Opticians have warned that a TikTok trend of smearing Vaseline into the corners of the eyes could cause styrene, smudging and blurred vision.
The ‘hack’, which emerged during the recent freezing temperatures, should prevent eyes from watering in cold weather and keep makeup intact.
Videos of the trick have been viewed millions of times on the social media app under the hashtags #wateryeyehack and #vaselinehacks.
But opticians say this trend can cause infections, skin conditions and vision problems and are encouraging people to keep Vaseline away from their eyes.
A video on TikTok posted by @yazmooremakeup (pictured), who has 70,000 followers, shows her using a cotton swab to apply Vaseline to the corners of her eyes. In the video with over 200,000 views, she claims that it is ‘the best life hack’ ‘if you suffer from watery eyes or if your eyes run a lot’
A video on TikTok posted by @yazmooremakeup, who has 70,000 followers, shows her using a cotton swab to apply Vaseline to the corners of her eyes.
In the video, which has been viewed more than 200,000 times, she claims it is ‘the best life hack’ for ‘if you suffer from watery eyes or if your eyes water a lot’.
“My makeup used to smudge really badly because my eyes wouldn’t stop watering,” she says.
Another video, shared by @danicolexx, who has 467,000 followers, shows her dipping a cotton swab in Vaseline and placing it in the corner of her eye during her makeup routine. She claims it’s “the best tip” she’s “ever learned.”
But a clip posted by @michaelgrullon_, a beautician with 130,000 followers, warns against the trend, which he says is “the best hack to get milia and stye.”
A video posted by @danicolexx (pictured), who has 467,000 followers, shows her dipping a cotton swab in Vaseline and placing it in the corner of her eye during her makeup routine. she claims it’s ‘the best tip’ she’s ‘ever learned’
Tina Patel, an optician at Feel Good Contacts, agrees that the ‘hack’ increases the risk of developing milia and styes and so should be ‘approached with caution’.
“It’s better to avoid Vaseline,” she adds.
Milia are small cysts on the skin, which are usually milky white or yellow. They are filled with keratin – the protein found in skin, hair and nails – and appear when clusters of dead skin form a ball under the skin. They usually disappear within a few weeks.
While UV exposure, tobacco and alcohol increase the risk of developing milia, using Vaseline around the eyes or on the nose also encourages their development.
A stye is a small but painful lump on or in the eyelid. It causes the eye to become red, watery and painful.
They are often caused by bacteria infecting an eyelash follicle or eyelid gland, which Vaseline can encourage, according to Mark Shelton, an optometrist at Bayfields Opticians and Audiologists.
He says: ‘Although applying Vaseline to the eyelids can be effective in preventing them from watering, it is not something I would recommend.
‘The eyelids contain meibomian glands that help regulate the quality of tears. Blocking these glands can cause complications such as styes and cysts or even infections.’
A video posted by @michaelgrullon_, an esthetician with more than 130,000 followers, warns of the trend, saying that applying Vaseline to the eyes is “the best hack to get milia and stye.” Many opticians agree with his warning and advise against following the trend
Because the eyes are very sensitive, applying Vaseline close to the eyes can cause irritation and inflammation, which can lead to blurred vision, warns Ms Patel.
However, if your eyes water excessively, it could be a sign that you are suffering from dry eye syndrome.
Mr. Shelton warns that excessive watering of the eyes can be a sign of dry eye syndrome, which can also cause blurred vision, itchy eyes and sensitivity to light.
‘I would recommend seeing your local optometrist who can do a few tests to check why the eyes are watering and provide appropriate advice,’ he adds.
There are much safer ways to protect the eyes during cold weather than using Vaseline, according to Malcolm Maciver, an optometrist at Leightons Opticians.
He suggests wearing sunglasses to protect the eyes from high winds and cold temperatures and staying hydrated to maintain the eyes’ natural moisture balance, which reduces the tendency to tear excessively.