Where You Apply Makeup Matters More Than You Think

By Dr. Nieka Sabeti

When I speak with patients about eye makeup, the conversation is often centered around ingredients.

Is this product safe? Is that ingredient irritating? Should I avoid waterproof formulas?

While formulation certainly matters, there is another factor that I believe deserves just as much attention: where makeup is applied.

One of the most common cosmetic habits I discuss with patients is applying eyeliner or mascara directly at the base of the eyelashes. Many people are surprised to learn that this seemingly harmless habit can place makeup very close to some of the eye's most important structures.

As an optometrist, I spend a great deal of time evaluating the eyelid margin. This tiny area along the edge of the eyelid contains the openings of the meibomian glands, which produce the oil layer of our tears, as well as other delicate structures that help maintain the health and stability of the ocular surface.

These structures are small, but they play an essential role in keeping our eyes comfortable.

When makeup is repeatedly applied directly onto the eyelid margin or packed tightly against the lash roots, cosmetic particles and ingredients have a greater opportunity to migrate into the tear film. For some individuals, this may contribute to irritation, reduced comfort, or disruption of the delicate balance that keeps the eyes feeling their best.

The good news is that achieving beautiful definition does not require applying makeup directly at the eyelid margin.

In fact, one of the simplest recommendations I often make is to focus mascara application from the mid-lash to the tips rather than concentrating product at the lash roots. This still creates length, volume, and definition while reducing the amount of product placed closest to the ocular surface.

The same principle applies to eyeliner. Positioning liner just outside the lash line can create a beautifully defined look while respecting the anatomy of the eyelid margin.

This is not about eliminating makeup or creating fear around cosmetic use. Quite the opposite.

I firmly believe that beauty and eye health can coexist. Much of what I do, both in practice and through CHESHMA, is focused on helping people make informed, intentional choices that support both.

Sometimes those choices involve selecting better formulations. Other times, they involve small adjustments in technique. And often, it is those small adjustments that make the biggest difference.

Eye-conscious beauty is not only about what products we use. It is also about how we use them.

Because when it comes to the eyes, where you apply makeup matters more than most people think.