India, March 10 -- W hile eye makeup can elevate your look, it's important to prioritise eye hygiene and safety, especially if you wear it daily. To better understand safe eye makeup practices, HT Lifestyle spoke with Dr Suvira Jain, senior consultant (Refractive Eye Surgery) at ASG Eye Hospital. She noted that symptoms such as itching, tearing and burning in the eyes are quite common, and cautioned that the eye area is extremely sensitive. While these signs are often ignored, they may also indicate issues like dry eye syndrome or bacterial and viral infections. Dr Suvira advises paying attention to such symptoms and seeking medical help if they persist. Here are some ophthalmologist-approved eye makeup safety tips. Inspect the makeup product Using properly labelled and approved makeup products that follow safety regulations. Check the dates (manufacturing and expiry) and discard products that smell bad, appear clumped, dry or stale. Maintain hygiene Before applying makeup, wash your hands and face. Clean brushes and applicators regularly, and sanitise. Avoid sharing makeup brushes or eyelash curlers (amongst other things) with other people. Sharing products, including store 'testers', increases the risk of bacterial and fungal infections. Avoid applying makeup on the waterline Don't apply it on the inner eyelids and waterline, as this can directly block the Meibomian glands that produce essential oils for a healthy tear film, which leads to dry eyes. Contact lens wearers must be especially careful. Points to remember Always remove eye makeup before going to bed using a gentle and eye-safe makeup remover. Sleeping with makeup on increases the risk of blepharitis, and inflammation of the eyelids. The ophthalmologist also advised going makeup-free one day every week, or once a fortnight, as it helps reduce buildup from products like mascara, kajal, liner and lash glue, and lowers the risk of irritation, dryness, and blocked glands....