Eyes On - What Your Eye Doctor Wants You To Know About Makeup: Mascara, Eyeliner, PFAS And Eye Infections

Your eyeliner can migrate into your tear film. Your mascara has an expiration date. And some of the ingredients hiding in eye makeup may surprise you. So what is actually safe to put this close to your eyes—and what would an eye doctor avoid? Optometrist Dr. Meenal Agarwal breaks down the research on mascara, eyeliner, PFAS, eye infections, and the everyday makeup habits that could be affecting your eyes. Open your makeup bag. Pull out your mascara, eyeliner, and eyeshadow. Now ask yourself: Do you actually know what's in them or what happens when you put these products millimetres from your eyes every day? Most of us don't. In this episode of the Uncover Your Eyes podcast, optometrist Dr. Meenal Agarwal takes you inside the science of eye makeup and shares what she wishes more makeup wearers knew about protecting their eyes—without telling you to give up the products you love. In this episode, you'll uncover: 👁️ Where you should and shouldn't apply eyeliner, and what research shows can happen when eyeliner is applied along the inner eyelid margin 👁️ How eye makeup can interact with your tear film and why placement matters, especially for people with dry eyes or contact lenses 👁️ How long you should actually keep mascara and why an old mascara tube may be more than just dried-out makeup 👁️ The makeup habits that can increase your risk of eye irritation or infection, including one thing you should never do with mascara 👁️ What PFAS ("forever chemicals") are, why they may be used in cosmetics, and what to look for on an ingredient label 👁️ Dr. Meenal's eye-doctor makeup rules for making your daily routine safer without giving up makeup This isn't an anti-makeup episode. It's about understanding what happens when the products we use every day meet one of the most delicate surfaces of the body. If you wear mascara, eyeliner, or eye makeup—or know someone who does—send them this episode. Join the early access + get a free gift + exclusive insights for Dr. Meenal's upcoming book, Stuck in a Flat World: How Screens Rewire Our Brains, Spatial Awareness, and Sense of Safety, coming November 2nd, 2026. At Uncover Your Eyes, Dr. Meenal Agarwal explores the powerful body–brain connection, revealing how vision, neuroscience, mental health, and preventive care intersect — empowering listeners to recognize early signals before they become diagnoses. 🎧 Tune in and join Dr. Meenal Agarwal as we reimagine what it means to be well in today's complex healthcare system. Because healing starts with understanding — and Uncovering Your Eyes. Subscribe to Uncover Your Eyes on your favorite podcast platform and YouTube, and learn more about Dr. Meenal on Instagram @Dr.MeenalAgarwal