How To Stop Eyes From Watering When Wearing Makeup? | Guide 2023

Just as you’ve applied the final touches on your flawless makeup look, your eyes start to drip down your cheekbones, smearing everything from your concealer and blush all over your face and screaming, “NOOO!” while hitting the ground and waving both hands in the air. Watery eyes can ruin even the most perfectly/carefully applied eye makeup. The only cure if you’re prone to tears is to wave your hands in front of your eyes, although it doesn’t work.

Why do my eyes water when I put on makeup? First, determine why your eyes are watering. Dust, allergens, an allergic reaction, a corneal infection, eye strain, or dry eyes are all possible causes. It’s possible that your eyelids don’t close properly, or the tear ducts are clogged. The more you experience watery eyes, the more often you are recommended to contact a professional optometrist for screening and diagnosis.

As a rule, if this happens exclusively when you’re getting your makeup done, it’s probably a reflex tear. Dr. Thau explains that there are two types of tears. Reflex tears are designed to lubricate and preserve the cornea and reaction tears in the event of an injury. A foreign substance is flushed from the eye by these tears.” As soon as you think about putting something near your eye, reflex tears flow (like lashes or a sharpened eyeliner pencil).

Why Do My Eyes Water When I Put On Makeup?

There are various reasons why your eyes may get watery or irritated. If you find yourself suddenly crying, consider what you’re doing or the circumstances you’re exposed to see if this can provide some light on why this is happening.

Due To Environment

Seasonal shifts in humidity and allergens can lead to eye problems. During the colder months, the air loses moisture, causing the eyes to become extremely dry. However, the tears produced do not lubricate the vision and moisten the other tears. To produce more tears, your eyes droop.

The most effective remedy for this is a counter lubricant based on oil. Your eye doctor can prescribe the best ones for you.

Due To Eye Allergy

Many other types of eye discomforts, such as itching, watering, redness, and white-eye puffiness, can be caused by seasonal allergies in the early spring and late summer.

To get rid of eyelid allergies, wash them every day. A variety of counter-antihistamine eye drops may alleviate these symptoms. If the eye drops don’t provide long-term relief, your eye doctor can prescribe stronger medications.

Watery eyes are not only annoying, but they can also affect your everyday routine, such as applying makeup. Although cosmetics claim waterproof, enough moisture can cause eyeshadows and mascaras to smudge and run, even if they are meant to be.

Furthermore, combining watery eyes and streaky esthetic products, mining watery eyes with streaky ones is worsened by mascara and other eyelashes getting in the way of healing.

Due To Foreign Particles In Your Eyes

Tears are produced by your body to flush out your eye when it comes into contact with something foreign, whether it is dirt, poison, or another eye. Such reactions can be sparked by even the tiniest particles, such as smoke or the compounds found in onions. Your eyes are meant to quit watering when the problem is solved. There is a variety of different eye and health conditions that might induce tears, as well.

Due To Styes

An oil gland on the eyelid causes a stye. It is called hordeolum if it is recent, inflamed, or infected with a pectoral infection. A chalazion is formed when the hump becomes more pronounced and prominent. Makeup and other debris can block the glans for a variety of reasons. Right behind the eyelashes, these humps are found on both eyelids.

A stye is best treated with a warm compress. The clogged gland liquefies and releases oil with the aid of heat. A microwaveable eyelid mask is preferable to a warm washcloth. Drops sold over the counter as “Stye” that just lubricate the eye do not work to shrink the stye. Your eye surgeon should be consulted if the heat packs do not reduce bump size or if the bump is still uncomfortable.

Due To Rub On Your Eye

Contact lenses, dirt, and sand damage the so-called cornea outside your eyeball. If this is the case, your eye may leak, look red, and be sensitive to light. When a corneal scrape occurs, it is critical to seek immediate medical attention, even if the wound heals within a few days. You may require treatment to keep an infection at bay.

How To Stop Eyes From Watering While Doing Makeup?

