As December rolls around, the UK lights up with festive gatherings, from family dinners to glittering New Year’s Eve parties. And for many, the finishing touch to their outfit is a perfectly applied face of makeup.
The beauty and personal care market, valued at £27.2bn in 2023 [1], proves just how essential cosmetics are to our lives. Eye makeup, in particular, reigns supreme: mascara is the top choice, with eyeshadow and eyeliner not far behind [2].
Mastering eye makeup is a skill most have embraced, but keeping your eyes healthy while looking fabulous is just as important.
Resist the Glitter
Sparkles are synonymous with the season, but glittery eye products often contain metals, crushed gems, mica, or minerals that can leave harmful microscopic deposits on the surface of your eye. The results? Potential irritation or worse. Celebrate the season with care and seek out alternatives that deliver dazzle without any danger.
Sharing Isn’t Caring
The festive season is all about sharing, whether that’s mashed potatoes or monopoly, but eye makeup or applicators should never, ever be one of those things. It is fertile ground for bacteria and one of the easiest ways to spread the gift of conjunctivitis to see you into 2025.
Expired Means Expired
So you’ve got plenty of mascara left, but the bottle is telling you the formula is expired. What do you do? The answer is simple: do not use it. With everyday use, mascara should be replaced every three months. If you only use it occasionally, it should be six months. Liquid eyeliner will be good to use for around three months, but pencil eyeliner can last up to three years. This is due to the wet environment of the liquid that can harbour bacteria in liquid versions.
On the Go is a No-Go
Running late to the office Christmas party or dinner at the in-laws? Don’t give in to the urge to apply your eye makeup on the move. If you hit a pothole or get bumped in the arm – it can quickly lead to disaster. Stick to the rule of applying your eye makeup in a still space and at a slow pace.
Take Off Before Turning In
Late nights, maybe some wine, there are many excuses to use when it comes to falling into bed with your makeup on. Falling asleep in eye makeup increases the risk of infections, dryness, or inflammation like blepharitis, which causes red, itchy eyelids and scaly flakes on the eye lashes. Use a gentle eye makeup remover before bed to keep your eyes healthy and ready for the next celebration.
[1] https://britishbeautycouncil.com/mp-files/value-of-beauty-2023.pdf/?nocache=1
[2] www.hollywoodmirrors.co.uk/blogs/news/makeup-statistics
Book an eye test