Everyone has a desert island beauty product. The one with transformative superpowers that can pull your whole look together in seconds. For many of us, it’s mascara. One coat can make you look bright eyed and awake, even when you’re not feeling it. But if you have sensitive eyes, mascara can be a can't-live-with-it-can't-live-without-it daily struggle. Stinging, burning, and swollen lids, bloodshot eyes, or all of the above, isn’t the wide-eyed look you’re after.
"There are many conditions that can make someone's eyes more sensitive than others," says Catherine Orentreich, M.D., a New York City-based board certified dermatologist and guiding dermatologist for Clinique. From skin conditions like eczema, rosacea, or seborrhea to seasonal or topical allergies, the eyes are exceptionally susceptible to irritation. "Eyelid skin is extremely thin and has fewer oil glands than other areas of the skin," says Dr. Orentreich. This causes a two-fold problem: Thin skin is more easily damaged, and less oil means drier skin, which is more easily irritated.
Can mascara even be in the beauty arsenal of someone who has sensitive eyes? Yes. Here are eight mascara secrets that can make daily wear a breeze, even if you're prone to full-blown mascara meltdowns.
