I Wish Someone Had Taught Me This About My Eyes

I Wish Someone Had Taught Me This About My Eyes

I didn’t think much about my eyes when I was twelve.

I thought about mascara. About looking older. About whether my lashes looked long enough in school pictures. I thought about sleepovers where we passed around the same tube of mascara and drew eyeliner directly along the inside rim of our eyelids because that’s what the “cool” girls were doing.

What I didn’t think about were the tiny oil glands along my eyelids. I didn’t think about bacteria. I didn’t think about expiration dates. I didn’t think about what happens when you sleep in waterproof mascara five nights a week.

I’m in my thirties now, and I live with chronic dry eye. It sounds minor. It isn’t. Chronic dry eye does not mean that my eyes are a little parched.

My eyes burn by mid-afternoon. Contacts are uncomfortable. Windy days hurt. I carry lubricating drops in every bag I own. An eye doctor once gently explained that years of blocked oil glands from heavy liner on the waterline, poor removal habits, and repeated irritation likely contributed to where I am now.

No one scared me when I was young. And, honestly, I am not sure if that would have even worked. But, no one educated me either.

My mom wasn’t neglectful. She just didn’t know. Makeup felt harmless. It was “just mascara.”

And most of the time, it is harmless.

But eyes are not skin. They are delicate. They are functional. They have structures that don’t regenerate easily when damaged.

I wish someone had told me:

  • Not to line inside my eyelids.

  • Not to share mascara.

  • That waterproof formulas require gentle removal.

  • That rubbing harder isn’t better.

  • That trends are temporary, but eyesight is permanent.

If I had known, I might still have worn the mascara. But, I like to think that I would have washed it off better.

So if you’re a parent reading this, this isn’t about banning makeup. It’s about teaching what many of us never learned that eye health and beauty habits can coexist, but only if someone explains how.

Let’s be the generation that does.

A Parent’s Guide to Teaching Healthy Eye Makeup Habits

Eye makeup is no longer a high school milestone. Tweens are experimenting earlier, influenced by social media tutorials and peer culture. That means conversations about healthy eye makeup habits must begin sooner — and continue consistently.

This guide will help you know when to talk, what to teach, and what must be repeated.

When Should Parents Start Talking About Eye Makeup?

Ages 8–10: Awareness Stage

Even if they aren’t wearing makeup yet, they’re watching it.

Goal: Introduce eye hygiene before experimentation begins.
Teach that eyes are delicate and different from skin.

Ages 10–12: First Experimentation Stage

Mascara and subtle eyeliner often begin here.

Goal: Teach hygiene rules before habits form.

This is the most important intervention window.

Ages 13–15: Trend & Social Influence Stage

This is when:

  • Lash extensions

  • Tightlining (waterline eyeliner)

  • Heavy daily waterproof makeup

  • Online lash serums become tempting.

Goal: Shift from rules to personal responsibility.

Ages 16+: Autonomy Stage

By now, habits are set.

Goal: Reinforce long-term eye health and independent decision-making.

Essential Times to Have the Conversation

  • Before the first sleepover in depth and refreshers regularly

  • Before middle school

  • When buying first mascara

  • Before school dances

  • When requesting lash extensions

  • If redness or irritation appears

  • When trends escalate

Don’t wait for damage.

Core Skills Teens & Tweens Must Learn

1. Safe Application

  • Wash hands before touching eyes.

  • Never apply eyeliner inside the waterline.

  • Avoid glue directly on skin.

  • Use clean applicators only.

2. Safe Removal

  • Remove makeup every night.

  • Use gentle remover.

  • Press and dissolve, don’t scrub. Foaming cleansers can help.

  • Never pull lashes off.

3. Product Safety Awareness

  • Mascara expires every 3 months.

  • Never share eye makeup.

  • Avoid craft glitter near eyes.

  • Avoid cheap or counterfeit online cosmetics.

4. Infection Awareness

Watch for:

  • Redness lasting more than a day

  • Swelling

  • Light sensitivity

  • Crusting

  • Pain

Make reporting symptoms safe and judgment-free.

 

What Must Be Said Explicitly (and Repeated Often)

  • “Never share mascara.”

  • “Nothing goes inside the eye.”

  • “Sleeping in makeup damages your eyes.”

  • “Glue near the eye is serious.”

  • “If it burns, wash it off.”

  • “Healthy eyes matter more than trends.”

  • “You won’t be in trouble for telling me something hurts.”

Repetition builds protection.

The Bottom Line for Parents

You don’t need to fear makeup.

You need to:

  • Start early.

  • Teach hygiene clearly.

  • Repeat safety rules.

  • Watch for glue, glitter, and tightlining.

  • Normalize nightly removal.

Eye makeup can be a form of self-expression.

But eye health is lifelong.

And prevention is always easier than repair.

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