Question: Can I Wear Makeup if I Wear Contact Lenses?
Answer: Yes. Makeup may be worn with contact lenses, as long as care is taken to prevent getting the makeup on the lenses. Makeup and cosmetics sometimes harbor bacteria, which could latch onto the contact lenses and cause an eye infection. A smart strategy is to insert your contacts into your eyes before you apply your makeup, particularly eyeliner, mascara, and eyeshadow. Likewise, remove the contacts before removing your makeup.
Remember that colored contact lenses are not cosmetics, but are medical devices that require as much responsibility as regular contact lenses. Be sure to follow your doctor's recommendations for care of your contact lenses. Also, never share contacts or makeup.
The American Optometric Association offers some guidance on choosing and applying makeup for contact lens wearers.
More Vision Q&A
