By Adriana Ermter
Dry eyes aren’t just sandpaper-like annoying. They can make you look tired and aged and even impact your vision. According to the U.S.-based. board-certified ophthalmologist and founder of twenty/twenty beauty, Dr. Diane Hilal-Campo, dry eyes are currently impacting an estimated 16.7 to 50.2 million people in America alone.
From increased screen time (with little to no breaks), to environmental factors like air conditioning and dust, harmful grooming habits such as lash tinting, lash extensions and tight lining, and even medical procedures like Lasik, can all have us rubbing our peepers and blinking to see straight. Here’s are Dr. Hilal-Campo’s tips on how to deal with dry eyes.
1) Stick to the 20-20-20 rule: for every twenty minutes of screen time, take a twenty second break and focus at twenty feet away. “Be sure to blink!” emphasizes Dr. Hilal-Campo.
2) Keep things clean!: keep your eyelashes clean and bacteria away by using a hypochlorous acid spray (a long time eye doc secret) twice a day and eye lid scrip pads to cleanse lashes. “The bacteria product lipases, which break down the oil layer, causing tear evaporation and chemically irritate the eyes,” says Dr. Hilal-Campo. “Twenty/twenty beauty’s Easy On The Eyes Calming Face Mist with Hypochlorous Acid is a natural, safe, and soothing spray that not helps keep the eye area clean and free of dirt, grime, and debris, but also can be used on the skin for a multitude of other concerns.” The super-fine mist is so gentle, even contact lens and lash extension wearers can use without issue.
3) Stay shady: wear wrap-around sunglasses when walking outdoors in the wind or sun to stop the evaporation of tears.
4) Wear makeup wisely: if you like to enhance your style with a touch of mascara, guy-liner or more, never put makeup on the waterline of the eyelids, where lashes meet the conjunctiva. “This will block the oil secreting gland orifices and cause dry eyes and styles,” explains Dr. Hilal-Campo. Additionally, remove eye makeup before sleeping to remove toxins from getting into the ocular surface, as well as lash extension and lifts, “which can cause dry eye from the chemicals and abnormally long lashes, leading to a wind tunnel effect and strip your eyes of its natural moisture,” adds Dr. Hilal-Campo.
5) Show your eyes some love: nourish your eyes with a serum that not only soothes dry eyes, but also help lash growth at the same time. “Twenty/twenty beauty’s Get Growing Lash & Brow Serum is PGA free (another dry eye no-no) and formulated with a super soothing blend of only three ingredients: castor oil, argan oil, and coconut oil. Use at night to wake up feeling more refreshed than ever.”