Why do my eyes randomly water? You don’t have to give up on makeup entirely if you have the condition “makeup makes my eyes water,” which is good news for you. To lessen the likelihood of tears, you can attempt various techniques and seek medical help if you are suffering from an allergy, infection, or injury. Here are a few examples.

Use Hypoallergenic Eye Makeup Products

Nothing is more straightforward than switching to hypoallergenic makeup products for your dripping eye makeup to make a huge difference. Your eyes may be watering because you’re allergic to the products you wear. It’s best to look for products geared at sensitive eyes.

Replace Old Makeup

The mascara you’ve used for over three months may be time for a change. Even if it’s in liquid form, old or outdated cosmetics might cause eye infections. People with wet eyes may find this more difficult.

Maintain Hygiene

Maintaining good eye health is essential. You wouldn’t use an old or dirty toothbrush, so why not clean your makeup tools? Your eyes may become inflamed, and the bristles may fall out of your brush if they are dirty or dusty.

Use Eye Drops

It’s not a good idea to start applying your makeup and hope for the best if you have dryness or irritation around your eyes. Almost immediately, your eyes will droop, and it’s unlikely they will stop.

Apply eye drops to soothe the irritation and remove any impurities that may be causing it well before you need to get ready. If your eyes are dry or irritated from wearing contact lenses, your doctor may suggest an eye mist or drops. It’s less likely that your eyes will start to water if you take care of them before putting on makeup.

Use Eye Primer

When someone has watery eyes, I advise them to prepare that area. Davis recommends using an eye cream or primer before applying eye shadow. Because tears include salt, they can irritate and dry up the delicate skin under the eyes. “Primer aids in the moisturizing and flexibility of makeup.” Lashes are the same way. You can enhance your favorite mascara formula by applying a lash primer.

Be Gentle And Careful

Watery eyes can be worsened by applying eyeliner to the inner corner of the eye, where the lashes meet the eyeball. The Meibomian glands are found near the water’s line. These glands produce an oil covering the eyeball, preventing tears from evaporating from the eye’s surface.

Doctor Thau believes makeup can clog eye glands, making eyes more dry and susceptible to a sty. Also, avoid the lower lash line, as gravity may drag the tears down and destroy your eye makeup if you get emotional.

Tilt Your Chin Up

If you find yourself wiping away tears in the middle of applying your makeup, try tilting your chin up, taking a deep breath, and looking upward. Try not to blink too much, as this will cause your eyes to water. Pro tip: Davis knows how to divert your focus. She adds that I tell them to squeeze their toes into the shoes. “It’s the most insignificant thing, but focusing on it stops the flow of water.”

Avoid Powder

If you’ve watery eyes, it’s illogical to use powder to create long-lasting makeup. This might cause streaking in your makeup because powder absorbs the water as it slides down your face. Tears will rest on top of your makeup and blot away quickly without creating tear tracks, so a setting spray is preferable if you want to set your makeup.

Avoid Eyeliner

Those who suffer from watery eyes may have to make certain adjustments regarding cosmetics. People with sensitive eyes should avoid using anything in the area between the lashes and the eyeball. The eyeliner used here has the potential to wash out and clog the oil glands that release oil to protect tears from evaporating from the eyeball. Eyes become dry and more inclined to water if these glands aren’t working correctly.

Finally, don’t forget to bring a tissue with you. It is to be expected that if you have sensitive eyes, you will shed a few tears, but the remainder of your makeup will remain intact if you tilt your head and softly apply a tissue.

Wipe Off All The Makeup At Night

Make sure to remove all your eye makeup before sleep to avoid eye irritation and wateriness. The base of the lashes and the eyelids should be kept moist and free of debris at night, advises Dr. Thau. Makeup removal wipes like those from Klorane, Ponds, or Neutrogena should be used because soap and water can’t get into the tiny crevices of the eye.

Don’t overdo it with eyeshadow and liner; instead, aim to lift your eyes by not putting any product in the specific area you want. Use a clean brush to gently buff out the shadow, rather than slathering it on and blending simultaneously. When it comes to eyeshadow, avoid using anything that is too powdery. Stay as far from your eye as possible without affecting the overall look.

