Dry eye and inflammatory conditions affecting the eye can make the application of makeup a bit of a challenge. With the right tips, you can look great without compromising comfort or eye health. Whether you're managing chronic dry eye disease, ocular rosacea or blepharitis (eyelid inflammation), here are some essential tips to keep your eyes happy and your makeup looking flawless.
What to Do
When it comes to applying makeup with dry eye or inflammatory conditions, the key is to be gentle and intentional. The right product choices and application techniques can help you minimize the risk of worsened irritation and also protect your eye health. Below are some expert-backed tips to help you navigate makeup application safely and comfortably.
1. Choose Hypoallergenic Products
Opt for makeup labeled as hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and ophthalmologist-tested. These are less likely to contain ingredients known to irritate the eyes.
2. Use Cream-Based Formulas
Cream eyeshadows and eyeliners are more gentle overall and less likely to flake into your eyes compared to powders.
3. Apply Makeup Gently and Away from the Lash Line
Avoid applying eyeliner on the waterline (lid margin). Instead, apply it above the lash line to prevent blocking the meibomian glands or flaking into the eyes. Meibomian glands are crucial for oil production and ocular lubrication. More gentle application reduces risk of mechanical trauma or injury to the eye.
4. Remove Makeup Thoroughly
Use a gentle, oil-free makeup remover to avoid residue that can worsen dryness or cause inflammation. Gentle micellar water or eyelid cleansing wipes can help with this, and can remove excess bacteria at the same time, reducing risk of blepharitis.
5. Use Good Quality Artificial Tears
Keep your eyes well-lubricated throughout the day with preservative-free artificial tears, especially before and after makeup application. This can also help to dilute any foreign material from makeup or skin care products that may have made its way into the eyes, further reducing risk of irritation.
What to Avoid
Many patients with chronic dry eye may also be sensitive to certain ingredients or preservatives in eye drops, makeup and other toiletries. For this reason, many eye care practitioners are recommending preservative-free eye drop formulations, especially for patients with a more severe level of dry eye disease. This same concept transfers to other commonly used products on the face and around the eyes, including creams, lotions, cleansers and makeup. Here are some tips on what to avoid when applying makeup or other products around the eyes.
1. Waterproof Mascara
Waterproof makeup is harder to remove, increasing the risk of makeup residue or debris lingering on the lids and lashes. This increases risk of blepharitis and inflammation. Waterproof mascara may also require harsh cleansers that can irritate sensitive eyes.
2. Glitter and Loose Powders
These can easily flake or fall into your eyes and exacerbate dryness or cause discomfort/irritation.
3. Expired or Shared Products
Old or shared makeup can harbor bacteria, increasing the risk of eye infections and irritation.
4. Tightlining
Applying eyeliner directly on the inner rim of your eyelid can block oil glands and worsen dry eye symptoms. Meibomian gland openings are located in this area and plugging them can decrease the amount of oil in your tears, worsening this chronic condition even more.
5. Ingredients Known to Cause Allergy or Sensitivity
This may seem like common sense, however, some patients have no idea that they may be sensitive to a particular ingredient until they experience discomfort after applying a specific makeup product. Common culprits are benzalkonium chloride (a commonly used preservative in eye drops, eye liners and mascara), formaldehyde (another preservative commonly found in makeup removing wipes and face washes), parabens (another preservative most often found in mascara, lotion and deodorant) and phenoxyethanol, yet another preservative agent found in soaps and many different makeup products. Some of these preservatives can cause or worsen skin irritation, eye irritation, damage meibomian glands or inhibit their function, damage cells on the ocular surface and even cause endocrine disruption.
Conclusions and final tips
Dry eye disease is becoming much more common. Inflammation is one of the main components of the vicious circle of worsening dry eye disease. Many patients with dry eyes also have significant sensitivities to ingredients that are commonly found in a variety of health and beauty products. Ideally, avoiding use of products containing these harsh ingredients around or in the eyes can help to avoid flare ups or worsening of inflammation. If you've adopted the tips mentioned here and your dry eye symptoms still seem to persist or worsen with the use of makeup or other products, always consult with your optometrist for more personalized advice and treatment options.
References:
- Huda Minhas, OD. "The Safest Makeup Ingredients for Sensitive Eyes" Eyes On Eyecare, 21 Mar 2022, https://eyesoneyecare.com/resources/the-safest-makeup-for-sensitive-eyes/
- Yazdani, Mazyar, Katja Benedikte Prestø Elgstøen, and Tor Paaske Utheim. "Eye make-up products and dry eye disease: a mini review." Current Eye Research 47.1 (2022): 1-11.
- Liu, Yang, et al. "The impact of eyeliner usage on dry eye symptoms." Scientific Reports 15.1 (2025): 14039.
- Albdaya, Norah A., et al. "Prevalence of dry eye disease and its association with the frequent usage of eye cosmetics among women." Cureus 14.7 (2022).
- Khan, Amir Zeb, et al. "Association of dry eyes with type and demographics of eye cosmetics users." Journal of Ayub Medical College Abbottabad 36.4 (Suppl 1) (2024): 901-904.
Contributors:
Sarah Farrag, OD
Dr. Sarah Farrag is originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, and is happy to be practicing optometry in her hometown. She graduated with honors from the University of Waterloo Doctor of Optometry program in June 2015. In addition to routine optometric care, Dr. Farrag also facilitates an advanced dry eye clinic offering specialty consultation and treatment for severe dry eye.
