Wear Contacts? Follow These Makeup Tips

Don’t Line Your Waterline

Dr. Hilal-Campo advises against applying makeup on the waterline, especially if you wear contact lenses. “The waterline is where the openings of the meibomian glands, or the glands that excrete oils into the tear film, are,” she says. “Blocking them can cause painful styes and uncomfortable dry eyes.” Instead, she recommends applying a liquid eyeliner — not pencil, which she says can be pointy and easily cause damage to the eye — on the outer lash line of the eyelid. 

Look for a Flake-Free Mascara

Stay clear of flaky mascaras. According to Dr. Hilal-Campo, flakes can get into the eye and get stuck under the contact lens, causing severe damage to the ocular surface. If you’re looking for a flake-free mascara, we can’t get enough of the L’Oréal Paris Bambi Eye Mascara and the ILIA Fullest Volumizing Mascara. 

How to Remove Makeup Without Irritating Contact Lenses

Remove your contact lenses before taking your makeup off so that you can remove every trace of product, including your mascara, without getting it stuck in your contact lenses. “If you must do a targeted removal with your contacts in, gently use a cotton swab on the specific area, being extremely careful not to get any product into your eyes,” Dr. Hilal-Campo says. 

What Happens When Makeup Irritates Your Contact Lenses

With clean hands, immediately remove the contact lens. Then, use saline solution or preservative-free tears to gently rinse your eye. If you must put a lens back in, Dr. Hilal-Campo says, use a fresh one. “If there is still irritation, don’t reinsert a contact lens,” she says. “Instead, just wear glasses for the day. If the irritation persists, go see your eye-care professional as soon as possible to avoid serious eye infection.”