They say the eyes are the window to the soul, which is perhaps why you give them so much anti-ageing attention. You want to eliminate fine lines and wrinkles, trim unruly brows and generally make your eyes gorgeous, but at what cost to your wellbeing? Could some of your favourite beauty therapies actually be doing damage to your eye wellness? We’ve rounded up some of the worst offenders for harming eyes, as well as some friendlier alternatives, so you can have healthy and beautiful eyes.
1. Coloured lenses: As we’ve just had Halloween, you may have seen a lot of people wearing scary eye lenses and thought, “hey, now there’s an idea.” While you may want to choose a new colour for your eyes – instead of looking like a zombie – when these lenses are sold without prescription you are putting your eyes at risk of injuries or infections. Even if you only wear them for a short time, contact lenses from salons, costume shops, or online can cause vision loss, because contact lenses require proper fitting, cleaning, and care. However, if you still feel like the good Lord gave you the wrong colour eyes, you can ask a licensed eye care professional about RX coloured contact lenses. You’ll need an eye exam even if you have perfect vision, and your doctor can write you a prescription and show you how to take care of the lenses properly. Make sure you follow your doctor’s advice so that you don’t injure your eyes.
2. Prescription eyelash serum: If you want long, flirty eyelashes – albeit temporarily – latisse is a prescription drug that can help you get them. You daub the serum onto the upper line of your lashes on a daily basis, and can expect to see results in four months. While your lashes may become long and luscious, it’s important that you bear in mind that there’s a risk of side effects, some of which are permanent. The drug may change your eye colour to brown (or make brown eyes darker) and it can also darken the skin around your eyes. Instead, why not ditch the prescription drug in favour of false eyelashes or eyelash extensions? However, while these alternatives can give you that long-lashed look without a prescription drug, that doesn’t mean they’re risk-free. The adhesives can irritate your eyelids or cause an allergic reaction, so be careful. You should also be on the watch for permanent eyelash tints that promise thicker-looking lashes, as these have been linked to serious injury, including blindness. The FDA is yet to approve any permanent dyes for use on the lashes.
3. Expired makeup: If you’re got glittery eye shadow from the 90s that you’re hanging onto for a just-in-case occasion, chuck it now. While makeup contains preservatives, these can break down over time which enables bacteria to grow. This is not just the case with eye makeup, but all kinds of makeup, although different types of cosmetic have different “use by” guidelines. Don’t hold onto your mascara for more than three to four months, and get rid of eye shadow after two years. Concerning the rest of your makeup bag, lipstick and foundation are OK up until a year, and you can keep hold of blush and powder for up to two years before tossing it out. However, getting back to your eyes, if you develop an eye infection you should throw out your eye makeup immediately. If you use mineral makeup, this contains fewer irritating fillers and preservatives than regular cosmetics, but as it contains allergens you should look products with as few ingredients as possible if you have sensitive eyes and skin.