During the holidays, we like to treat ourselves with (shiny) makeup. But be careful: “Certain products should really be avoided because they are dangerous for the eyes” warns Dr. Nawel Amar.
If there’s one time of year when we can indulge in makeup, it’s during the end-of-year holidays. Whatever the age, from 7 to 77, women all enjoy making their lips, eyes and cheeks shine to sparkle among the guests. Be careful though, warns Dr Nawel Amar, ophthalmologist and oculoplastician at the National Vision Hospital of Paris 15-20. Every year, women end up on Christmas or New Year’s Eve in the emergency room because of stupid mistakes they could have avoided. To protect yourself, here is the advice from this eye specialist.
- No hasty mascara : The eyes are sensitive and should be applied gently. You don’t start your makeup at 7:15 p.m. if you’re invited at 7:30 p.m. No, we anticipate in order to avoid the accident: “With mascara for example, we have all happened at least once to catch the brush in the eye and it hurts” comments our interlocutor. Not to mention that the eye is crying so you have to remove the makeup and start all over again, wasted time! So we take our time. “For women who are starting to lose their vision, use a magnifying, illuminated mirror to reduce the risk of accidental eye injury.” also recommends Dr. Amar.
- No glitter too close to the eyes : “I saw them again today when I went to a big store that sells makeup” wonders Dr. Amar. “Sequins are nice but it’s better to settle for iridescent eye shadow. I’ve seen small, rigid sequins sold for the eyes. If they get into the eye, you’ll rub it and you’ll have to go to the emergency room to have it/them removed. Likewise, you have to avoid large sequins because they can also get into the eye. It’s like a foreign body with the risk that the sequin gets stuck in the cornea, and the cornea is 500 times more sensitive than the skin.” Can you imagine? If you have a glitter in your eye “you must rinse the eye thoroughly with water or physiological serum but do not rub”. Any pain that does not disappear due to a foreign body should lead to the Emergency Department.
- No eyeliner inside the eye: “The eyeliner pencil can run. If it is applied to the white line of the free edge of the eyelid (at the bottom, editor’s note), it can cause inflammation and chalazions because behind there are the Meibomian glands, located in the thickness of the eyelids which can become blocked” warns the oculoplastician who advises instead to “put it in the outer line, near the eyelashes”.
- No waterproof makeup : it is practical because it lasts a long time and resists tears but waterproof makeup must remain exceptional. “Waterproof is good for going to the swimming pool but it’s difficult to remove, you tear your eyes and even your eyelashes to remove it. It must be used extremely rarely” insists Dr. Amar.
- No expired eye shadow : we never think about it but makeup expires. There is an expiry date on each product, to check before using them again. “Expired makeup can carry bacteria, warns the oculoplastician. It should not be used.”
- No going to bed without removing makeup. “When we come home from a party, we are tired, we don’t remove our makeup quickly or not and we fall asleep with it on. This can lead to eye irritation if the pigments of the products come into contact with the conjunctiva of the eye” explains Dr. Amar. The next morning, the white of the eye is red, the eyes hurt… The best? “Use a gentle biphasic as it removes all the pigment” concludes the specialist.
Thanks to Dr Nawel Amar, oculoplastician at the National Hospital of 15-20 in Paris.
