Contact lenses and makeup share the same objective- they both aim to help our eyes. One helps us to see, whilst the other helps to accentuate our dazzling peepers. And if you wear coloured contacts, they can do both. So, when we pair both contacts and makeup together, it’s a double win for our eyes. But bear in mind that makeup can find its way into our contacts and cause problems which no longer feels like a win. Makeup is one of the leading causes of issues for contact lens wearers, yet this does not mean you have to wave goodbye to your makeup. There are ways to help to minimise the risk of makeup becoming a potential problem, so let us tell you how your contacts and makeup can live in harmony together.

Always put your lenses in first- Before you begin your face routine, moisturiser included, make sure you first put your lenses in with clean hands. This is to avoid any residue being left on your hands and transferring onto your contacts.

Use a face primer- Face primers are a good base to help keep your powders and shadows to stay in place. Apply a primer to your face before you add your makeup, this is to reduce the risk of any particles straying from your face and finding its way into your eye.

Use oil free products- If you can, opt for oil free products especially around your eye area. The oils in makeup can work their way into your eyes, causing a film to cloud over your lenses, and leaving your vision blurry.

Do not use old makeup- Makeup that you have had laying around for years is a breeding backyard for bacteria and fungi. When we use this makeup, it can increase the risk of these organisms finding their way inside our eyes, that may lead to infection.

Keep your brushes clean- Just like with old makeup, our brushes can store bacteria which can be harmful to our eyes. Ensure you wash your brushes at least once a week to keep them free of bacteria, and to be deemed safe for your eyes.

Be choosy with your mascara- Stay away from mascaras that contain synthetic fibres, as these fibres tend to attach themselves to your lashes and can find their way into your lenses. Also be mindful of how many layers you apply, as this causes mascara to become clumpy. It is these particles that lead to a build-up of proteins, leaving your contacts open for contamination and eye irritation. When choosing a mascara to wear with your contacts, look for a tubing mascara which is designed for sensitive eyes, as the particles are intended to not flake off.

Oil free cream shadows over powder- When applying eyeshadow to your eyes, look for an oil free cream shadow instead of a powder. The particles from powder shadows can easily fall into your contacts, leaving potential for discomfort or infection. Similarly, cream shadows that contain oil can also leave your eyes open to irritation by creating an easy pathway for oil to slip into.

Be mindful when using eyeliner- We all know eyeliner plays an important role in our makeup regime, however, caution is needed when applying with contacts. For those who like to apply under their eye (the waterline), be warned as this part of your eye is in contact with your eyeball, and anything on there will most likely end up in your contacts. Aim for applying eyeliner to the top part of your eye, behind your lashes, so they can act as a barrier between your liner and your contacts.

Apply carefully- When applying your makeup, ensure to keep a keen eye on where you are applying to make sure you do not accidentally get any in your eye.

Wear daily lenses- On days that you are wearing makeup, you might like to try wearing daily lenses. The benefits of wearing dailies are the convenience of discarding your lenses after you wear. This leaves less hassle on having to wash your lenses afterwards, and zero chance of having build up on your lenses for the following day. If daily lenses are not an option for you, then make sure you clean your lenses extremely well after use. Build-up of proteins from makeup are very prevalent on your lenses, and so a deep clean is essential to maintain healthy eyes.

Remove lenses before you deep clean your face- Before you go to bed, ensure you remove your lenses before you take your makeup off. Attempting to remove makeup whilst wearing your lenses is a recipe for dust and debris to creep its way inside. Once you remove your lenses, give your face a deep clean. Alongside cleaning your whole face, using lid wipes are a fantastic way to ensure you have removed any residue of makeup from your eyes. Lid wipes are particularly handy for people who do not deep clean their eyes properly, and for people who struggle with dry eyes after wearing makeup.

If you happen to get makeup in your eye, there is no cause to worry. Remove your lenses with clean hands, and give them a deep clean, or dispose if you have dailies. Grant your eyes with a wash too, and start again with a makeup-free pair of lenses. Of course, if you experience extreme pain do not ignore these symptoms and make an appointment with your eye doctor. By following the above advice, we are confident that your eyes will be able to enjoy the benefits of wearing makeup and contacts together.