It’s a morning ritual for many women: standing in front of the mirror applying your eye makeup. But when is the last time you replenished your supplies? You may think your eye makeup is your friend, but it can turn into your foe without proper care. Dr. Daniel Ferguson, a corneal specialist and partner at Eye Care Specialists, and Jhousy Leon, owner of Blush Beauty, shared their expertise on when eye makeup can be harmful and what you should look for the next time you are at the makeup counter.

M: What types of precautions should women take when it comes to using eye makeup?

DF: "Eye makeup-related dangers can often be avoided by following simple common sense precautions. One analogy I like to use is that you most likely wouldn’t want to shake someone’s hand after watching them sneeze into it, so why would you want to take their mascara wand and wipe the same bacteria around your eye?

M: Are there certain types of ingredients in eye makeup that people should avoid?

JL: "Most eye makeup products contain ingredients like dimethicone and propylene glycol, which may cause skin irritation or allergic reactions on a person-to-person basis. Every individual is different."

M: What types of eye problems can arise as the result of using eye makeup, and what are the warning signs?

DF: "The most common problems arising from eye makeup include allergic reactions, viral or bacterial conjunctivitis and corneal abrasions. These problems can all have similar symptoms, such as pink or redness of the whites of the eyes and an increase in tear production (in the body’s attempt to soothe the eyes). Allergic reactions will also often include irritation and itchiness. Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis (commonly called "pink eye") is a swelling or infection of the membrane lining the eyelids. Conjunctivitis may have a yellow or green discharge and can cause the eyelids to stick together or ooze. Infections and abrasions of the cornea are a serious concern, often marked by pain and sensitivity to light. If you develop any of these symptoms, contact your eye care specialist to determine a specific course of treatment."

M: What type of eye makeup should people purchase?

JL: "As it goes for anything you put into your body, the more natural and the more protective factors included, the better. Most of our brands, if not all of them, are hypoallergenic or organic. I would look for eye makeup that is mineral based or powder based, otherwise specifically hypoallergenic."

M: How often should people get rid of their eye makeup and purchase new makeup?

JL: "Experts suggest makeup should be disposed of every six months to one year. However, I strongly disagree. I believe makeup should change every three to four months. A warm, moist climate breeds bacteria; therefore, our air is contributing a lot of it regardless of where your makeup might be stored. This is especially important for mascara, as studies show each time the wand reaches the air, it is exposed to an abundance of material that is then stored in the container — which is why mascara is the first to spoil. It is also vital the tools used to apply your makeup are thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis. However, if you were to have any type of eye infection, all your eye makeup needs to be thrown away and all new makeup purchased before applying post-infection."