An eye doctor has revealed the five makeup rules she always follows – and some of them might have you running to your local beauty store to look for product replacements.
Dr. Alexa Hecht is a board-certified optician based in Toronto, Canada. She shares her expertise on social media on topics like explaining certain eye diseases to why you need to stop the water in your eyes.
In a video posted to TikTok last month, the ophthalmologist explained why she practices these habits in her daily routine and how they can help you avoid harmful eye makeup mistakes and eye irritation, starting with a tip Eye make-up in powder form.
According to Dr. Pike powder formulas can cause severe “fallout,” which in turn can irritate the eyes, cause dryness, and even remain in the tears. Her solution? Stick with a cream-based product, which is far less likely to cause these problems.
Dr. Alexa Hecht is a licensed optician based in Toronto, Canada, who shares her expertise on social media
The ophthalmologist recently took to TikTok to reveal three makeup habits that she always follows
The doctor explained that the fallout from regular eyeshadow can sometimes be harmful to the eye and recommended some cream sticks from TwentyTwenty Beauty instead
“Number one is any type of cream eyeshadow stick or eyeshadow pot,” she began. “I love these from Twenty/Twenty Beauty. I also have NUDESTIX and I love these.”
“Cream eyeshadow doesn’t have the precipitation that can occur with powder eyeshadow, which can actually cause dry eyes and stay in tears.”
Speaking to , Dr. Hecht added that with glitter eyeshadow, it’s really difficult to prevent small particles or chunks of glitter from getting into the eye.
“As soon as they are in the eye, they get stuck in the tears, so to speak,” explained the ophthalmologist.
“And every time you blink, these tiny particles scrape across the surface of the eye and it can cause irritation or even more damaging things like tiny little scratches on the front of the eye.”
According to The Cleveland Clinic, eye irritation may feel like sensitivity to light, blurred vision, swelling or redness, and pain.
But if you just can’t avoid using a powder eyeshadow, the doctor recommends opting for a matte one instead of a particularly shimmery one.
However, Dr. Hecht said she loves makeup herself and never tells her patients to shy away from wearing makeup — but she wants to make sure we educate everyone on how to use it safely, especially for those who have dry skin or have sensitive eyes.
“I think people don’t realize that the products we put around our eyes will most likely end up in our eyes in one way or another, so I always try to reach for clean products for sensitive skin, to prevent irritation,” she told .
Another makeup tip that the doctor appreciates is to curl your eyelashes before applying mascara, otherwise it can cause the eyelashes to break
“Although you may not notice any immediate effects of the products you use on or around your eyes, dry eye can develop over time.”
Next up was Dr. Hecht’s list of eyelash curlers rules, as the expert revealed why she always uses one before applying mascara.
“If you do it afterwards, there is a risk that the eyelashes will break off,” claimed the optician.
Dr. Hecht explained that the reason for this occurrence is because your lashes are a little stiffer after the mascara has cured.
Another important point to keep in mind when it comes to eyelash curlers is cleanliness.
“I use micellar water, put it on a cotton pad and sort of remove the makeup,” said Dr. Hecht told about her own eyelash curler cleaning routine, which she does about once a week.
You can also clean the tool with a makeup brush cleaner.
She advised people to replace the pads on the tool to keep it clean.
Dr. Hecht noted to that she enjoys wearing makeup and wants to encourage everyone to wear it safely
The doctor is also a fan of removing makeup with an oil-based cleanser, pointing out the cleanser she personally uses
“You’ll also get a better curl if these pads are replaced more often because they’re stronger and newer,” she added.
Finally, Dr. For her third rule presented in the video, Hecht explains more about why she chooses to use an oil-based makeup remover.
“Finally, I love an oil cleanser to remove my makeup,” she said as she showed off one from the brand April Skin.
“I find it super hydrating, and at the end of the night I have no makeup left,” the doctor concluded about the oil-based cleanser.
Although the doctor told it comes down to personal preference, she also uses micellar water to remove makeup.
Dr. Hecht’s tried and tested makeup tips
- Opt for a cream-based eyeshadow instead of a powder
- Curl your eyelashes before applying mascara
- Remove makeup with an oil-based cleanser
- Throw away the mascara after three months of use
- Clean your makeup brushes and sponges regularly
The goal is to go to bed with no makeup on, she noted.
“I also always say, just like you know how to double cleanse your face, you should also double cleanse your eyes,” the pro told .
“So go in, remove all of the makeup, and then take it one step further by using some sort of eyelid wipe or a special eyelid and lash cleaner to remove any bacteria left there.”
Speaking to Refinery29 in July 2022, optician and founder of contemporary eye care brand Peep Club, Nicola Alexander-Cross, also highlighted why it’s important to use an oil-based cleanser rather than an alcohol-based one.
“Most people have some form of dry eyes,” she told the outlet at the time.
“It’s a catch-all term, but it can be anything from a slight redness, to an itchy feeling, to dizzy eyes and starting to tear. Even difficulty looking at screens.”
In addition to her tips from the video, Dr. Hecht shared with two more that she follows, first emphasizing that everyone should replace their makeup very frequently.
As a rule of thumb, it’s always a good idea to throw away mascara after three months to reduce bacterial growth and avoid potential eye health problems.
“If you don’t want to waste your mascara bottles and don’t use them very often, consider purchasing the mini samples available at Sephora. There you can just try a specific brand and know that it’s you.” “It will no longer be available shortly,” shared Dr. Pike with you.
Finally, she made it clear how important it is to clean makeup brushes and other beauty tools like the popular Beautyblender sponges, as they can harbor bacteria.
“I personally just use a very gentle soap and try to thoroughly clean my brushes once a week,” she said.