The skincare process is different for everyone, depending on their skin type, lifestyle, and many other factors. For contact lens wearers specifically, certain skincare products that work for other people may not be as effective.
In the UK, a market study by the Association of Contact Lens Manufacturers states that there are over 3.9 million contact lens wearers in the country, making up at least 8.9% of the adult population. Meanwhile, the size of the contact lens market reached £360 million in 2023. The survey, which includes respondents from other European countries, found that the UK market for contact lenses is the largest, accounting for 19% of contact lens wearers.
While most people rely on contact lenses for vision correction, eyecare providers also offer other types of contact lenses for cosmetic purposes, such as coloured contacts. Regardless of your purpose of wearing contact lenses, you should still take the time to learn proper skincare practices. Below, we’ll be sharing some skincare tips for contact lens wearers.
Types of contact lenses
Nowadays, brands and retailers offer various kinds of contact lenses. Aside from contacts that you switch out on a monthly or bi-monthly basis, for example, there are also daily disposable ones which are less high-maintenance. If you’re serious about skincare, it’s important to note that getting dust and particles into your eyes or contacts can be harmful. At the same time, some skincare products tend to be oily or thick, which can also cause problems for your eyes and contacts.
As such, when buying contact lenses online, you may want to consider going for daily disposable contact lenses like the Acuvue Oasys Max or the daily variant of the Eyexpert Pure. If you’re looking to update your contact lens prescription, retailers like Vision Express also lets users book eye assessments where a qualified optician will advise them on the best contacts for your eyes and lifestyle.
No single contact lens type is better than the other, but many skincare experts recommend daily contact lenses to prevent buildup from reaching your contact lenses. Monthly and bi-monthly contact lenses, even when cleaned thoroughly, can still leave behind residue that may lead to potential infection. Still, there are ways to keep your contact lenses from getting infected through routine skincare practices.
Avoid oils and thicker creams
As mentioned above, certain skincare products may leave residue and buildup in your contacts if you’re out and about all day. For this reason, it is recommended that you avoid products with ingredients or formulations that are too oily or thick.
It’s also recommended to go for hydrating or moisturising skincare products to help alleviate the strain on the area around your skin and contacts when doing skincare. In a previous post, we highlighted the many benefits of ginseng skincare products, including its common use in moisturisers and creams due to its hydrating capability. Ginseng is also good for controlling sebum production, which can help prevent contaminating your contacts.
Consider lighter, thinner, SPF products
If your skincare routine involves SPF products, you should also consider switching to products with lighter and thinner textures. This is especially true if you’re relying on SPF to spend time outdoors.
As such, if you’re putting on SPF products, you want light ingredients that won’t exacerbate your meibomian glands, causing you to secrete more oil and potentially contaminate your contacts. You can also consult with your dermatologist to recommend SPF products like sunscreen that are specifically formulated for facial use.
Always remove your lenses before cleansing
Finally, an important step in any skincare routine is cleansing. When doing so, it’s crucial that you remove your lenses before starting the cleansing process. For regular contact lens wearers, this may be a seemingly trivial step that is often overlooked.
However, poor contact lens habits and hygiene can lead to infection and, in more severe cases, serious eye damage. Of course, this includes keeping your hands clean when handling your contact lenses. So, make sure your hands and skin are free of skincare products or creams before handling your contacts.
Article written by Eloise Kirby.
