Grab your brush, a 10X lighter magnifying mirror, and one of the cleansing sprays.
Select Calm Cleansing Spray for blepharitis and allergies. In the case of itching, Calm would be my choice. This is hypochlorous meets chamomile water for a calming effect.
Select Tea Tree Water if you are cleaning lash extensions. This one is hypochlorous meets tea tree water for more of a cleansing effect.
Both of these sprays do not have any oil. They're also tear free, sting free. When using In Between Eyelash Cleansing Brush, you are working so close to the lash line. Expect solution to enter the eye. Here you definitely do not want to use foaming cleansers. These cleansing sprays are most ideal for this type of work.
No. 1: Removing dirty and very trapped eyelid debris located right at the base of that eyelash. You're going to be using this "fork" to stoke and kind of wiggle it through the base of the lash to pull out the debris. The action is very much like removing a tight bracelet from one's writs. Make sure you stoke at the base of the eyelash to clean and pull out the debris that looks like this:
No. 2: You wear eyelash extensions, and of course, you're concerned about eyelash debris at that base of the eyelash. But you also want a way to clean your natural eyelash. When I say clean your natural eyelash, you want to clean it from the root to where your natural lash is attached with glue to the extension. And then you're also cleaning the extension from where it's attached to your natural lash to the very tip of the extension. Spray Tea Tree Water on your brush, gently insert at the base and brush from the root to the tip - cleaning your natural lash and the extension in one swoop. Beautiful.
No. 3: Not so obvious. If you happen to own this brush for cleaning in between your eyelashes and you apply mascara, this also can double up as an eyelash separator after you've put on mascara. All you do is insert where you see lashes stuck together and pull through to separate eyelashes.
Love + Healthy Eyes,
Dr. Tanya Gill, OD
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Do you have currently or have you had demodex mites blepharitis in your past?
If you're in the category of demodex blepharitis, you will want to do 2 very specific things.
Demodex can actually survive (although not for long) for a few hours on oils and sebum that get trapped inside the bristles of an eye makeup brush.
You definitely do not wanna go to makeup counters if you have or have had demodex blepharitis. For this reason, you definitely do not wanna share makeup with your friends and family.
When you are done applying eye makeup, add 1 pump of the foaming cleanser to the eye makeup brush and wash well under running warm water. If your eye makeup is a little bit more oil based / waterproof – it's gonna be a little bit more difficult to get off. You will still want to use the foaming cleanser with the tea tree oil, but in addition - spray the brush with our micellar water to remove the oil based eye makeup. Saturate the brush with the micellar water, add some elbow grease, then rinse off with warm water. Towel dry and let air dry on a clean towel.
If demodex is not a concern, you can choose either cleanser: foaming cleanser or micellar water. These work perfectly well. If you're in this category, how frequently should you actually wash eye makeup brushes?
My answer to this is to clean as often as possible. In an ideal world, after each use. But a good number would be at least once a week to at least once a month depending on the 3 things I mentioned above.
Love + Healthy Eyes,
Dr. Tanya Gill
This is how you clean Demodex mites eyelash debris.
1) A 10x lighted magnifying mirror for this precision task;
2) 2 eyelash cleansing tools. One is shaped like a mini toothbrush. The other is shaped like a mini fork;
3) The cleansing oil and the foaming cleanser. Each is diluted with tea tree oil. The dilution of the tea tree oil is made for eye care, meaning it has been safety tested at a third-party FDA approved lab in the United States.
Place one drop of the cleansing oil on Eyelid Margin Scrub Brush. You're going to shake off any excess. You want this brush dry wet, not sopping wet. Grab the 10x lighted magnifying mirror and you want to start scrubbing. You're going to be using Eyelid Margin Scrub Brush to scrub in two very specific areas.
The first area is that eyelid margin where the meibomian glands live, aka the waterline. Make sure to scrub all 4 eyelids, lower & upper. You want to do this because that's where the entrance to the meibomian glands are and where oil / sebum lives. Sebum is the food source for Demodex mites.
