Eyelash curlers and mascara enhance your eyelashes. Eyelash curlers bend the lashes upward, creating the illusion of greater length. Mascara, depending on the formula, adds volume, length, or simply an accent of color.

When people go wrong with these beauty tools, whether it’s from poor hygiene, improper use or overuse, or simple carelessness — damage to the lashes as well as the eyelid and eye itself can result.

In this article, we’ll cover the ways in which people make mistakes while lash-curling, as well as the best and safest ways to practice it with the least amount of damage to your lashes and other parts of your eyes. We will also go over the rules of wearing mascara — in other words, how to use makeup remover every night, and why.

Eyelash Curling Do’s and Don’ts

For some women, particularly those with sparse, short, or thin lashes, an eyelash curler is an essential beauty tool. But be wary: these contraptions need to be utilized properly or will otherwise damage your lashes. Tips for a seamless lash lengthening session with a curler include:

1. Hold your heated or unheated curler properly at a 90-degree angle to the lashes, or however the instructions on the box tell you.
2. If your curler is heated, make sure that you are not holding the curler on the lash line for an extended or too lengthy period of time, otherwise, your lashes will fall out or break off.
3. If your grip is too heavily clamped down, the pressure will damage and weaken your lashes. Therefore, use a firm but gentle grip.
4. Don’t use a curler every day, especially if you choose to use a heated curler. Just like the hair on your head, exposure to heated styling can lead to breakage and affect texture.
5. Clean your curler weekly or every few days with an antiseptic, alcohol wipe to rid the curler of bacteria.
6. Never, ever apply mascara before using an eyelash curler. Doing this will cause the lashes to stick to the curler, and they will be pulled out. Apply mascara after using a clean curler.
7. Replace the curler pads regularly, or you risk exposing your lashes to the metal part of the curler, and they will break off. The pad protects the lashes from the metal, and it is important to keep extra pads on hand for replacement purposes.

The Damaging Effects of Mascara

Mascara is one of the most popular cosmetic products on the market, but using it can be hazardous if certain precautions are not taken. Many assume that eye damage or irritation occurs when there is trauma to the actual eyeball, and fail to consider the lash line or eyelids. In fact, these places are the ones most adversely affected by the use of mascara and other eye makeup (eyeliner, etc.). Mascara can be worn safely, as long as you follow simple rules that will prevent eye damage and irritation.

1. Always check the expiration date of your product, and discard if that date has passed. With mascara, this rule is particularly important, as using an expired product on or around the eye can cause bacteria buildup and potential infection. Mascara generally has a shelf life of three months, as does gel or liquid eyeliner.
2. One of the reasons mascara is so problematic is because particles from the product can slip into the oil glands along the lash line (called Meibomian glands) and block them. Since these glands are an essential part of keeping your tear ducts healthy, the blockage can cause infections and eye irritation.
3. Always use an eye makeup remover to remove mascara at the end of the day. Almay makes a gentle, effective and oil-free formula that doesn’t irritate the eyes and comes in pad form to make the removal process even easier. You can then follow up with Cliradex Light to make sure that your eyelids get that deep clean they need to ward off infection or irritation, or as a treatment, if your eyes do become irritated or dry.
4. Never sleep in your mascara. This can cause eye irritation, redness, corneal abrasions, and even styes. Removing all makeup before bed with eye makeup remover followed by a regular and gentle facial cleanser can prevent eye damage and irritation.

Cliradex Cleansers Can Help

If you follow these precautions and makeup removal tips, chances are that your eyes will stay clean.

However, dry eyes, crusty eyes, and irritation from contact lenses or mites are still possible. Cliradex has an all natural solution in both Cliradex Light and Cliradex Towelettes, both of which offer deep cleaning qualities from a component of tea tree oil. This formula is free of alcohol, paraben, sulfate, and fragrance, and can safely be used on the eyelids, eyelashes, and face.

For more intense eye irritation relief, try Cliradex Wipes, which have a higher concentration of 4-terpineol (the tea tree oil derivative that provides a gentle and highly effective deep clean).