Eyecare and Makeup

Makeup can be essential for many women. I rarely leave the house without it. However, eye care and makeup can be contradictory without the proper products and care.

Waterproof mascara may be great for longevity and smudge-proof but not great for eye care. If the waterproof mascara flakes off, it can embed in the cornea and it will need to be removed as a foreign body. Not a fun experience! Painful, expensive, and not the look you are going for! A corneal abrasion could lead to a corneal scar, and loss of vision and make it more difficult to have LASIK in the future. Water-resistant mascara is a much better alternative. I am a fan of Thrive mascara. It elongates the lashes, makes tubes around your lashes, and does not smudge. Frequent replacement of the mascara is essential in preventing infections. Bacteria love to grow in moist, warm environments. Summer can be a common time to see cases of conjunctivitis (red eyes) that can be traced to a mascara that should have been tossed long ago.  Recently, my stepmother mentioned she had purchased a new mascara that was a fiber mascara that made the eyelashes thicker. I informed her I was not a fan. The fibers can also be embedded in the cornea and require an eye care professional removal.

Makeup such as eyeshadows can easily get into the tear film. It can coat contact lenses and cause vision blur. Using a higher quality high pigment shadow helps reduce the pigment in the tear film. If you are not using single-use contact lenses, you should! It helps reduce problems secondary to makeup. You can never clean your contacts as clean as the first day you use them.

Removing eye makeup is another important issue. If not taken off properly. It can encourage painful and unsightly styles (internal and external hordeolum). Styes may not completely resolve and may require surgical intervention. I have spoken to many makeup artists and dermatologists who are not fans of makeup wipes. Makeup wipes can pull too much on the delicate skin around the eyelids and could possibly cause the early onset of wrinkles. I doubt any of us want wrinkles sooner than later. My preference is a natural product such as We Love Eyes makeup remover or Neutrogena Oil Free eye makeup remover.

Proper application, removal, proper products, and care are essential in ensuring short and long-term eye comfort and great health. Feel free to reach out if you would like to learn more.

Author: Dr. Kristine M. Kobayashi, Optometrist

Dr. Kobayashi, O.D. completed her undergraduate studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She then earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from the Southern California College of Optometry. Dr. Kobayashi has specialized training in Low Vision and hospital-based optometry.  She obtained her license to utilize pharmaceutical agents in the state of California in 1997.

Dr. Kobayashi is married to Randy and has two beautiful children.  She enjoys traveling and fine dining.