Can You Use Eye Drops With Eyelash Extensions? (Answered!)

Eyelash extensions are an amazing way to quickly change up your look, but many people want to know if you can use eye drops with them. After all, the last thing you want is to damage your extensions or cause them to fall out prematurely.

So, can you use eye drops with eyelash extensions?

Eye drops can be used safely with eyelash extensions. It is recommended to avoid eye drops right before your eyelash appointment and at least four hours after. Moreover, eye drops containing saline, oils, glycols, and glycerin should be avoided when wearing lash extensions.

In this article, I will share the six safest eye drops for false lash extensions, ingredients to avoid, and when to use them. I’ll also teach you the right way to apply them and what to remember when doing so that you can decide what’s best for you.

Disclaimer: Although I have been doing eyelash extensions for years, I am not a doctor. All content and information in this post are for informational and educational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of your own Medical Provider regarding any questions or concerns you have about your specific health before implementing any recommendations or suggestions from our Website.

With that being said, let’s get started!

Safe vs Unsafe Eye Drop Ingredients for Eyelash Extensions

Before discussing the aftereffects of eyedrops for lash extension wearers, I think it’s crucial to discover what they contain first.

Most commonly used eyedrops contain some/all of the following ingredients:

Ingredients in eyedrops that are unsafe for eyelash extensions

• Glycols like Polyethylene glycol and Propylene glycol
• Glycerin
• Oils like mineral oil and soybean oil
• Natural phospholipids
• Saline
• Polyvinyl alcohol

Ingredients in eyedrops that are safe for lash extensions

• Carboxymethylcellulose
• Antihistamines
• Steroids
• Povidone

Which Eye Drops Can You Use With Lash Extensions?

Now that you know the ingredients to steer off, it’s easy to find the right eye drops for your lash extensions. My rule of thumb is to look out for a water-based option.

If you can’t find the right eyedrop compatible with your gorgeous new extensions, the following list will help you out.^[1]

For Lubrication:

• Refresh Tears contains 0.5% of Carboxymethylcellulose sodium as its active ingredient.
• Retaine contains 0.5% of Carboxymethylcellulose sodium as the active ingredient.

For Redness:

• Visine is made up of 0.05% Tetrahydrozoline HCl as the active component.

For Swelling:

• MAXIDEX is made of the active ingredient dexamethasone (0.1%).^[2]

For allergy:

• Zaditor comprises 0.25 mg of the active ingredient ketotifen.^[3]
• Naphcon-A encompasses Naphazoline hydrochloride (0.025%) and Pheniramine maleate (0.3%).

Why Are Certain Eye Drops Bad For Eyelash Extensions?

While eye drops are a safe way to deal with a myriad of eye problems, not all eyedrops are great for lash retention. Ergo, you MUST probe the ingredients in eye drop brands just as you do with eyeliners, mascaras, and makeup removers.

In the last section, we learned the five main ingredients that are unsafe for lash retention.

Polyethylene glycol and Propylene glycol aren’t best for the lifespan of false lashes as they break the bond of the lash glue. While glycerin is different from glycols in chemical structure, it can also lead to premature fallout of lashes.

We already know oils and waxes are strictly forbidden for lash extension wearers. Hence, be on guard because a large number of eye drops contain mineral and soybean oil. Additionally, check eyedrops in gel form, whether it’s oil-based or water-based, before use.

Natural phospholipids are another type of natural oil used in eyedrops that you should watch out for to prevent lash retention issues.

Salt is a great antibacterial substance. However, salt also behaves adversely with eyelash adhesives and dries out your lashes. Moreover, brittle lashes tend to split or break easily. For that very reason, eyedrops with saline solutions are a big no-no for fake lash wearers.

On top of it, alcohol-based eyedrops such as those containing Polyvinyl alcohol are also extremely drying around fake lashes.

When Can You Use Eye Drops After Getting Eyelash Extension?

The best time to use eye drops is 4 hours after getting your lash work done. This way, the medicine won’t interfere with the curing process of the lash adhesive.

For starters, you should not use eye drops before going in for a lash treatment.

Why?

That’s because using eyedrops before treatment can moisten your lashes way too much. It will eventually prevent the glue from adhering to natural lashes correctly during application.

So, instead of applying eye drops beforehand, it’s better to talk with your lash tech first. I say this because most lash techs use nano misters to moisturize your eyes as and when needed.

