How to Wear Mascara for Sensitive Eyes

Last Updated: March 8, 2021 References

Wearing mascara can be fun and enhance your natural beauty. However, if you have sensitive eyes, it can be painful or feel impossible. You can successfully wear mascara if you have sensitive eyes if you buy the right kind of mascara, test it for any allergies, and adopt good habits.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Choosing a Mascara

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Wear a mascara for sensitive eyes. A good way to be able to wear mascara is to find the type of mascara that is good for sensitive eyes. This may be labeled as sensitive mascara. Other types of mascara to try include hypoallergenic, organic, or natural.^{[1]
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- Try brands like Clinique, Bobbi Brown, Almay, BareMinerals, or Physicians Formula.
- Brands that emphasize using natural or cleaner ingredients will usually be better for you if you're sensitive to makeup.^{[2]
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Buy simple mascaras. There are all sorts of types of mascaras, from thickening to lengthening and more. These mascaras contain extra ingredients and chemicals to make them effective. To make sure you are not unnecessarily irritating your eyes, buy a simple mascara.^{[3]
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- You may also want to consider buying a mascara from a company that focuses on using natural, organic ingredients.
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3
Avoid mascara with carmine. Carmine is a substance from insects used to get shades of red. Due to the acid used, it can irritate the skin and immune system. Check the label to make sure there is no carmine in the mascara.^{[4]
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- Look for ingredients that contain the word red or carmine.
- The safest bet is to stick with black mascara. Once you start using colored mascaras, even brown, it may contain carmine or other irritating ingredients.
4
Determine if waterproof mascara is for you. Some people with sensitive eyes have problems using waterproof mascara. Since the aim of waterproof mascara is to stay on, it can be difficult to remove. Therefore, your eyes may get itchy, red, or swollen from trying to remove it.^{[5]
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- There are waterproof mascaras specifically designed for sensitive eyes. You can try one of those.
- Even if you find a waterproof mascara that does not irritate your eyes, you should not wear it every day. Since they are harder to remove, they cause more stress to your skin and eyelashes.
- You may want to just use waterproof mascara in particular situations where you are afraid your mascara may run.
5
Change the mascara if it’s bothering you. You may have used the same mascara for years. It may never have bothered you before. But if you are now experiencing eye irritation, you may have developed a sensitivity to the ingredients in the mascara.^{[6]
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- Try changing your mascara to see if your eye is still irritated.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Dealing With Irritation

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Take allergy medication. If your eye sensitivity is related to allergies, you may want to use medication to help your eyes. Antihistamines can be effective in helping itchy, watery eyes, especially if you have a seasonal allergy that messes up your mascara.^{[7]
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- This probably isn’t something you can do every day, but it might help for special occasions or days when your allergies are making your eyes particularly problematic.
2
Use eyedrops. Another way you can help eye sensitivity when you wear makeup is to use eyedrops before you apply it. This can help if you have red, watery, or itchy eyes. If you want to use eyedrops, get allergy relief ones.^{[8]
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- Make sure you use the eyedrops before you apply the mascara. Try at least 15 to 30 minutes before.
- If you think you are going to need eyedrops while wearing mascara, consider using waterproof mascara.
3
Do a patch test. Before you use a mascara on your eyes, test it first. This can help you figure out if the mascara will affect you negatively or not. Smear some mascara on the inside of your arm, put a bandage or piece of tape over it, and then leave it all day.^{[9]
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- Remove the tape at the end of the day. If there is no redness, the mascara is okay. If your skin is red, then you should try another mascara.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Adopting Good Habits

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Avoid putting mascara too close to the base of the eye. Many people suggest that you should apply mascara as close to the lash base as possible. If you have sensitive eyes, this might cause a problem because it gets too close to the eyes.^{[10]
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- Instead, apply mascara just to the middle and ends of the lashes.
2
Remove your makeup after wearing it. Though most people remove their makeup at the end of the day, sometimes they may get home late and not do it. You should get into the habit of removing your makeup when you get home. Not removing your makeup can lead to problems like inflammation.^{[11]
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- Use gentle makeup remover to wipe your eyes and lashes.
- Apply the makeup remover to a cotton pad. Close your eyes and hold the cotton pad against your lashes for 10 seconds, then gently wipe away. Repeat until the pad comes away clean.
- Never scrub or rub at your eyes while you are wearing makeup.
3
Buy new mascara every three months. You shouldn’t keep the same tube of mascara for too long. Bacteria from your eyes can build up in the mascara tube. This can lead to infection. To help reduce this risk, change the mascara every three months.^{[12]
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- Sensitive eyes may be more vulnerable to bacteria.
4
Avoid sharing your mascara. Your eyes are extremely susceptible to bacteria, so don't let anyone else use your mascara. It's easy to get an eye infection or experience irritating symptoms due to contaminated bacteria.
- You should also not borrow anyone's mascara. It's better to go without makeup rather than risk an infection.
5
Consider that other makeup can also irritate your eyes. If you are still experiencing irritation after switching to a mascara for sensitive eyes, the issues could be caused by other makeup. Eyeliner and eye shadow can also bother sensitive eyes. Check the labels on these products to ensure that they are suitable for sensitive eyes and contain simple ingredients.
- You might try brands that use natural, organic ingredients.
- If your eyes are sensitive, limit the amount of makeup that you wear around them.

Expert Q&A

Question

Can you be allergic to your mascara?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Allergies exist to many ingredients and it is certainly possible to be allergic to your makeup. If you suspect you're allergic, try a hypoallergenic mascara.
Question

Do you have to throw away your makeup when you have a stye?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Not necessarily; a stye is a clogged follicle so it doesn't always indicate that something is wrong. However, if your makeup is old it may be the cause of styes, and in that case, you should replace it.
Question

What are the best hypoallergenic makeup brands?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Clinique and Glossier both make great hypoallergenic mascaras. Best is always relative, but I've found these brands to be effective and to stay in place all day without smudging.