the infected brush leads to a buildup of bacteria in the cosmetics container. This increases the chance for an eye infection or an allergic reaction with each use of the product.

Eye shadow is similar to mascara, the longer we have eye shadow, the more likely we are to get a nasty eye infection. To be sure try keeping your eye shadow for no longer than six months. Eyeliner is another product extremely similar to mascara. And even though, eyeliner tends to last longer before expiring, it still runs the risk of germ contamination if you use it past its expiration. To prevent the development of any sort of eye irritation or infection, it's best to just stop using any old eyeliners. Not only can pieces of makeup land in the eyes and cause redness and irritation. More serious infections that threaten sight can result if the surface of the eye is scratched with an infected brush or makeup pencil.

How To Protect Our Eyes From Makeup

A good idea would be to keep track of how long you’ve been using certain products like mascara and eyeliners. This is useful because cosmetic companies are not required to print expiration dates on makeup.

Don’t share your makeup! Cross contamination happens when two or more people use the same brushes or eyeliners. The main danger with sharing makeup is passing on an infection like viral conjunctivitis or pink eye. Exposure to even a small amount of virus can lead to a very uncomfortable infection.

Never apply your mascara before putting in your contact lenses - bacteria from your makeup can get in your eye, which is then covered with a contact lens, thus making the bacteria grow more rapidly. Also, it will be much easier to see where you’re applying your mascara if you put on your lenses and then grab your wand.

The Dangers Of False Eyelash Glue

Have you ever wondered whether false eyelashes can pose health risk to your eyes? Because they sure can. The false eyelash trend only grows more and more each year and so do problems related to this particular trend. Here are some of the problems caused by fake eyelashes.

Most eyelashes are either held to the eye with glue or sewn on, and this can cause irritation or allergic reactions. Glue can sometimes contain formaldehyde, which specifically can result in burning, stinging, swelling, and a rash upon contact or even up to a week later. They are also usually glued at places that may not be very hygienic. Bacteria and fungus can get trapped under the glue and lead to infection, which causes swelling, redness, and a lot of pain around your eyes. The lashes themselves can even irritate the cornea, and when the glue thickens, it can fall off and scratch the cornea. These false eyelashes, especially extended ones, can also seriously damage your natural eyelashes. For example, the weight of the glue and the false lashes can damage the hair follicle making it difficult to grow back your natural eyelashes.

Temporary false eyelashes can also cause similar complications, and when they are pulled off at the end of the night, many real eyelashes come off with them too. Eyelashes are necessary to keep dirt and bacteria away from the eye, and when they are damaged, your eye is at risk for infection. Additionally, these false eyelashes can trap the same dirt and bacteria that natural eyelashes are intended to protect your eyes from.

Eye Makeup & Contact Lenses

Wearing contact lenses and makeup can be really annoying because makeup can stick to the lenses. If you want to wear makeup together with contacts, you should know that you need to put in your contacts before applying makeup. This way you will avoid getting any makeup residue between the contact lenses and your eye. This will in turn prevent the development of the bacteria in your eye.

Eyeliner and mascara are another problem for those wearing contacts. Eyeliner shouldn’t be applied along your inner lash line or eyelid, instead it should be applied above the lashes. Mascara is usually put on from the base of the lashes up, but if you wear lenses, it should be put on from the midpoint and extended to the tips. What you should have in mind is to use water-resistant or long wear mascara and eyeliner to prevent flaking and smudging and don't wear false eyelashes. The lash glue can irritate your eyes.

When removing the makeup, you should start with removing your lenses first and then taking off your eye makeup. When choosing make-up products, look for hypoallergenic products and replace your makeup regularly to keep it fresh and hygienic. If your eyes are swollen, red, or irritated don’t put in lenses or apply any makeup.

Safety Tips

Tips offered by the FDA for the proper use of eye cosmetics:

Immediately stop using eye products that cause irritation. If irritation persists, see a healthcare provider.

Wash your hands before applying eye cosmetics. If you don't, the bacteria on your hands could cause an infection.

Make sure that any cosmetic tool you place near the eye is clean.

Don't allow cosmetics to become covered with dust or infected with dirt or soil. Wipe off the container with a damp cloth if you can see dust or dirt.

Don't use old containers of eye cosmetics. If you haven't used the product for several months, it's better to throw it out and buy a new one.

Don't spit into eye cosmetics. The bacteria in your mouth may grow in the cosmetic and later use may cause an eye infection.

Don't share your cosmetics. Another person's bacteria in your cosmetic can be harmful to you

Don't store cosmetics at temperatures above 85°F (29°C). Cosmetics held for long periods in hot cars, for example, are more at risk of weakening the preservative.

Avoid using eye cosmetics if you have an eye infection or the skin around the eye is red. Wait until the area is healed.

Take extra care in using eye cosmetics if you have any allergies.

When applying or removing eye cosmetics, be careful not to scratch the eyeball or some other sensitive area of the eye.