Should you throw away makeup after pink eye?

Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is uncomfortable enough without catching it twice. The makeup you were using when it started can carry the same germs, which is why eye doctors recommend replacing it. This guide covers what they advise. It is general information, so follow your own doctor’s instructions, especially if your infection was severe.

What eye doctors recommend

The American Academy of Ophthalmology’s general advice is to throw away eye makeup after three months, and to get rid of all eye makeup immediately if you develop an infection. Infection-causing bacteria grow easily in creamy or liquid eye products.

In an AAO “Ask an Ophthalmologist” answer, Dr. William Barry Lee said that after bacterial conjunctivitis he would recommend waiting two weeks before returning to makeup and throwing away all old makeup. After viral conjunctivitis, he suggested waiting at least two weeks, and longer if the eye was still red. He also recommended checking with your eye doctor about your specific type of infection.

What to throw away

Start with anything that touched your eyes while you were infected:

• Mascara and liquid eyeliner. The wand goes back into the tube every time, so the whole product is exposed.
• Gel eyeliner in pots, and the brush you used with it.
• Eyeliner pencils, cream eyeshadows and eyeshadow primers.
• Powder eyeshadows you used on your eyes during the infection.

It feels wasteful, especially with an expensive palette. But the point is to avoid reinfecting yourself. If you are unsure about a particular product, ask your eye doctor.

What about brushes and other items?

Brushes and sponges that touched your eyes need attention too. Wash reusable brushes thoroughly and let them dry completely, and throw away disposable sponges and applicators.

The CDC’s prevention advice adds a few more points. Don’t share personal items like towels, washcloths, eye drops, eye or face makeup, makeup brushes or contact lenses. If you wear contact lenses, stop until your symptoms are gone or your eye doctor says it is fine, and throw away disposable products you used while your eyes were infected, including disposable lenses and cases.

How long to wait before wearing makeup again

Based on the AAO expert’s advice, plan on at least two weeks without eye makeup, and longer if your eye is still red. When you go back, start with new products. Putting fresh makeup on an eye that hasn’t fully healed, or using old products, risks bringing the infection back.

When to check in with a doctor

Pink eye has different causes, and they are treated differently. Only a doctor can tell you which type you have, which is why the AAO expert’s advice depends on it. If your symptoms get worse, don’t improve, or affect your vision, contact a doctor or eye care professional rather than waiting it out.

It is also worth asking your doctor directly about makeup. They can tell you when it is safe to start again for your particular case, and whether any products you used need replacing.

How to lower the risk next time

The same habits that make makeup last also help prevent infections. Dr. Susan Massick of Ohio State Wexner Medical Center recommends clean applicators and brushes, washing your hands before applying makeup, never reviving dried products with water or saliva, removing makeup every day and never sharing it.

Keeping track of when you open eye products makes the three-month rule easy to follow. Our expiration calculator works out the date for you, and our mascara guide explains why eye products expire so quickly.