The second area is going to be at the base of the eyelash. You're going to be physically scrubbing off Demodex collarettes. This is the debris that Demodex make. Collarettes are hard to see, but they are attached at the base of the eyelash, so make sure to scrub at that location.
Imagine my hand. My fingers are the eyelashes. My palm is the eyelid margin, the waterline. You want to scrub at the location of the knuckles, the eyelash - eyelid margin junction. This is the spot.
Next, you're gonna grab this fork shaped brush, the In Between Eyelash Cleansing Brush. Again, one drop of the cleansing oil onto this brush. I like to dry this off a little bit with a clean towel because I also want this brush dry / wet, not sopping wet. Grab your 10x lighted magnifying mirror and you're going to be stoking out from the base of the eyelash and pulling out Demodex collarette through the lash.
Collarettes are difficult to remove, especially if they are cemented to the eyelash base. In more severe cases of Demodex mites infestation, the In Between Eyelash Brush with cleansing oil is absolutely needed in order to stoke and pull out the collarette. The action is to INSERT the brush at the base of the eyelash, STOKE it and PULL out the debris through the lash.
THE MECHANICS
Use Eyelid Margin Scrub Brush to actually loosen the collarettes. Then use In Between Eyelash Brush to physically stoke and pull out the collarette through the eyelash to make sure it's fully removed. The more severe and thick collarettes need to be pulled through the eyelash. Kinda like removing a tight turtleneck sweater.
Now with all the cleansing action at the eyelid margin and the eyelash base . . . there's a ton of yuck that needs to be washed off. You want to make sure you complete the double cleanse. Put a little bit of foam on clean fingertips. You're going to rub this back and forth 1-2-3-4 times on the eyelids and eyelashes. Rinse with water, towel dry, and you've completed the session.
A good starting point is to do this entire system one time before bed for an entire week and then customize depending on what your needs are. This will definitely change depending if you started out more severe versus more mild. Your optometrist can also offer some guidance.
When you remove a false lash, there is definitely a tearing action that damages the eyelid skin barrier. Here's 3 tips on how to protect your eyelid skin barrier when you're wearing false lashes.
First, you want to use a cleansing oil. When you are removing your false lashes, put one drop of the cleansing oil onto the end of a Q tip. You want to saturate this Q tip. With one hand as you pull the false lashes, put the Q tip right on that edge and you want to massage while pulling to reduce the tearing effect. You want to use something like this Tea Tree Eyelid & Eyelash Makeup Remover Oil. It's a blended cleansing oil. And that's because a blended cleansing oil – think of it as a liquid ester. When it comes into contact with that acrylate, which is that lash glue, it will break the molecular bonds of that acrylate so that there will be less tearing effect at the level of the eyelid skin.
Number two. After you remove that false lash, you wanna help that eyelid skin barrier repair as much as possible before the next false lash application. You want to use straight up emollient. This is PM Eyelid Butter. It's a limited ingredient formula of JUST fatty acids, triglyceride, and cholesterol (and in a very specific ratio). You want to apply it directly on that lash line where the lash glue and false lash was attached, and allow that eyelid skin barrier to repair. EMOILLIENT
TIME TO REST IT
This non-waterproof mascara is like nothing you've ever used before. All your preconceived notions about mascara – let's just toss them aside and start all over again. Here I will discuss the theory behind my formulation, and how to create a lash look (and for some) will look like you just left the lash extension salon. But first, let's jump to the suggested use for those that are TL;DR . . . Here ya go!
I wanted to create a solution for my dry eye / meibomian gland dysfunction patients that have struggled from these inflammatory eye problems for many years. With chronic inflammation comes dry, brittle lashes. This group of patients are also contraindicated for prostaglandin type lash serums such as Latisse® / LashBoost®, lash extensions, lash lifts, and for some - also false lashes because of the glue. Here I will outline the ingredients in the mascara so you can see if it's right for you or your patients.
