Mascara 101

Mascara is the one beauty product that should be replaced the most frequently because when applying mascara to your lashes, the bacteria and skin cells from the lashes are placed back into the tube once the wand is reinserted, and can easily grow inside the tube. Mascara should be disposed of every 3 months to prevent the risk of eye infections.

Waterproof mascara should be avoided! The waterproof formula often contains waxes and silicone which can help the makeup last longer against sweat, tears and water but this can also dry out the lashes and even cause them to fall out. Waterproof mascara is also much more difficult to remove and excessive rubbing of the eyes can cause more irritation to the delicate skin around the eyes.

One of the most crucial elements to eye health is not sleeping in mascara or makeup in general. The eyes and skin need to breathe. Clumps of mascara can block the oil or meibomian glands along the lid margin which produce the oily part of the tears causing irritation and dry eyes. Removing eye makeup with a gentle oil based remover will reduce your risk of blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids), dry eyes and eye infections. One of the best ways to enhance your natural lashes is to make sure you have good mascara habits.