It’s best to avoid winged liner if you have sensitive eyes, as it demands a lot of liquid liner in the outer corners, which can be irritating to individuals with sensitive eyes.

Avoid Moving Shadow Powder To The Lower Lash Line

When you use a powdered brush to apply shadow to your lower lash line, the product is sucked into your eyes, which is a specific method to make your eyes water. A sponge tip applicator (don’t come for me; they’re helpful) can be used to apply the shadow to your lash line and then blend with a clean brush afterward.

This is something I’ve learned through personal experience. Nothing spoils an eye look for me more than getting powder in my eye while applying shadow to the bottom lash line.

Use Pencil Liner

This is a sad one, but if you’re having a lot of trouble with your liquid liner smudging, you might want to give it a rest. If your eyes get watery, a pencil is much less irritating than a liquid because it lasts much longer. When you’re irritated-tearing, nothing falls apart faster than liquid eyeliner.

Use Gel Eyeliner

It’s also possible to use gel liner. The L’Oreal Infallible Gel Eyeliner is one of my favorites. This product requires a brush to apply, which may cause some discomfort. But a good gel doesn’t turn on your eye faucets like liquid. This is a feasible alternative for those who prefer liquid to pencil but dislike how it makes their eyes water.

Can’t stand the thought of parting with your liquid liners? For those who can afford it, experimenting with various recipes is recommended. Some liquids are irritating to me, but others aren’t that bad. Physician’s Formula Eye Booster 2-In-1 Lash-Boosting Eyeliner & Serum is my favorite for novices. My eyes have never been bothered by it. As a result, finding a solution that doesn’t make your eyes wet may take some trial and error.

How To Apply Makeup To Prevent Watery Eyes?

Step #1

Eye cream and moisturizer can get into your eyes if applied too close to the area around your eyes. It’s very annoying! To avoid this, keep the area around your eyes free of creams.

Step #2

Those with sensitive eyes should steer clear of powder because it tends to fall into their eyes. Apply a hypoallergenic primer to your lids before applying the powder.

• Instead of powder, try a cream eye shadow to avoid irritating your eyes.

Step #3

The flat margin inside your lash line is known as your waterline. When you wear eyeliner so close to your eye, you risk developing an eye infection due to the possibility that the eyeliner contains bacteria.

• Sharpening your eyeliner before each use can also help remove a coating of possible germs from the product.

Step #4

If you want to avoid irritating the skin on your eyelids and some of the most sensitive skin on your body, you should avoid applying mascara to the root of your lashes. When applying mascara, begin at the center of your upper lashes and work your way up, holding the brush horizontally.

• Meibomian glands are located below the waterline and are responsible for producing oil that keeps your eyes moist. If you apply eyeliner on your waterline, you risk blocking the glands that produce tears, which will cause your eyes to become dry.
• In the interest of taking precautions, it is possible that skipping your lower lashes is a wise idea. If your eyes tend to get watery, the mascara you apply to your bottom lashes will efficiently run or smear.

Why do my eyes water when I put on makeup? Watery eyes can happen to everyone. Allergies to bacterial infections are the most common cause. However, it can also affect one or both eyes. Other tears can be caused by eyelashes rolling in and clogging or restricting tear ducts.

Especially when you wear makeup, you may experience the uncomfortable symptoms of watery eyes, impaired vision, sore eyes, and sticky eyes. These symptoms can be incredibly bothersome. However, most of the time, the issue may be fixed at home. Other than eye drops and medications, there are several things you may do to keep your eyes from watering, as I mentioned above.

Before going to bed, make sure you take off all of your makeup. Using an eye makeup remover in addition to your regular facial wash is vital to avoid the buildup of makeup in and around the eye area. It can irritate you for days at a time. Just follow these guidelines, and you can practice safely and comfortably!

I hope you loved this article and find it helpful. Also, you may be interested to read about how to sharpen lip liner.