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Summer Beauty Routine for Sensitive Eyes

Jun 04, 2020
 

Summer fills most of us with happy memories of time spent outdoors.  Summer is filled with water activities and lots and lots of sunshine.  

When you have dry, sensitive eyes, there are a few more factors affecting your eyes in the summer than any other time of year.  Don't let your red, irritated eyes keep you from enjoying the great outdoors this summer.  Utilize these tips to keep your eyes and your face happy.

There are 3 keys to a successful beauty routine to keep your eyes happy all summer long.

No. 1) NEVER Sleep in your Eye Makeup

Great beauty always begins with a clean face.  Removing your makeup at the end of the day is as important to your eyes as brushing your teeth is to your mouth.  Removing all traces of your eye makeup removes the places where bacteria can live and thrive.  Get your guide to makeup removers for sensitive eyes here.

Do you see how red your eyes are in the morning after you have slept in your makeup?  That is the irritation and inflammation the makeup and the bacteria living in that makeup have caused the delicate tissues of your eyes.  Gross.

Ever notice what your breath smells like the morning after you forget to brush your teeth before bed?  Gross.  It is the same idea with your eyes.  The bacteria remaining on your lids and lashes from leftover makeup will irritate your eyes.  It just doesn't smell as bad as when it happens in your mouth.

Have a gotten your attention yet.  I don't mean to be offensive, but it is just as important to keep your lids and lashes clean as it is your teeth.  After all, you can replace your teeth, but what would your life be like without your vision.  Download your guide to makeup removers for sensitive eyes here.

Removing all traces of your eye makeup is very important.  Especially in summer when we are already tending to go to sleep later.  Maybe you are more tired before your head hits the pillow and you forget to remove your eye makeup more often.

My favorite Makeup remover wipes are Eyes are the Story Eye Proof Refreshing Towelettes.  These wipes are great for getting every last trace of mascara and eyeliner off.  And, the wipes were designed by a team of eye doctors who have your visual health in mind.  And, they are packaged individually, so you can throw one in your purse, gym bag, and pool bag so that you always have them handy.  Use the code: winkwink to get 20% off your first order.

Let's review some of the benefits of the ingredients of these wipes.  They contain:

  • Calendula oil: A natural oil extracted from marigold flowers. It has antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties.  Useful for healing wounds, preventing bacterial overgrowth, and soothing skin.  It is also used to increase the comfort of irritated eyes caused by allergies, pollution, dry eye, and digital eye strain.
  • Aloe Vera Gel: The gel from an Aloe Vera plant keeps your skin clear and well hydrated.  It also has special alkaline properties, which help reduce eye inflammation and dryness.  It has a dual effect as both a moisturizer and a pain reliever.
  • Hyaluronic Acid: A clear, gooey substance that is naturally produced by your body, which helps to seal in hydration.  Often added to eye drop formulations to reduce inflammation and speed wound healing.

These wipes do not contain:

  • SYNTHETIC DYES
  • FRAGRANCE
  • PHTHALATES
  • PARABENS
  • GLUTEN
  • GMOs

Eyes are the Story makeup removing wipes help your eyes by not only removing the makeup where bacteria like to grow and flourish, but they also add nutrients which are beneficial in maintaining hydration, soothing irritation, and preventing bacterial overgrowth.

No. 2) Avoid WATERPROOF Mascara

Most of my patients tell me they started using waterproof mascara because of their irritated eyes.  They were tired of their eyes watering and causing their mascara to run down their faces.  

However, waterproof mascara is the last thing you want to put on your eyes.  Waterproof mascara is full of waxes to help the pigment stay on your lashes longer.

Waxes and silicones are what make waterproof mascara resistant to rinsing away with water, tears, or sweat.  But, there are many drawbacks to having waxes and silicones so close to your eyes.  These ingredients end up clogging the delicate oil glands which line the inside rim of the eyelids.

Next, removing waterproof mascara at the end of the day is difficult.  It won't come off with a little bit of water and it may require significant scrubbing of those delicate lashes.  Using an oil-based eye makeup remover helps to melt most mascara.  Try the Eye Proof Refreshing Towelettes by Eyes are the Story for a great eye makeup remover.   And, you can download the makeup remover guide here.

Finally, the waxes and silicones dry out the lashes.  According to Dermatologist Dande Engelman, MD, "The ingredients that are used to cause the formula to be waterproof can have the effect of drying out lashes, which can lead to them falling out.”  When the lashes dry out, it makes the individual lash very brittle.  It is important, instead, to use a mascara that will nourish the lashes, hair follicles, and oil glands.

My favorite mascara is something new to the market.  Eyes are the Story Eye Proof Mascara was developed by a team of eye doctors.  I love this mascara because it looks great, and doesn't irritate my sensitive eyes.  Use the code: winkwink to get 20% off your first order.

The benefits of this mascara include:

  • Highly pigmented proprietary formula: non-flaking, non-drying, non-burning, non-irritating
  • Safe for sensitive eyes, dry eyes, or contact lens wearers

What doesn't this mascara include:

  • FRAGRANCE
  • PHTHALATES
  • PARABENS
  • GLUTEN
  • GMOs

In addition, the mascara comes in a smaller tube size.  This decreases the probability that the mascara tube will become contaminated by bacteria.  It also encourages you to throw away the tube more readily and open a fresh tube before the product has time to dry and flake.

No. 3) Don't Forget the Sunscreen

Did you know that cancer on the eyelids accounts for up 10% of all of the skin cancers?  This may be in part because we rarely protect the eyelid skin from UV rays.  If we are wearing sunglasses then there is UV protection in our sunglasses.  But what about sunlight coming in from the top or the side of the sunglasses.  You would also need to wear a hat to protect yourself from more rays.  
 
There are a few sunscreens that are safe to use on your eyelids.  Try Epionce Daily Shield Tinted APF 50 Sunscreen.  I also recommend Beautycounter Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20 if you are wearing foundation, or Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Lotion with SPF 30 if you aren't wearing makeup.
 
Protecting your skin from UV rays prevents signs of damage and premature aging.  No one likes baggy eyelids and sunscreen is one step you can take to prevent them.  According to the American Cancer Society, UV exposure causes signs of sun damage such as wrinkles, leathery skin, liver spots, and pre-cancerous bumps on the eyelids to form. 
 

CONCLUSION

Summer is a time to have fun and enjoy the time spent outdoors.  When you have dry, sensitive eyes, it can be difficult to enjoy water activities and extra sun exposure without your eyes looking red and irritated the next day.
 
Making a few changes to your usual beauty routine to meet the demands of the summer environment can put the fun back into the longer days.  As an eye doctor and a woman who wants to look her best, I recommend taking these 3 steps:
  1. Remember to remove your eye makeup before bed to prevent red, irritated lids in the morning.  Get the makeup remover guide here.  And, you can grab these awesome makeup remover wipes here.  Use the code: winkwink to get 20% off your first order.
  2. Never use waterproof mascara as it dries out your lashes and can damage the oil glands lining the eyelids.  Fine my latest mascara obsession here.  Use the code: winkwink to get 20% off your first order.
  3. Use sunscreen to decrease UV damage to your eyelids and prevent baggy lids in your future.  Try this one from Beautycounter:  Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Lotion with SPF 30.

 Now that you know how to prevent your eyes from redness, sensitivity, and signs of premature aging, you are ready to get out there and enjoy the summer sun.  Have fun!

 

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