Make-up tips for contact lens wearers
Helpful make-up tips to beat eye irritation
Although wearing make-up with contact lenses can feel a bit daunting, we’ve got top tips to help beat eye irritation without sacrificing the look you want.
1) Wash your hands
Make sure your hands are completely clean & dry before applying your contact lenses. For further tips & advice on wearing contact lenses, visit our contact lens advice page.
2) Lenses first
To help avoid eye infections, always remember to put your lenses in before you apply make-up & take them out before you remove it.
3) Avoid using products that may irritate your eyes
• Try to avoid eye make-up products that have oil in them. The reason is because oil & water don’t mix, so if any gets in your eyes it could result in cloudy lenses.
• Try to avoid mascaras that contain fibres; these can clump and fall into your eyes which could cause an infection. We’d recommend trying the Rimmel London Kind & Free Clean Volume Mascara Black – free from mineral oil, animal derived ingredients & perfume.
• Finally, try to avoid loose powder eye products, as they can crumble throughout the day and irritate your eyes. Instead, opt for creams or liquids. Revlon’s ColorStay Crème Eye Shadow is great for a subtle style.
4) Stay away from your waterline
Try to avoid getting any make-up on your waterline (also referred to as the lash line). This can block the natural oil glands that help to keep your eyes hydrated.
If you use the lash line to create a smokey eye, you can still achieve this by applying your eyeliner to the outer part of your lids instead.
5) Replace your make-up regularly
Eye makeup has a shorter shelf life than other cosmetics because it can be a breeding ground for bacteria. This can increase your risk of an eye infection.
Ensure to check the expiry date of your make-up before it comes into contact with your eyes. For further advice on expired make-up, visit the Boots make-up expiry advice page.
Interested in giving contact lenses a go?
If you'd like understand more about wearing contact lenses for the first time, read our guide on getting started with contact lenses. To help you separate fact from fiction, you can also read our contact lens myths page to help you decide if contact lenses are for you.
If you are interested in trying contact lenses for the first time, or haven't had contact lenses for a while, we offer a free contact lens trial. Plus if you haven't had an eye test within the last 12 months, this combined appointment will be needed. The price of an eye test is from £29.95. If you are a current contact lens wearer you will need to book the Eye test with contact lens check option.