How To Apply Eye Drops With Eyelash Extensions (Step-by-Step)

While you can apply eyedrops any way you want generally, the rules change once you start wearing lash extensions.

And if you aren’t careful, the wrong application of eyedrops can even wipe out your false lashes!

I’ll share what I tell my clients who use eye drops below so that you can also follow suit and do it right.

Step One: Before Application

• Clean and dry your lashes.
• You (or the person applying drops) must wash your hands.
• Lay down and find a comfortable position so that the drop doesn’t fall into your lashes.

Step Two: Application

The right way to apply eye drops is directly on the surface of the eye. Take care not to apply it around your eyes. In short, eye drops shouldn’t touch the lash line at all. The same goes with the dropper, as it prevents contamination.

Additionally, remember not to close your eyes. This will prevent the liquid drops from coming into contact with lash extensions.

Typically, you should apply eye drops day and night or up to three times every day until you’re relieved. That said, ask your doctor about it first. If the doctor’s advice conflicts with the lash tech’s suggestions, make sure to discuss it with the tech before application.

Step Three: After the Application

There are a few things to bear in mind when it comes to aftercare of eyedrops when wearing lashes.

• Don’t put more than one drop in an eye.
• If you need to apply more than one drop or two different eye drops, wait for three to five minutes before applying the next one. This will prevent the drops from overflowing and settling on your lash line.
• Dab off the extra liquid from around the eyes by blotting with a lint-free material in gentle motions. This will prevent them from seeping into your lashes. In short, don’t leave it damp around the lash line.

What To Keep In Mind When Using Eyedrops While Wearing Lash Extensions

While it’s better to avoid eyedrops (if you can) when wearing lash extensions, remembering the following can be helpful too.

• Always let your lash tech know if you face any discomforts during or right after the lash treatment. This will help narrow down your allergies if the culprit is lash glue or other lash treatment equipment.
• Instead of using eye drops for allergies, use “oral antihistamine or anti-inflammatory medication” as recommended by Dr. Colerick.^[4]
• When you’re allergic to a new brand of eye drops, it can also present with itchiness, irritation, and redness.
• Don’t use homemade solutions or herbal remedies for treating eye irritations when wearing lash extensions.

Final Thoughts

Eye disorders almost always throw life into disarray. Moreover, the eyes are one of the most sensitive organs in our body. That’s why you should seek immediate medical care if your eye problems are severe or persistent.

That said, most of my clients with sensitive eyes use eye drops after the cure period when getting lashes to prevent any such unpleasant reactions. So, there’s no harm if you have sensitive eyes and want to do the same.

However, make sure to avoid eyedrops with oils, waxes, salts, glycols, glycerin, and alcohol to prevent your lashes from falling out too early.

As a word of advice, those who have irritated skin, broken eyelids, a history of allergy to eye makeup, have alopecia areata, or trichotillomania shouldn’t get eyelash extensions.

I hope this guide helped you find the answer you’re looking for.

To be honest, this article has been almost a year in the making because I wanted to be super-thorough with the medical information we are quoting.

While I’m not a doctor, I can provide honest responses as a lash tech from my experience if you’re still doubtful about which eye drops to use with eyelash extensions.

So, fire away your questions below!

– Asako

Continued Readings on DivineLashes.ca: If you are curious about which products can be used around the eyes with lash extensions, check out my articles on wearing glasses with eyelash extensions, how to clean lash extensions with micellar water, and whether or not you can use a lash serum with lash extensions.

References

1. Dr. Kren Kreidl (2020). A Guide to Ingredients in Over-the-Counter Eye Drops. Retrieved from https://www.bouldermedicalcenter.com/6652-2/ (Accessed on 19 February 2021)
2. NPS Medicinewise (2020). Maxidex Eye Drops 0.1%. Retrieved from https://www.nps.org.au/medicine-finder/maxidex-eye-drops (Accessed on 19 February 2021)
3. RxList. ZADITOR. Retrieved from https://www.rxlist.com/zaditor-drug.htm (Accessed on 19 February 2021)
4. Lindsaw Burgess (2018). 8 Things Eye Doctors Want You to Know About Eyelash Extensions. Retrieved from https://www.brit.co/eyelash-extensions-reactions/ (Accessed on 19 February 2021)