The Best, Safest Ways to Remove Eye Makeup

The Best, Safest Ways to Remove Eye Makeup

Published by Lance Kugler, MD on January 21, 2020

Whether you wear it for a night out or it’s just your everyday routine, big, bold eye makeup with sparkles galore has become the norm. Throw on some faux lashes and your look is complete! At Kugler Vision, we want everyone to keep their eyes healthy, so remember to keep these tips in mind when buying, applying, and removing cosmetics around your eyes. 

Better Safe Than Sorry

First, buying safe products and applying them correctly is important to avoid infection, scratches, irritation, and dryness. Contact lens wearers run a higher risk of developing these conditions due to the lenses collecting and trapping makeup particles during the application process. We’ve compiled a simple set of rules to make it easy for you to keep your eyes healthy and beautiful while still using those eye-popping makeup tips and tricks. 

• Use cosmetics that are specifically made to apply around your eyes.
• Bacteria that cause infections can grow on your products after three months, so it’s important to freshen up your makeup stash regularly. 
• If you do develop an infection of any kind, toss your current makeup stash and start fresh with new products once the infection has subsided. 
• Do not share your makeup with anyone. 
• Before applying makeup, be sure to wash your face, eyelids, and hands. 
• Always apply makeup outside the lash line, away from the eye, to avoid blocking the oil glands of the upper or lower eyelid.
• Remove all eye makeup at night before sleeping.

7 Tips to Remove Eye Makeup Like a Pro

Removing cosmetic products from around your eyes is just as important, if not more important, than applying them. If not removed properly, eye makeup can cause irritation and if not done properly could have serious effects on your eye health. For example, last year a 50-year-old woman who slept with mascara on for more than 25 years developed uncomfortable black lumps underneath her eyelids, which led to follicular conjunctivitis. Keep your eyes healthy with these seven tips for removing your makeup in a safe and effective way:

1. Do not rub your eyes too harshly – this can cause dryness, redness, irritation, and ultimately fine lines.
2. Keep facial cleansers away from your eyes – the skin around your eyes is extremely sensitive and needs to be handled with care. Classic facial cleansers contain ingredients and chemicals that are too intense for the eye area and can dry it out.
3. Avoid the back-and-forth motion with a cotton pad. Instead, swipe from inner to outer corner and then start again at the inner corner and make small downward swipes following the lash line across.
4. Cleanse your face after removing makeup. Removers tend to leave a residue behind, so it’s important to also cleanse your face after using them.
5. Don’t reuse cotton pads. After the cotton pad is swiped across your eye, it is covered with makeup. Reusing this to go over your eye again will only redistribute that makeup elsewhere. Dispose of this cotton pad and grab a new one before proceeding. 
6. Don’t forget about your eyebrows. Brows have become a very intricate and important part of any makeup routine, which means you also need to remove the makeup applied there. Many of the products used on eyebrows are wax-based and can collect bacteria, just like eyelashes.
7. Be gentle with your eyelashes. Eyelashes play a key role in your eye health. They are the first line of defense for keeping dirt and dust out of your eyes. They also block air flow and prevent your eyes from drying out. 

Why It’s Important to Wash Off Your Makeup Before Bed

One of the most sensitive but neglected parts of makeup removal is the eyes. On those late nights when you are exhausted from a long day at work, we understand that all you want to do is go to sleep, but not washing off your makeup properly can become a bad habit, leading to eye infections and poor skin. Here are some reasons why it is important to remove eye makeup before going to bed: 

• Makeup residue on your pillow or sheets can build up over time and harbor bacteria.
• Eye shadow or liner can build up in your tear ducts, causing irritation.
• Dark circles and bags can develop under your eyes if concealer is not removed properly to allow skin cells to rejuvenate.
• Mascara left on your eyelashes overnight can dry them out and cause them to become thinner over time and fall out.

Removing eye makeup in a hazardous way or not removing it altogether can turn into a minor problem and if not taken seriously can cause serious issues in the future. We want you to show off your eyes and make them stand out while also keeping them safe and healthy. Makeup isn’t the only way to make your eyes stand out – ridding yourself of glasses allows you to show off your eyes and also make them look bigger. Without glasses, people say they feel more confident in how they look and feel better about themselves. One way to achieve this glasses-free lifestyle is by consulting with one of our experts about the benefits of LASIK. 

If you’re still dealing with the hassles of glasses and contacts, call the Kugler Vision team at 402-558-2211, or schedule your EyeAnalysisTM consultation by using our convenient online scheduler. We can’t wait to help you show off those eyes and achieve your best vision possible! 

Lance Kugler, MD

Lance Kugler, MD, is a specialist in LASIK and vision correction surgery and CEO of Kugler Vision. A proud Omaha native, he is passionate about improving lives through clear vision. Dr. Kugler serves on several national boards, and his practice is recognized internationally as a center of excellence. Dr. Kugler is one of the original founders of the Refractive Surgery Alliance, an international organization comprised of over 350 of the world’s leading vision correction surgeons; he also served as its first president. In 2019, Dr. Kugler was selected as a TEDx speaker, and delivered a talk in Omaha about the worldwide epidemic of nearsightedness and refractive solutions. Dr. Kugler is an Associate Professor of Refractive Surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Truhlsen Eye Institute, has been published in many medical journals, and participates in numerous clinical studies to advance the field of vision correction surgery. Additionally, Dr. Kugler is proud to be a Board Certified Fellow of the World College of Refractive Surgery & Visual Sciences. Dr. Kugler and his wife are proud parents to five active kids. When he has a spare moment, he enjoys skiing, tennis, travel, and fine coffee.