This is why you really shouldn’t wear eyeliner in your waterline

Eyeliner can really transform your face and your look, whether it's winged or smudged. It can be difficult to figure out which eyeliner look suits you—but thanks to TikTok we have access to endless eyeliner hacks and there are plenty of great eyeliners for beginners. Now, however, a doctor has taken to TikTok to tell us why we shouldn’t be putting eyeliner anywhere near our waterline. 

If you’re not sure, the waterline is the rim of the upper or lower eyelid between the lashes and the eye itself. Often people use eyeliner on this part of the eye to create a smokey look or to make their eyes bolder and bigger. If you're one of those people—you may want to rethink your make-up routine.

Dr. Carver-Schemper, an optometrist from Fayetteville, North Carolina, has explained in a now-viral TikTok video why we should really avoid doing it. The video now has over 2.3 million views and 27 thousand comments. 

Now a little warning—if you’re a little squeamish and sensitive when it comes to eyes, you might not love this video…

@bettervision

Why not to wear eyeliner on your waterline. #eyeliner #eyehealth #dryeye #eyes #meexplaining #optometrist #MGD #PepsiApplePieChallenge

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Dr. Carver-Schemper shows an eye, with eyeliner on and demonstrates the waterline being squeezed to show the oils. She explains: "The reasons eye doctors do not recommend wearing eyeliner on the waterline of your eye is because there are specialized glands there that produce and excrete oil.

“The oil should be an olive oil texture, but as you can see it looks more like toothpaste. This means the glands are obstructed and not producing healthy tears,” she continues.

Essentially, covering your lower lash line in eyeliner can block the tiny little glands, meaning your eyes aren't getting their normal amount of hydration from the oils the glands produce. Over a period of time, the glands will start to get blocked, which can lead to issues.

@bettervision

Why should not put eyeliner on the waterline. #makeup #makeuphacks #eyedoctor #eyeheath #eyeliner #beauty #

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Talking to Insider, the doctor explained that this can lead to dry-eye disease and cause a lot of discomfort. She said: “We see many patients that wear eyeliner on their waterline, and almost all of them have some degree of gland damage.”

So, if you’re a lover of eyeliner, make sure you remove it thoroughly before you go to bed. Don’t wear it every day—and if you can, avoid your waterline altogether.