So, what the heck is a pressed serum anyways?
Traditionally, a pressed serum is a thicker formulation like a balm that carries a concentration of benefits such as vitamins, antioxidants, nutrients, fatty acids, etc. With formulations like balms, there is considerably less water and many times no water at all. This allows ingredients such as oils, waxes, fatty acids, esters, and oil based compounds to penetrate more deeply into skin and hair. Why not apply this to the concept of mascara and lash serum at the same time? Long story short – that's what I did.
The lash serum comes in 2 parts. 1st the Widelash™ which is a trademarked active to help eyelashes appear longer, fuller and stronger by promoting hair bulb keratinocyte proliferation and ensuring optimal hair anchorage. What does that mean? Basically, the active peptide helps to make the lash look and feel less dry, less brittle and more dense. You will not get the long, spider-like lashes like you do with a prostaglandin analog like Latisse® or LashBoost®.
2nd the castor oil. I combed suppliers to find the exact carrier oil that you would find in the Restates prescription eye drop. My goal was to find a castor oil that already had a proven safety track record with dry eye patients. Castor oils are not created equal. Even with cold pressed castor oils, you can get trace amounts of ricin which is a toxin. Here, this castor oil is cleaned and purified in a way to remove 100% of the bad stuff but leaving 100% of the good stuff. The difference is very obvious when you compare this castor oil to common castor oils you'll find on Amazon, for example.
Our castor oil is less sticky, it's very pale yellow in color, and when comparing wholesale cost . . . Let's put it this way. 1kg of an organic, cold pressed castor oil is about $10 USD; while our pharmaceutical grade, super-purified castor oil is $1150 USD for the same 1kg. Even though the INCI reads the same "Ricinis Communis (Castor) Seed Oil" – it's definitely not the same. Not all diamonds are created of equal clarity, right? Right.
P.S. If you want this special castor oil straight up, please check out our Lashfull Thinking™ Follicle Oil where you can get a 10mL sized bottle of this castor oil with 0% dilution. But I digress . . .
Lashfull Thinking™ mascara contains very little water. And instead of straight up water – I wanted to infuse the methodologies of K beauty. Drinking barley tea and applying barley stem water onto the skin has been a K beauty staple for centuries. Barley Stem Water is the base of our mascara. It's rich in unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Barley also contains selenium that doubles as a powerful antioxidant. It is also anti-inflammatory which is more ideal for maintaining a healthy eyelid skin barrier which is integral when you're trying to maximize lash appearance for dry eye and MGD patients.
When you're stuck with unhappy lashes from dry eyes / MGD but also are contraindicated for lash extensions and false lashes . . . what do you do? There are 2 types of esters and waxes in Lashfull Thinking™ mascara; soft versus hard.
The soft esters & waxes. Here, the purpose of these ingredients is to provide volume. This will require application with a volume type mascara wand that will pick up as much mascara as possible. It's like a wheel barrow instead of a shovel. For some users, soft esters and waxes will smudge. In cases like this, apply a mascara primer or base mascara and let dry for 1 minute before using Lashfull Thinking™ mascara.
After the 1st coat of Lashfull Thinking™ mascara, allow the soft esters and waxes to dry completely for 1 minute. If this step is skipped, it's like applying 2 coats of nail polish without allowing the 1st coat to properly dry. It's a mess. You follow me . . . Once the 1st coat of Lashfull Thinking™ mascara has dried properly, you know have applied the VOLUME. But wait, we are not done yet.
The hard esters & waxes. Now apply the 2nd coat of Lashfull Thinking™ mascara. The second coat has a lot going on because now, we are relying on the soft esters and waxes to provide anchorage for the hard esters and waxes. Here, hard esters and waxes will extend the mascara length. The idea is to provide length like tubing mascara without the nylon or fibers but also provide a more glam look like lash extensions.
