Is your make-up harming your eyes?

A good mascara is an essential piece of kit in your make-up bag - in just a few sweeps it can put the sparkle back in your eyes and lengthen your lashes so they look fluttery and oh-so-chic.

But did you know that if you hang onto your favourite mascara for too long there’s a chance it will start to gather bacteria and become a source of painful eye infections? The same can also be said for old eye pencils and eye shadows which may have been gathering dust on your dressing table and could suddenly trigger a sticky case of conjunctivitis or a painful stye on your eyelid.


It’s also worth remembering that while you might not think twice about sharing your make-up, it’s a very easy way for eye infections to be passed around, as ophthalmologist Dr Sarah Osborne, from Moorfields Eye Hospital, explains.

Don't forget how infectious it can be to share make-up

“Conjunctivitis can be extremely infectious. It’s passed on very easily and can quickly sweep through a household if you share make-up before someone realises they have been harbouring an eye infection,” says Dr Osborne.

“It is usually treatable; however it can cause a swollen red eye, time off work, blurred vision, discomfort and pain. It can take weeks to clear up and some people have problems for longer.”
“In rare cases it’s also possible to contract herpetic eye disease from someone else, which can cause painful attacks of the condition and even damage your vision.”

Refresh your eye products regularly

Your best bet is to keep an ‘eye’ on the length of time you’ve been using a product to check it won’t get contaminated.
Most mascara’s tend to dry out after three months so don’t be tempted to moisten the wand with water as this will lead to an eye infection, instead chuck it in the bin and treat yourself to a new mascara like Boots No 7 Perfect Stay Mascara, £12.95, pronto.

As for eye shadows, help them last the distance and stop bacteria spreading, by keeping your brushes clean with Clinique Makeup Brush Cleanser, £13.

Is your eye make-up harming your eyes?

Top tips for keeping eyes in check
1. Don’t share: Sharing make-up and brushes is the easiest way for bacteria to spread quickly. Reduce the risk – keep your products to yourself.

2. Outside Only: Apply eyeliner to the outside of the lash line, this will prevent scratches to the eye and bacteria from make-up going into your eye.

3. Keep it cool: Bacteria thrives in warm, dark wet places. Keep make-up bottles and cases in cool, dry areas to reduce risk of infection.

4. Fix up, keep it sharp: Sharpening your eyeliner pencil not only ensures a more precise line, it also helps reduce the number of bacteria. Sharpen before AND after use.

5. Replenish your kit: Most people don’t realise that make-up products have a use-by date. Make sure you check your make-up bag and throw away any old mascaras and liquid eye-liners. A great excuse to treat yourself – so make the most of it!



6. Avoid testers: Make-up counters always have a range of products for you to test, but avoid applying any make-up to your eyes or lips. Testers may have been used by many other people and could be harbouring infectious bacteria.
source:http://home.bt.com/