Perhaps it’s the increased screen time or the heightened exposure to UV rays, but one thing’s for sure: more and more people are wearing glasses. In a recent National Health Interview Survey, 62% of respondents said they had worn some form of corrective eyewear in the last three years. Of these glasses wearers, 58% are women. Now, while glasses are especially helpful to women, given that they are more likely to have vision issues, they require extra consideration in terms of daily use. Specifically in terms of makeup and skincare, women have to find and consider ways that their eyewear will not cause them to break out or ruin their makeup looks.
In line with this, here are a few tips to make sure your glasses are well-considered in your everyday beauty routine.
Work around your specs
Glasses naturally draw attention toward the eyes, so why not find makeup looks that complement how your specs look on your face? For instance, chunkier frames may partially cover your brows, which is fine – but excessively large frames may completely obstruct them, which could give the illusion of having no eyebrows. As such, try filling in your brows with a deeper shade or shaping them to look bolder. This way, they balance the rigid frames and help add dimension to your eye area.
Aside from this, some lenses may cause your eyes to appear smaller. To correct nearsightedness, a concave lens with negative power is needed in your glasses, which causes minification. In order to counteract this, you’ll want to play up your eyes: try eyeliner techniques that make them open up rather than narrow out. When applying faux lashes, use the longest-millimetre pieces on the center part of your lashline instead of on the edges, which gives off a doe-eyed look. Finally, use a beauty blender to evenly apply highlighter on your brow bone and upper cheekbones to combat the shadows that glasses can cast on this part of your face.
Wear properly-fitting glasses
As perfect as your makeup look is, perhaps it’s your glasses that need to adjust – ill-fitting glasses tend to slip down your face, which can lead to your makeup getting smudged. If your specs slide down your nose, feel loose, or sit uncomfortably on your face, you need to learn how to adjust your glasses. Use gentle, steady pressure to help wrap the frames more tightly around your face. You can heat up the glasses’ temples with warm, not hot, water before applying pressure. Keep the water away from the lenses to avoid damaging any lens coatings. Ideally, the temples should bend at about a 45-degree angle, beginning behind your ear. This will help the glasses hug your face better so they don't smear any makeup product around.
Another thing that causes even well-fitting glasses to slip is greasiness, so when applying makeup, use a mattifying primer and a setting powder to lock in your look, especially on the bridge of your nose. Consider adding salicylic acid or retinol to your skincare routine, both of which can regulate sebum and help you dodge breakouts in general.
Avoid product buildup
The pressure eyeglasses put on your skin is a prime reason for acne. This constant pressure throughout the day keeps dead skin cells from sloughing off, which causes clogged pores and, eventually, acne. Acne that is caused by wearing glasses – a form of acne mechanica – typically occurs on the temples, nose bridge, and even your upper cheekbones. Since acne mechanica results from friction and pressure on the skin, it’s important to make sure anything that touches your skin on a regular basis is clean.
Regularly cleaning your glasses with water, a lotion-free dish soap or lens cleaning solution, and a gentle wipe with a microfiber cloth should do the trick. If you have particularly sensitive skin, you can even use a mild fragrance-free shampoo. Using this type of cleanser, you can even hit two birds with one stone, as most makeup tools can also be safely washed using mild shampoos. Having both your glasses and your makeup tools clean will prevent any pesky breakouts and let you wear your glasses without concern.
With consistent maintenance of both your glasses and your skin – plus some strategic makeup changes – you can rock those specs without a worry.