Remember we just seriously dumped a ton of formula on your lashes. Here, some clumping is very normal. The finishing touch will be to comb out your lashes with a tool of your choice to complete the final look. The final look will have each lash volumized and lengthened in formula.
You will also notice that commonly, 2 lashes will stick together to create the volume. The 2 lashes are working together so that length can be added. First the volume. Then the length. Do not comb out until the very end. If you comb out after the 1st coat, you’ll just be breaking up the volume. Without the volume, length cannot be added properly. With practice and repeated application sessions, you will find that sweet spot.
Lashfull Thinking™ mascara can be used with or without a lash primer or base. This will greatly depend on the ability of your lashes to hold on to the initial coat of the soft esters and waxes and allowing them to completely dry. The more healthy and the more oily the eyelash, the more likely the soft esters and waxes will slip off and not dry properly.
In cases like this, using a mascara primer or an existing mascara as the base will allow the soft esters and waxes to stick and dry firmly to the eyelash. You will not know if you will need to use a lash primer until you experiment with Lashfull Thinking™ mascara a few times. The most common finding will be excessive smudging even after waiting 1 minute between the first and second coats. Once you tweak the application to suit your eyelash type, you’ll love love love Lashfull Thinking™ mascara.
Lashfull Thinking™ mascara has my signature style preservative system because I formulate for the sole purpose of eye care. When it comes to mascara, the preservatives are usually at maximum concentrations to ensure safety. This is super important because you're applying formula directly to the eyelashes – and repeatedly. The risk of contamination with bacteria and or mold/yeast are higher than say something like an eye cream
Here, I've designed a botanical based preservative system using Magnolia and Honokiol derived from Magnolia bark. Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, and Potassium Sorbate complete the preservative system. Here, 5 ingredients for the preservative system. Initially one would read this as too many preservatives, right? Lemme ask you. Keeping the efficacy of preventing microbial growth the same, what would be better? 1 preservative at a concentration of 2%, or 5 ingredients that work as a preservative system with a concentration of 0.4% each? My answer is the latter because the lower concentrations are less likely to cause irritation and allergy over time. Formulating is so much fun:)
Here's the full ingredients list in case you wondered.
Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) Stem Water, CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), Synthetic Beeswax, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters, Copernicia Cerifera Cera (Carnauba) Wax, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Acacia Senegal Gum, Oryza Sativa Cera (Rice Bran) Wax, Aqua/Water/Eau, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Ricinis Communis (Castor) Seed Oil*, Glyceryl Behenate, Panthenol, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Magnolol, Honokiol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid
Please note that my Lashfull Thinking™ mascara is formulated without certain ingredients because it's the DNA of the We Love Eyes brand. Just because they are not the ingredients of my choosing, doesn't mean they are unsafe. It just means, I don't like them. My choice.
Lashfull Thinking™ mascara is formulated without:
What is the best mascara especially if you have dry eyes, blepharitis and or prone to stye or chalazion? I'm going to divide this very complicated question into four parts.
PART ONE. What actually goes into a mascara? You're gonna find a lot of waxes esters, and even silicones on the ingredient list. The softer esters and waxes provide lash volume, while the harder waxes create lash length. Sometimes in a mascara formula, you'll even see bulking agents like nylon and rayon. If they are used in high concentrations in the formula, then the formula supports a fiber type lash mascara.
Because waterproof mascara is definitely more difficult to remove, I always encourage my patients to get a mascara that's water based. So you might have to put up with a little bit of smudging. To reduce smudging, just simply apply your first coat, allow those soft esters and waxes to fully dry. This usually takes approximately one minute. After the first coat is fully dried, go ahead and apply the next coat.
PART TWO. Safety is always number one. A mascara needs a robust preservative system and it needs to be in the right balance. Not too over concentrated, but concentrated enough so that if things like bacteria and mold get inside the mascara tube, the preservative system will not allow those things to grow. I did not know this until I started formulating mascara . . . but what makes a preservative system is not just the preservative ingredients themselves, but also the actual components.
