All Eyes on Beauty: 4 Helpful Tips for Wearing Makeup with Contact Lenses

Whether you wear makeup regularly or only on special occasions, there’s no denying that it can do more than just enhance your natural features. 

For example, a previously published interview with makeup artist Chelsea Uchenna highlights how her celebrity clientele, which includes American rapper Saweetie and supermodel Leomie Anderson, are able to embrace their respective styles through Chelsea’s bold and sophisticated makeup looks. Thus, for Chelsea and many others, makeup can be an outlet for creativity, confidence, and self-expression.

However, if you are one of the 2 million people in the UK with a vision impairment like myopia or astigmatism, doing your makeup involves taking into account the proper eyewear for vision correction. In this case, contact lenses are preferable to prescription glasses, as the former allows you to see clearly without obstructions while applying face and eye makeup. Unlike glasses, contact lenses sit directly on the eye’s surface, thus minimising the risk of smudging your makeup around the cheek and eye area.

Nonetheless, wearing makeup with contact lenses can still come with disadvantages, such as potentially contaminating the lenses with chemicals or residues from cosmetic products. Fortunately, you can follow these tips to apply makeup correctly and use contact lenses safely.

Opt for daily disposable lenses

As previously mentioned, wearing your contacts to see clearly while applying makeup poses the risk of irritating or contaminating them with eye products like mascara, eyeliner, and eyeshadow. If you wear makeup for prolonged periods, the higher the risk of makeup residue getting into the lenses and potentially infecting your eyes.

As such, it’s recommended to opt for daily disposable lenses that reduce the risk of contamination and infection. You can simply wear a fresh pair of lenses without debris or residue every time you do your makeup. The retailer Lenstore’s selection of prescription contact lenses includes daily options from trusted brands, such as Dailies AquaComfort Plus and 1 Day Acuvue Moist. In addition to accommodating single-vision, astigmatism, and multifocal prescriptions, Lenstore has a streamlined reordering process to ensure you never run out of daily lenses.

Avoid applying makeup along the waterline

In light of the dangers of eye infection and contamination, it’s best to avoid applying makeup products like eyeliner along the waterline. While it’s true that tightlining can make your eyes look fuller and darker, placing makeup that close to the eye increases the risk of chemical products migrating to the tear film and sticking to the lenses.

Instead, make your eyes pop through alternative makeup methods like using eyeshadow in shades like warm brown, gold, and bronze and blending them properly. You may also get prescription contacts in colours complementary to your natural eye colour and skin tone to draw attention to the eye area.

Choose water-based makeup products

Contact lens manufacturers like Johnson & Johnson and Alcon make their soft lenses with silicone hydrogel, a material that allows more oxygen to pass through the eye for optimal comfort and breathability. However, it’s worth noting that this silicone material is naturally hydrophobic, which means it can attract oil-based makeup products that can otherwise form a film on your contact lenses.

So, it helps to choose water-based and oil-free makeup products to avoid eye infections and irritation. The makeup brand Rare Beauty is a viable option since its best-selling products, such as the Always An Optimist Illuminating Primer and the Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation, are not only perfect for dewy makeup looks but are also less likely to stay on the contact lens surface. These products are available at UK retailers like Sephora UK and Space NK.

Know the proper steps in your makeup routine

Lastly, wearing makeup with contact lenses means following hygiene practices. These start with washing your hands and allowing them to dry properly, then wearing your contact lenses before applying any makeup product. Doing so reduces the risk of smearing makeup residue from your fingers to your contact lenses.

This also means washing your hands and taking off your contacts first before removing your makeup and cleansing your face. Additionally, consider using an organic makeup remover, such as Natracare’s cleansing makeup remover wipes, which are fragrance-free and suitable for sensitive eyes and skin. These soft pads are also gentler and less irritating than cotton balls, which tend to leave fibre debris on or around the eyes. 

By following the tips mentioned above, you can see clearly and wear your makeup more confidently.