Safe and fabulous: Tips for wearing contact lenses with makeup

Medically reviewed by Charissa Lee, OD, MBA, FAAO; Head of Professional Affairs, North America Vision Care

Explore makeup tutorials on YouTube for a few minutes and you’ll quickly find there are a million and one ways to approach applying makeup. Some prefer a minimal, natural look with neutral lipsticks and eye shadows, and lightweight foundations. Others use it as a form of self-expression—artists who tap into colors and emotions to make a statement with bright lipsticks, party brows and shimmery glitters. Wherever you fall on the spectrum, there’s one thing all makeup wearers should have in common: Prioritizing the safety of your eyes. This is especially true if you're a contact lens wearer, because if makeup makes its way into your eyes, it can get on your contact lens or in between the lens and the eye, which can lead to irritation or infection. With that in mind, let’s go over some of the top things that you should know to help protect your eyes and keep them healthy.

Tips for safer use of contacts and makeup

Hands, then contacts, then makeup

Whether you’re wearing makeup products or not, the first rule of wearing contact lenses is to always the same—wash and dry your hands thoroughly before handing any contact lenses. Your hands are touching things all day long and can be hotbeds of bacteria, viruses, acanthamoeba, dirt, and oils, which can easily transfer onto contacts, potentially leading to eye infections. We don’t want that, so let’s avoid that. Once your hands are clean, put your contacts on. Once your contact lenses are in place, then you can get started with your makeup routine.

See how to put on contacts

Take your time

There’s no need to rush, rushing can lead to mistakes that mean makeup in your eye and on your contact lenses, which can be extremely hard to remove and may require you to throw them out. Use brushes instead of your finger or pencils, and consider primer to help keep makeup in place.

Avoid the “waterline”

The area between your eyelashes and your eyeball are called the “waterline.” Never put eyeliner or any other makeup here, because it can easily transfer to your eye and your contact lens, causing irritation and potentially infection. Applying makeup at the waterline can also block the oil glands responsible for helping protect the eye’s surface.

When you remove makeup, follow the same order as before

Once again, order is very important when you’re wearing contact lenses with makeup. Be sure to follow the same order as when you put on your contacts and applied your makeup. Wash your hands thoroughly, take off your contact lenses, then remove your makeup. Think about it, if you go in the reverse order, you could smudge or drip your makeup or makeup remover into your eyes. Trust us, this is not pleasant, and can increase your risk of infection!

Shop with your eyes in mind

Be choosy about your makeup

Certain makeups are a bad idea. Like, ones with glitter. Eye doctors are not fans of glitter, as you may imagine, especially when contact lenses are involved. But there are a number of other precautions you can take to minimize the possibility that makeup will end up in your eye, and, if it does, that the risk of eye irritation, discomfort or damage is minimal.

No glitter in eye makeup or any face makeup (just making sure that sunk in)
Use unscented, hypo-allergenic makeup. That way, anything that does accidently go in your eye can be less irritating.
Choose cream over loose powder. Powders easily drift into the eye and onto contact lenses.
Water-based products > oil-based products. Oil is harder to remove and can be wiped into your eye accidently during the day.
Liquid eyeliner > pencil eyeliner. A hard, pointy object being near your eye is always risky.
Use a waterproof mascara that’s eye doctor-approved. You want to avoid clumpy mascaras or ones that are not waterproof—both make it easier for the mascara to transfer into your eye or onto your contact lens. If you aren’t sure about the mascara you have, reach out to your eye doctor.

Replace your makeup often

A good rule of thumb is to replace makeup every three months since bacteria and other contaminants build up over time. If you come down with conjunctivitis (pink eye) throw any makeup you were using out, as well as any makeup brushes that can't easily be disinfected. While we’re at it, don’t share makeup. Would you share a toothbrush?

Love your long lash extensions? Go to a pro.

Eyelash extensions are becoming an increasingly popular choice for those wanting their eyes to “pop.” Typically, they’re applied using a semi-permanent glue. Eye doctors say these can be safe as long as they’re applied correctly by a professional. Here are a few things they recommend:

Only get extensions from a professional trained and certified to apply them.
Only go to a reputable aesthetician or salon.
Do your research on the glue or adhesive used. Some can irritate the skin around your eyes, or cause a cornea scratch if not applied correctly.
Try not to rub or pull on your natural lashes or the extensions, as they can damage the eyelash follicle.
If you do end up showing signs of an allergic reaction to extensions, or are experiencing eye discomfort, don’t attempt to remove extensions yourself, as this can potentially scratch your cornea or cause other eye injuries. Reach out to your eye doctor, as they are best equipped to diagnose and come up with a plan of action.

For extra convenience, consider daily disposable lenses

Nobody is perfect, even the most cautious people will likely get some makeup on their contact lenses from time to time. When wearing reusable lenses, this may mean some extra scrubbing with multipurpose contact lens solution to remove any makeup or debris that has built up. That said, a simple and maintenance-free option could be a daily disposable. These are thrown out at the end of the day rather than disinfected and stored, minimizing the risk of makeup being carried over from one day to the next.

See Daily Disposables

Go safely and confidently into the world

By following these makeup and contact lens guidelines, you’re helping to keep your eyes comfortable and healthy, all while sporting your favorite look. Remember, if you have any questions or concerns, or are simply curious about trying contact lenses, your next step is to get in touch with an eye doctor.

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FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Can you wear makeup to a contact lens appointment?

Wearing some makeup is fine, but try not to overdo it for a contact lens appointment. More makeup means more of a chance that it may transfer into your eye and/or onto your contact lens.

Is eyeshadow safe for contact lens wearers?

Certain types of eyeshadow are safer than others. Don’t use frosted, pearlized, glittery or shiny types of eye shadow, because these can flake and get into your eye. If you aren’t sure about your eyeshadow, ask your eye doctor.

How do you put in contacts without ruining makeup?

Always put your contact lenses in before applying your makeup. This makes it less likely that you’ll get makeup on your contacts by transferring residue from your fingers, but also makes it so that by the time you’re applying your makeup, you won’t need to touch your eyelids and face and risk messing up your makeup.

How to get makeup off contact lenses?

If you’re wearing daily disposable lenses, remove the contact lens with makeup on it, throw it away, and replace it. If you’re wearing reusable lenses, take the lens with makeup on it off of your eye and clean it thoroughly with a multipurpose solution. This removes many kinds of makeup residue. That said, certain types of makeup, like false eyelash glue, may damage your contact lens, requiring you to replace it, and when in doubt, you should throw your lens away and wear a fresh one.