PART THREE. Often on the packaging, you'll see a little logo. It has a container with a lid that's opened. It will have a number and that number is referred to as the PAO: Product After Opening date. This date isn't just a made up date. It's actually a number that's generated when you do proper stability testing. My philosophy is if you see a mascara that has a 1 month product after opening date or a 1 month recommendation - RUN! To me, that's not a very stable formula.
You want to try to get a mascara with a number closer to 6 months. That to me is a very reasonable, stable, safe formula over time. In terms of stability, you definitely have two end points. The product after opening date, meaning if you only used your mascara once but 6 months have gone by - the mascara is caput. Another end point is when you notice the esters and waxes in your mascara start to get clumpy. Ironically in a good mascara formulation, this clumping usually happens before the product after opening date. Nothing wrong with the formula itself, just time for a new one.
That's going to determine what happens next. Are you going to have an eyeliner day? Are you going to have a mascara day? If the answer is "yes", put it on! On the other hand, if the answer is "maybe" or "no" – it's okay. Tomorrow is a different day, xo.
If you still use makeup wipes for your eyes, this is for you. In general, makeup wipes tend to strip the the thin eyelid skin of it's natural oils, and can cause dryness and dehydration. Interestingly, when I get asked questions about eye care and cosmetics - dry under eyes is always, always the #1 concern.
Replace your makeup wipes for this mascara brush and the double cleanse method. Here, use any of our cleansing oils to really loosen the molecular bonds of any stubborn mascara. Add the cleansing oil to the top of the brush and let the brush do the dirty work.
Also as a final wash off, any mascara residue is washed away by our probiotic foaming cleanser. This foaming cleanser will also add healthy bacteria to keep that eyelid microbiome in balance too.
The best part - this mascara brush has 140,000 bristles. The high density bristles increases the surface area. Imagine 140,000 little arms reaching out and grabbing that waterproof mascara and breaking it down. This really limits the amount of tugging and pulling which limits premature eyelash loss. This brush and the power of oil cleansing which does not strip the eyelid skin, since oil cleansing does not change the pH of the eyelid skin - is a supportive duo.
Love + Healthy Eyes,
Dr. Tanya Gill, OD
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Have you been diagnosed with anterior blepharitis and looking for an easy way to clean it?
When it comes to anterior blepharitis, cleaning can really be a challenge because the debris is really stuck in between the eyelashes and on that eyelid margin thanks to sticky epithelial cells, sebum, mucin and other proteins that your eyelid glands and tears produce. I call this eyelid cement!
So not only is that debris cement-like and stubborn, it's also physically trapped in between your eyelashes. I guess here, the eyelashes are doing it's anatomical job - to trap debris.
When you start cleansing, you always - always - always want to concentrate at the base of that eyelash. Here, always utilize a 10X lighted magnifying mirror for best optics. If you cannot see it, you will not be able to remove it.
First saturate In Between Eyelash Cleansing Brush with your We Love Eyes cleansing spray of choice. Currently we have CALM Eyelid & Eyelash Cleansing Spray in stock.
BROAD STROKES TECHNIQUE
You want to insert the brush into the base of that eyelash and pull up and out through the eyelash. Repeat this step until you've finished that eyelash line. There are 4 eyelash lines, so the first time you do this, it could take 30 minutes for each eye. Don't worry, it gets less time consuming the more you practice and the more debris is consistently removed. This technique is really ideal for eyelashes with moderate to severe demodex collarettes.
STOKING TECHNIQUE
Click above to watch my tutorial
Here you want to insert the cleansing brush into the base of the eyelash and with tiny movements up and down - gently stoke out the debris. Here the motion is very much a tap-tap-tap to loosen those anterior blepharitis flakes. One those flakes are loosened, they are so much easier to just wash away.
