Some cosmetics have been linked as potential causes of Dry Eye Disease, which is a condition that causes damage to the surface layers of the eye. Many products are marketed as “all-natural”, “hypoallergenic”, “organic”, or even “ophthalmologist tested”, the reality is that these labels can mean very little. While routinely removing eye makeup at night helps dry-eye symptoms, the ingredients in these products could be contributing to symptoms. Many products contain harmful chemicals such as parabens and formaldehyde based preservatives which can damage the surface of the eye and the glands along the eyelids. Prolonged use of these products contributes to dry eye disease, blepharitis, and early aging of the eye. The following are a few helpful skincare tips to ensure the health of your skin and eyes.

Makeup:

• No waterproof makeup.
• Don’t apply eyeliner to the lid margin or “waterline”.
• Avoid false lashes as the glue can be toxic.
• Don’t share makeup.
• Proper removal is important for healthy skin and eyelids.
  • Blephaclean
  • I-Lid N’ Lash
  • Argan Oil
• Never expose eyelids to soaps or detergents, which strip them of their natural oils

Anti-Aging

• No Retin-A or “anti-aging” compounds around the eyes.
• UV protection is important. Use a paraben-free mineral based sunscreen daily. Wear sunglasses and hats.
• IPL (intense pulsed light) is a good way of evening skin tone, controlling inflammation, and lightly stimulating collagen.
• Radio-frequency rejuvenation procedures lift and renew tissues in a drug/cosmetic-free manner.

How do I know what’s present in the products I use? 

Luckily, there’s an App for that! Apps like INCI Beauty and Think Dirty allow you to research ingredients in cosmetics. The Environmental Work Group Skin Deep website (www.EWG.org) is also helpful. Below is a list of offending agents to look out for.

Offending Agents

• Argireline (acetyl hexapeptide-3, acetyl
• hexapeptide-8 “Botox in a jar”)
• Benzalkonium chloride
• BHA and BHT
• Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1 3-Diol
• Butylene glycol
• Coal tar
• Ethanolamines (MEA/DEA/TEA)
• Formaldehydes (DMDM hydantoin, ureas
• (imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea),
• quaternium-15, sodium
• hydroxymethylglycinate, bronopol,
• glyoxal)
• Hydroquinone
• Isopropyl cloprostenate
• Methylisothiazolinone and
• methylchloroisothiazolinone
• Oxybenzone
• Parabens (methyl-, isobutyl-, proply- and others)
• Phthalates
• Polyethylene glycol (PEG compounds)
• Quaternium-15
• Retinol (Retin-A and most anti-aging
• creams)
• Sodium lauryl sulfate and Sodium laureth
• sulfate (SLS and SLES)
• Synthetic flavour and fragrance
• Toluene
• Triclosan and Triclocarbon