Look Good: How To Safely Use Cosmetics If You Wear Contact Lenses
Many people love contact lenses because they allow you to correct your vision without the hassle of glasses. But what if you want to not only improve how you see, but how you're seen by others? Because make-up is often applied in close proximity to corrective lenses, it's important to follow a few simple rules when wearing cosmetics and contacts.
The Order Matters
Generally, you should insert your contact lenses before applying make-up. Using this order has two advantages. First, it helps you prevent accidentally trapping any stray makeup particles under the lens. Second, by waiting to apply product you eliminate the possibility of creating unsightly makeup smudges while putting in your contacts. The exception to this rule is if you are wearing gas permeable (GP) lenses. Because GP lenses are engineered to move when you blink, you're more likely to get debris under them than you are with conventional soft lenses. To prevent damaging either the lens itself or scratching your cornea, you should finish applying makeup before inserting GP lenses. Regardless of which kind of lens you wear, you should always remove your contacts before removing your makeup.
Pick the Right Products
A fan of dramatic cat eyes? Love smoky eyelids? Contact lenses won't prevent you from creating most popular looks, but some personal care products are naturally more compatible with contact lens wear than others. Because of their abrasive components, sparkly or metallic eye make-up should generally be avoided. It's also a good idea to avoid lash-lengthening or waterproof mascaras as these products have the potential to stain contact lenses. When possible, seek out products labeled as non-allergenic, as they are the least likely to cause irritation in general.
Keep It Above the Lashes
Once you're armed with contact-appropriate products, it's time to apply them. The basic rule is to keep all make-up on your eyelashes or above. Avoid applying anything, even eyeliner, to the inner rim of your eyelid.
Keep It Fresh and Keep It Yours
Because anything that sticks to your contact lens has the potential to be in prolonged contact with your eyes, it's especially important to practice good cosmetic hygiene if you are a contact lens wearer. Over time, the preservative system in makeup products breaks down. As time passes, makeup containers also have increased risk of contamination. For these reasons, its important to replace eye makeup at least every three months. If you have an eye infection (such as pink eye), you should immediately discard all eye makeup to reduce the risk of reinfection. It's also important to not share eye make up with others.
Contact lenses are a convenient solution for people requiring vision correction. And if you follow these simple rules you can easily use cosmetics in conjunction with contacts to look as good as you see. If you have any issues, visit an optometrist, such as Dr Ron Sealock, to examine your eyes.