How many times should you do this? In general . . . For mild cases, once a day before bedtime for one week, then as needed. For moderate cases, one to two times a day for 1-2 weeks then taper slowly down to as needed. For severe cases, twice a day for 2-4 weeks then daily.
Love + Healthy Eyes,
Dr. Tanya Gill, OD
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If you have dry eyes, blepharitis MGD, and you're also getting into eye creams, let me show you how to layer them so you can really customize it to help your personal eyelid skin barrier.
Even though they're labeled AM and PM, feel free to break the rules and customize it for your needs.
First, let's start off with dry under eyes. This is the most common eye cream related need. Dry under eyes is very common and is mostly from makeup and skincare products such as sunscreen, serums, retinoids, and under eye concealers.
You're going to take PM Eyelid Butter and you're going to apply it on your under eyelid area. You can dot the under eye area with PM Eyelid Butter then spread it with the applicator or a finger. If your under eye area is really dry, you can also do this before you start your day. Some people like to use it under eye makeup and blend their concealer over with a beauty blender.
PM Eyelid Butter is an emollient and very gooey and sticky. That's why it's better to use this at nighttime. It's going to have a good ratio of ceramides, cholesterols and fatty acids to really help restore that lipid layer and also to protect against trans epidermal water loss. Because it's very emollient - it's my favorite for dry upper eyelids, dry eyelid corners, and dry lash lines.
This is AM Eyelid Gel. It's really different than the PM Eyelid Butter. Here, AM Eyelid Gel contains all the luscious botanicals and actives, especially that Vit-A-Like active. I chose Vit-A-Like because it closely mimics the cell turnover action of a retinoid but without all the harsh side effects of drying out the lipid layer. Unlike retinoids, you can use Vit-A-Like during the day since the ingredient is not photosensitive.
Apply AM Eyelid Gel in the morning. I like to think of it as starting your day with a superfood smoothie, but for the eyelid skin! The curious thing about eye creams like AM Eyelid Gel . . . What happens when you have dry eyes? Blepharitis? MGD? You have a weaker eyelid skin barrier which tends to be more sensitive to ingredients that are not rich in emollients like the PM Eyelid Butter. In cases like this, I have my patients layer eye creams especially early on in their eye care journey.
The Blending Technique
First dot the AM Eyelid Gel on the under eyes. Then go ahead and dot and apply the PM Eyelid Butter right over. Use either the applicator or a finger to blend them together directly onto the eyelid skin.
The Layering Technique
Another technique is to actually physically layer the 2 eye creams. AM Eyelid Gel goes first, then the PM Eyelid Butter after. Apply AM Eyelid Gel to the under eye area and rub it in with the applicator or finger and let it fully absorb for about 1 minute. Then apply PM Eyelid Butter over the absorbed AM Eyelid Gel. First layer - AM Eyelid Gel. Second layer - PM Eyelid Butter. One right over the other.
Eyelid skin barrier varies so I encourage you to experiment. If you have a very damaged eyelid skin barrier, PM Eyelid Butter alone is where you want to start then slowly add in AM Eyelid Gel with the blending technique.
Ideally and with time, the layering technique is what you want. That's the goal. Layering is really effective and my favorite because you are allowing that active, the Vit-A-Like (and other botanical complexes) to absorb into the eyelid skin and then applying that PM Eyelid Butter to address trans epidermal water loss.
Love + Healthy Eyes,
Dr. Tanya Gill, xo
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Eyelashes are always a hot topic and concern from my patients. Whether it's lash extensions, false eyelashes, lash loss, brittle lashes or lash serums for longer lashes – the majority of my patients want longer lashes especially for special events such wedding and vacations where photos will be taken. Here we will discuss how to grow and stregthen your eyelashes (and brows!) the We Love Eyes way.
