Eye cosmetics are made to enhance your appearance. Improper use of
eye cosmetics can lead to serious eye infections, irritations, corneal
injuries, damage to contact lenses and allergies.
• Mostneweyecosmeticsboughtfromwell-knownnationalbrandcompaniesarefreefrombacteriathatcancauseeyeinfections.
• Mostcontainpreservativesthatpreventthegrowthofbacteria.
• Misusedandimproperlypreservedeyemakeupcancause eyeinfections.
• Bacteriacangrowfastinaproductandgetintotheeye.Ifthebrushscratchesthecornea,bacteriaonthebrushcanenterthescratch.
Tips for using eye cosmetics safely
• Washyourhandsbeforeapplyingmakeup.Somebacteriacantransferfromyourhandstoyoureyes.
• Disposableapplicatorsarethebesttouse,butkeepallapplicatorscleanandingoodcondition.Donotreuseoldapplicators.
• Cosmeticsshouldbekeptawayfromextremeheatandcoldthatcanbreakdownthepreservatives,allowingbacteriatogrow.Donotcarrymascarainyourpurseorleavemakeupinyourcar.
• Avoid“natural”and“preservative-free”products.Bacteriamaythrive intheseproducts.
• Moisturepromotesthegrowthofbacteriasodonotmoistencosmeticswithwaterorsaliva.
• Donotshareyourmakeupwithothersorusesomeoneelse’smakeup.
• Donotswitchmascarabrushesfromonevialtoanother.
• Neverapplymakeupwhiledrivingorridinginamovingvehicle.
• Toreducethechanceofallergicreaction,usecosmeticslabeled“fragrance-free,”“hypo-allergenic”or“forsensitiveskin.”
• Alwaysremovemakeupeverynight.Neversleepwitheyemakeupon.
• Neverseparatelasheswithapin,toothpickorotherpointedobject.
Special Information for Contact Lens Wearers Contact lens wearers must take extra care when applying and removing
eye cosmetics. Improperly used cosmetics can lead to lens deposits,
scratches, eye irritations, allergies, dryness, injuries and infections.
SafE USE of EyE CoSmEtICS
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Cosmetic or zero-power contacts come with the same risks as regular
contacts. Never buy cosmetic contacts without a prescription! Never
share your cosmetic contacts with others or use someone else’s contacts.
• Useaerosolproductssuchashairsprayordeodorantbeforeyou
insertyourlenses.
• Insertlensesbeforeapplyingmakeupandremovethembefore
takingmakeupoff.
• Oilyeyemakeupremovercancauseacloudybuilduponlenses.
• Usewater-solublecosmeticsorthosethatarelabeledsafeforuse
withcontactlenses.
• Usepressedpowdereyeshadows.Frostedandglitteryeyeshadows
containparticlesthatcanbeharmfuliftheygetintoyoureye.
• Useaneyeshadowbase.Itcanhelpshadowstayinplaceandout
ofyoureyes.
• Avoiddislodgingyourcontactsbyapplyingmakeupwithalighttouch.
• Donotapplyskincreams,moisturizersorotherproductstooclosely
totheeyes.
• Avoidwaterproofmascaraandeyemakeupcontainingnylonorrayon
fibers.Thesecanflakeoff,getcaughtunderthecontactlensand
scratchthecornea.
• Usepressedfacepowderinsteadofloosepowder.Removeexcess
powderfromyoureyelidsandeyelashes.
• Eyelinerappliedtotheinnereyelidcanclogtinyoilglands,which
canleadtoanirritation.
What to do if you experience a problem
• Reportpersistent,severepaintoaneyedoctorrightaway.
• Ifamildirritationpersistsorworsensafteryou’vestoppedusing
themakeup,seeaneyedoctorrightaway.
• Donotapplymakeuptobrokenorirritatedskin.Ifyoudevelop
aneyeinfection,discardthemakeuprightawayandstopusing
alleyemakeupuntiltheinfectionisgone.
SafE USE of EyE CoSmEtICS ( C o n t i n u e d )