Beauty Tips to Know Before Getting Glam For the Holidays

Whether it’s a low-key family function or a swanky soirée, a holiday party is an opportunity to gather with loved ones, celebrate the successes of the past year, and — of course — get dressed up, glam makeup included. However, when you’re applying your festive face this season, consider making a few switches to your routine. 

Makeup, especially the bold looks we tend to try this time of year, can be tough on the eyes, causing issues as minor as irritation to major concerns like vision impairment and even blindness. But tiny tweaks to your regimen can make a huge difference — and we’re willing to wager that once you make these adjustments, you won’t miss your old methods. Keep reading to discover our holiday beauty do’s and don’ts.

DON’T: Apply glitter around the eye.

Glitter, even the kind that’s been labeled as safe by the cosmetics industry, can be incredibly dangerous when applied around the eye area. Glitter has rough edges that could scratch the eye. Many people mistake these abrasions for regular irritation, thinking they don’t need to seek help from an ophthalmologist — and this often leads to infection, which could cause long-term damage that can manifest as visual impairment or even blindness. Limit your “holiday sparkle” to your gift wrapping, decorating, and nails, and stick to shimmer on your eyes instead.

DO: Experiment with cream eyeshadows.

Though not as hazardous as outright glitter, pressed and loose powder shadows flake off, leaching into the eye causing redness, inflammation, and irritation. Cream eyeshadows glide onto the lid, depositing pigment and shimmer without fallout. Our Visionary Eye Shadow Sticks come in three beautiful, eye-enhancing shades and are made with castor oil to infuse your eyelids and eyes with nourishing moisture — perfect for this especially dry time of year!

DON’T: Apply eyeliner to your waterline.

While smoldering, smokey liner is definitely an eye-catching look, it’s also an eye-irritating one. The waterline is an incredibly delicate area of the eye and is home to your meibomian glands, tiny essential organs that produce tear-preserving oil. Without that oil, your eyes’ tears evaporate too quickly, making them feel dry, scratchy, and gritty. Applying liner to the waterline blocks those glands and, over time, can cause them to permanently die, causing lifelong dry eye.

DO: Play with liquid eyeliner instead.

Instead of congesting your meibomian glands with pencil, apply liquid liner solely to your upper lash line when looking to amp up your look. It won’t flake into the eye and will still add definition, making your eyes look bolder and lashes appear longer. Our Double Duty Precision Liner isn’t just a rich black shade — it’s also formulated with powerhouse ingredients like hydrating hyaluronic acid, skin-protecting ceramides, and castor oil, which can help promote longer lashes with regular use over time. 

DON’T: Sleep in your makeup.

You’ve already heard this from every makeup artist, esthetician, and dermatologist under the sun — but considering how harmful makeup can be to your eyes, it makes sense that our board-certified ophthalmologist founder, Dr. Diane Hilal-Campo, recommends it, too. In a pinch, you can use a makeup wipe (keep a pack on your nightstand so you have no excuses not to cleanse!), but we recommend a full double cleanse to get all your makeup off and keep your eyes and skin happy and healthy.

DO: Cleanse your eyes regularly.

In addition to removing all your makeup, sanitizing your eyes will go a long way towards preserving their long-term health. It sounds complicated, but we swear it isn’t — no difficult drops or eye washes required! Our Easy on the Eyes Daily Hygiene Facial Spray uses an incredibly mild active ingredient called hypochlorous acid, a sanitizing agent produced by your own white blood cells to kill microbes. Simply mist your face and eyes (yes, leave them open!) twice daily to fend off infection-causing germs. You can even spritz it on your hands when you’re out of hand sanitizer, so keep one at home and one in your bag so you can keep clean on the go.


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