Hayfever isn’t something I experienced before the age of 29. I’m grateful I got to enjoy nearly three decades of springtime happiness, not having to check the pollen count with streaming eyes, the most insanely bunged-up nose and itchy skin. Because now, I kind of dread my favourite season. I can’t have certain flowers in the house, or windows flung open while I work, and I cannot do my make-up as I normally would, lest I want to look as high as a kite with bloodshot eyes. And while I take all the antihistamines, nose sprays and eye drops, I’ve still found my eyes getting irritated.
I’m the kind of person who can forgo make-up most days, but when I say make-up, I’m not talking about filling in my brows or a few lashings of mascara – for me, these are non-negotiable. So, realising that my mascara might be exacerbating my hay fever woes has been truly upsetting. But Nicola Alexander, founder of Peep Club and optometrist, says it’s not necessarily the mascara: ‘It’s your eyes that change during hay fever season. Eyes are generally more sensitised and vulnerable during this time, as both the eyelids/lashes and the tear film (the thin barrier between your eye and the rest of the world) are working overtime on defence,’ she says. ‘Our eyes have very, very few defences (compared with almost any other part of the body), which makes them very reactive to environmental changes. During hay fever season, the tear film tends to become more watery to try to flush irritants away, but that makes it less occlusive (i.e. less effective at blocking potential sensitising ingredients like those commonly found in mascara – think fragrance, dyes, preservatives, etc.). That’s why our eyes can feel more sensitive to mascara during hay fever season.’
Alexander recommends non-flake formulas, particularly tubing mascaras. Since tubing mascaras have become more of a thing in the beauty world, I’ve gravitated towards them – they’re pretty life-proof (water-repellent and long-wearing) without needing too much aggression during removal. But I had no idea how much better they were for hay fever sufferers. Why? Well, these formulas wrap each individual lash with a polymer that doesn’t flake or clump. Traditional fibre mascaras can flake into your eyes when you rub them, or if your eyes are streaming, causing further irritation. I also reckon tiny pollen particles could stick to my fibre mascara, but as I don’t own a magnifying glass, I can’t confirm that.
And this swap doesn’t have to break the bank. One of my favourite tubing mascaras is under £4 – Essence Cosmetics Lash WITHOUT LIMITS Tubing Extreme Lengthening & Volume Mascara. It gives great volume and length, and my lashes don’t droop by midday.
essence cosmetics ash WITHOUT LIMITS TUBING Extreme Lengthening & Volume Mascara
Tips for wearing eye makeup during hay fever season
‘The best thing you could do for your eyes is use this season to build the eye defences and barrier,’ says Alexander. ‘It will set the groundwork for a happier spring and summer (when you might be in pools, the sea or on aeroplanes – all also harsh environments for eyes).’
She recommends Peep Club Instant Relief Eye Spray for this: ‘It’s literally designed to build your eye barrier and is one of our bestselling products in the UK and US because it’s just so effective at doing this. Unlike eye drops, which are symptom relief and often packed with preservatives, this spray is designed for longevity and is made with no preservatives.’
Peep Club Instant Relief Eye Spray
Also, check your cleanser. ‘Look for preservative-free, alcohol-free, fragrance-free formulas and avoid stripping ingredients like tea tree,’ she recommends. ‘This is also the season to invest in a very good eye cleanser – one that’s specifically developed for eyes.’
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Keeks Reid is the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. While she loves all things beauty, Keeks is a hair fanatic through and through. She started her career in beauty journalism in 2013 as editorial assistant at Blackhair and Hair magazines working her way to Acting Editor of Blackhair magazine at 23 years old. She spent much of her career working in trade hairdressing media at Hairdressers Journal, Salon International and the British Hairdressing Awards. Which is why she is a regular contributor to Cosmo’s Curl Up franchise. Now, alongside her Cosmo work, she presents, creates content on social media and works with a range of beauty companies; from magazines and websites to beauty brands and salons.