How often do you think about your eyes? When you’re trying to get that perfectly imperfect black liner (a la Phillip Lim, Rag & Bone and Chloé per celebrity makeup artist Daniel Martin), pink eye shadow or burgundy mascara? (No joke, apparently it’s all about burgundy mascara in 2017.) It’s easy to take our vision for granted while we go about our everyday routines — or even when we’re experimenting as our own celebrity guest MUAs — but did you know your eyes are fragile and require special care?
Here are a few things you may be guilty of doing that can negatively impact your eyes and even cause permanent damage.
Too much screen time. All those hours you spend staring at a screen are an open invitation for eyestrain — the result of overuse. Take a break. Put away your electronic devices. Step away from the computer and give your eyes a rest. That status update can wait.
Sleeping with your contact lenses. By now you’ve heard the horror stories about infections, scratches, eyes not opening and lenses shifting positions. Surely you are meticulous about removing your contacts before bedtime. You also know to only clean and re-wet your lenses using appropriate solutions, and always wash your hands before touching your contacts. Here’s a tip: Wear your glasses when you’re off cam. Give your eyes a rest and your contacts time to soak and clean.
Going to bed without removing your makeup. When you’ve been on cam all day and late into the night, washing your face and removing your makeup may seem like an inconvenience when all you want to do is sleep. Don’t do this. Sleeping with your eye makeup on increases the possibility of irritation and allergic reactions. In addition to the accompanying pain, your eyes will be red and inflamed, possibly causing you to miss work. Resist the urge to crash, and take an extra 10 or 15 minutes to remove all traces of cosmetics.
Wearing false eyelashes all. the. time. They’re the rage, but they aren’t risk-free, particularly if you apply them yourself rather than have them professionally done. Fake lashes are applied with glue, which means exposing your fragile lids to stickiness and chemicals that can cause allergic reactions, or even worse, infections and scars, particularly if the glue comes in contact with your eyes. Best to seek a licensed esthetician or forgo those trendy, flapping eye-ferns and simply flaunt the lashes you’ve got.
Wearing sunglasses only in summer or on sunny days. Sunglasses are more than a fashion statement or stylish accessory. The right pair of sunglasses shields you from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, which you’re exposed to year-round and which can contribute to cataracts, macular degeneration, thickening of the conjunctiva (the membrane that covers the whites of your eyes) and other serious damage, including corneal sunburn. Invest in a pair of shades that block UVA and UVB rays. Keep an extra pair in your glove compartment and one in your purse so you’re always prepared.
Forgoing your eye exam. An annual exam is imperative to eye health in order to detect vision changes. Additionally, the optometrist or ophthalmologist will perform several tests to screen and examine all the parts of your eyes and ensure proper function and health. Don’t dismiss the importance of this exam. It is as key to your wellbeing as your annual physical and routine mammogram. Glaucoma, for example, knows no age. Everyone is at risk, and there are often no warning signs to indicate a problem — increased eye pressure — is present. Caught in its early stages, glaucoma can be controlled. Make that appointment today.
If you’ve been putting off that eye exam, here’s what to expect.
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Jenna Andre is a total gearhead who also appreciates the simpler things in life. Email her at Jenna.Andre@ynotcam.com.
Watch Kait teach you how to apply false lashes below (…and what’s more n00b than beginner? Because I’m way worse than a beginner at this!)