Because many of my patients suffer from Dry Eye Syndrome and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, I'm a fan of staying away from lash serums like Latisse. Prostaglandin analogs such as bimatoprost which is the active ingredient in Latisse is known to be incredibly harsh on the ocular surface. This information is readily available on the product information insert. I also know this because almost 100% of my patients who use Lumigan (active ingredient is also bimatroprost) for glaucoma also get severe dry eyes over time (in addition to longer eyelashes!). There are many other potential side effects such as severe red eyes, iris color darkening, and hallowing of the orbital socket. If you love your Latisse – just make sure you're aware and EXTREMELY careful not to get ANY Latisse into your eyes. Back to eyelashes . . .
I'm a firm believer that healthy follicles create beautiful results. Let's start here - the follicle bulb. Here you can see the intricate anatomy of the eyelash. The We Love Eyes way concentrates at the bulb and it's layers: papilla, matrix, and outer & inner root sheath.
My concept is simple. The healthier the follicle bulb, the more likely that follicle bulb can create a healthy result – a longer, fuller lash (and brow). Sure, I can't change your DNA, but I can sure try to help that follicle live it's best life through it's journey of growth, transition, and rest.
In my search for the healthiest ingredients to address lash loss and growth for my patients – I made this duo.
Meet Lashfull Thinking Lash + Brow Follicle Oil & Dab n Spoolie Brush. Harness the power of my proprietary ophthalmic grade castor oil that feeds the shaft with the goal of nourishing the follicle for lashes and brows that appear longer, healthier, & stronger; AND the applicator to make it all happen without the drips.
While formulating We Love Eyes Follicle Oil, instead of dilution with a carrier oil such as jojoba, I decided to offer the highest purity and concentration of ricinoleic acid instead. P.S. – no skimping!
We Love Eyes Lashfull Thinking Lash + Brow Follicle Oil
HOW DO I USE THIS BRUSH?
I made Lashfull Thinking Dab n Spoolie for anyone that uses lash serum to help avoid the wasteful and potentially harmful drips into the tear film. You can certainly use your favorite lash serum or We Love Eyes Follicle Oil with Dab n Spoolie. I'm a HUGE fan of less is more. Using more serum will not speed up growth, it just speeds up potential side effects.
Use the DAB end to apply precisely to lash follicles. See how the tip precisely contours the curvature of the eyelid. This will help us apply directly to the base of the lash to target the follicles. You can also use DAB to swipe through the eyebrows. I find this is an excellent way to ensure no serum gets wasted. Any excess on the DAB end can be swiped onto the brows.
Next use 1 drop on the SPOOLIE end to brush out the lash + brow hair shaft. This spoolie is firm and petite to minimize waste but also to ensure each shaft gets a super fine coat. A nice tip is to brush the base of the eyelash to give a little exfoliation action to encourage cell turnover at the brows.
You should be left with a dry but moist lashes and brows. Apply before bedtime and wash your eyes with warm water and gentle cleanser as you would normally in the morning. Make sure to use for at least 45+ consecutive days for initial results and continue for sustained results. Always err on the side of less. Most of my patients just go overboard and wake up with dried Follicle Oil on their lashes. But not you!
IDEAL FOR PROBLEMATIC EYES
Before I sign off, just remember that I can't change your DNA, but I can help your eyelash + eyebrows live happier lives. I believe in healing the hair follicle from the core and doing it the right way. Whether you have brittle lashes, lash or brow loss, sparse lashes or brows, I believe that healthy follicles is the key. If you happen to have dry eyes and want happier lash & brows – this product was made for you.
Love + Healthy Eyes,
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You may have seen this on social media – skin cycling is a thing. Coined by New York dermatologist, Dr. Whitney Bowe, skin cycling is a repeated routine of exfoliation, retinoids, and recovery. For example: Monday night you would exfoliate, Tuesday night you would use retinoids, and Wednesday & Thursday you would focus on recovery – where the focus is on hydration & skin barrier repair. This schedule is repeated or "cycled'" over and over again, and the result is healthy, glowing skin.
I have been skin cycling for a few months now and I love the results. Here I'll share what products I've been using for my face and how I also incorporated eye care into the "cycle."
