No, skip eye makeup while you have pink eye. The FDA says to avoid eye cosmetics until the area has healed and to throw out any eye cosmetics you were using when you got the infection. For infectious pink eye, an American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) ophthalmologist suggests waiting at least 2 weeks before going back to eye makeup, and longer if your eye is still red or sore. Don't share eye or face makeup or brushes with anyone, per the CDC.
Why is eye makeup a problem with pink eye?
The CDC says viral and bacterial pink eye can spread easily from person to person, and its prevention advice centers on hands and shared items. Mascara wands, liner pencils, and brushes touch your lashes and lid margin, then go back into the tube or pan, so they can carry germs from an infected eye into the product.
The FDA warns that bacteria from your mouth can grow in mascara if you add saliva, and that adding water can bring in bacteria and dilute the preservative. It also notes that the bacteria on your hands can cause infection if they get into your eye. Putting on and taking off makeup means more touching and rubbing, and the NHS advises not rubbing your eyes.
What makeup should I throw out after pink eye?
The FDA's advice is plain: discard any eye cosmetics you were using when you got the infection. The AAO answer goes further for bacterial pink eye and suggests throwing away all old makeup.
Neither source gives an item-by-item list, so use common sense about what touched your eye area while you were sick.
- Throw out: mascara, liquid or pencil eyeliner, and eye shadow you were using when you got the infection (FDA).
- Throw out: disposable products you used while your eyes were infected, such as cotton balls, disposable contact lenses, and lens cases (CDC).
- Don't share: eye or face makeup, makeup brushes, towels, washcloths, pillows, eye drops, contact lenses, or glasses (CDC).
- Products you didn't use on your eyes during the infection are not addressed by the sources. If in doubt, replace it. Mascara is cheap next to a second round of pink eye.
When can I start wearing eye makeup again?
The FDA says to wait until the area is healed. An AAO ophthalmologist gives a more specific answer that depends on the cause:
- Bacterial pink eye treated with antibiotic drops: wait 2 weeks, and throw away all old makeup.
- Viral pink eye (adenovirus): you are usually not contagious after about 2 weeks, but the eye can stay red and uncomfortable for up to a month. Wait at least 2 weeks, and longer if the eye is still red, sore, or your cornea was involved.
- Allergic pink eye: the NHS says it is not contagious, so the throw-it-out advice is about infection. The FDA still says to avoid eye cosmetics while the skin around the eye is inflamed.
Can I wear face makeup like foundation?
The sources focus on eye cosmetics. The CDC lists both eye and face makeup, plus makeup brushes, as things not to share while you have pink eye. No source gives a rule for throwing out foundation or concealer.
A cautious approach: keep face makeup away from the eye area, use clean hands or a fresh applicator, and don't use a brush or sponge that also touched your eyelids. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after, as the CDC advises.
How do I restart makeup without getting pink eye again?
These FDA habits lower the chance of a repeat infection:
- Wash your hands before you apply eye makeup.
- Start with new mascara and liner. Manufacturers usually recommend throwing out mascara 2 to 4 months after you buy it.
- Never add saliva or water to thin dried mascara. Throw dried-up mascara away.
- Don't share or swap eye cosmetics, and use single-use applicators if you test makeup in a store.
- Keep containers clean, don't let products get dusty or dirty, and never apply or remove eye makeup in a moving car.
When should you get care?
In an emergency, call 911See a healthcare provider the same day if you have eye pain, sensitivity to light, blurred vision or other vision changes, or very red eyes (NHS, MedlinePlus). These can be signs of something more serious than routine pink eye.
Contact a provider if symptoms last longer than 3 or 4 days, the eyelids or skin around the eye become swollen or red, or you have a headache along with your eye symptoms (MedlinePlus).
A baby under 30 days old with red, sticky eyes needs an urgent appointment (NHS).
Get emergency care right away, and call 911 if you can't get there safely, for a sudden change in vision, a cut, scratch, or object in the eye, any chemical in the eye, eye pain with nausea or headache, or bleeding that won't stop (MedlinePlus). For a chemical splash, flush the eye with cool running water for 15 minutes, then get help.
How our AI doctor decides when to send you to care ›What about contact lenses?
The CDC says to stop wearing contacts until you have no symptoms or your eye doctor says it is OK. Throw away disposable lenses and the case you used while infected, and clean reusable lenses and cases as directed. If you have eye pain, light sensitivity, or blurry vision with pink eye symptoms, see a doctor promptly.
Common questions
Can I wear makeup with pink eye?
Not eye makeup. The FDA says to avoid eye cosmetics until the area has healed and to throw out any eye cosmetics you were using when you got the infection. Don't share eye or face makeup or brushes with anyone.
Do I really have to throw out my mascara after pink eye?
Yes. The FDA says to discard eye cosmetics you were using when you got the infection, and a mascara wand goes from your lashes back into the tube each time you use it. An AAO ophthalmologist suggests throwing away all old makeup after bacterial pink eye.
How long after pink eye can I wear eye makeup?
An AAO ophthalmologist suggests 2 weeks for bacterial pink eye treated with antibiotic drops. For viral pink eye, wait at least 2 weeks and longer if the eye is still red or sore. Either way, the FDA says to throw out the eye makeup you were using when the infection started.
Can I clean my makeup brushes instead of throwing them out?
None of the sources give a method for cleaning makeup brushes. The CDC says to throw away disposable products used while your eyes were infected and to clean reusable items like glasses and lens cases as directed. If a brush touched your eyelids while you were infected, replacing it is the safer choice, and never share it.
Does makeup cause pink eye?
Makeup can carry germs into the eye, especially old or shared products. The FDA notes that bacteria can grow in mascara, particularly if saliva or water is added, and that even new products are occasionally contaminated. That is why it advises not sharing eye cosmetics and not keeping them too long.
Can I wear makeup with allergic pink eye?
The NHS says allergic pink eye is not contagious, so the throw-it-out advice is about infection. The FDA still says to avoid eye cosmetics while the skin around the eye is inflamed. Wait until the itching and swelling settle.
Pymander is not a replacement for a physician and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911.