EXFOLIATION NIGHT - this night preps the skin for retinoid night. Here I incorporate physical and chemical exfoliants to encourage the removal of the topmost dead skin cell layer from the eye area and face.
First I'll exfoliate my eye area as I'm removing my eye makeup (kills 2 birds, 1 stone kinda thing). I use Eyelid Scrub Mitt & Tea Tree Eyelid & Eyelash Foaming Cleanser for that gentle physical exfoliation .
Second, for my face (and neck), I've been using Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant in the gray bottle. My skin is pretty sensitive so I tend to apply this chemical exfoliant with a face oil. I do not apply any chemical exfoliate to the eye area because it's just too harsh.
RETINOID NIGHT - this night promotes cell turnover which addresses fine lines and wrinkles. With so many of my patients with dry eyes & MGD, I tend to stay away from eye creams with retinoids. Instead, I use A.M. Eyelid Gel which contains a botanical mimicker of retinol – Moth Bean Extract. Always apply to the eyes before the face.
For my face (and neck) I use Paula's Choice 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment in the purple bottle. This brand also makes a straight up 1% Retinol but I found it to be too strong and irritating. If your skin can tolerate the stronger stuff, why not? Again, make sure to avoid your eye area. Apply above the brow bone and below the zygomatic arch.
RECOVERY NIGHTS - aka "SLUG" NIGHTS due to the products that are used to provide hydration via occlusion and cell barrier protection. They tend to feel thick and heavy because they are meant to be occlusive. If you have acne prone skin like I do, avoid the Vaseline and Aquaphor and pick a nice facial balm instead. You want to think of ingredients such as ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterols like oils and waxes. You will still get an occlusive effect to trap moisture in and prevent TEWL (Trans Epidermal Water Loss).
For my eyes, I'm in love with P.M. Eyelid Butter – thick, heavy, and jam packed with ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol. It's ideal for SLUG NIGHTS – trapping in moisture and preventing TEWL, yippee! First, apply P.M. Eyelid Butter to the eyes. Next and for the face (and neck), I am currently loving and using Oak Essentials Moisture Rich Balm. Apply it all over for that "I just had a facial at the spa" lux feeling.
On slug nights, don't be afraid to slather it on. I apply a thick layer of P.M. Eyelid Butter under my eyes and Oak Essentials Balm on my face & neck with no shame, haha. It feels like a splurge, but for self care - it's worth it. I'll usually stay up watching TV for about 60 minutes before bed so I don't leave a greasy mess on my pillowcase. Oh, and yes – I still need and have to wash the pillowcase everyday after SLUG NIGHTS. Percale for the win!
I started to notice a glow after the 2nd skin "cycling" – so the results took about 10 days. Have fun and don't be afraid to experiment to find the right eye and face products to skin cycle with. Just don't forget that your eyelid skin is extremely thin and has different needs than your face and neck, so don't use the same products. What's great for the face isn't necessarily great for the eyelid skin. Happy skin and eye care cycling.
Love + Healthy Eyes,
Dr Tanya Gill, xo
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Eyelid hygiene with lid scrubs is very important when it comes to the prevention of styes, chalazia, hordeola, and other eyelid infections. When performed on a regular bases, eyelid hygiene with lid scrubs helps to maintain a healthy eyelid margin by washing away sources of inflammation such as dirt, debris, allergens, eye makeup, bacteria, and demodex mites, etc. Improved tear flow and function for dry eyes is the goal here too.
Eyelid scrubs are best performed with a product formulated for specifically for eye care and a physical vehicle to help the product's effectiveness. At We Love Eyes, we have several styles of eye care cleansers to choose from: foams, sprays, and oils. We also have several styles of tools and brushes that target specific eyelid debris and eye problems such as lash loss and styes. Here is a visual of our most popular tools and brushes:
If you've been told by your optometrist that you need to perform eyelid hygiene with lid scrubs daily, these tools and brushes are something you should read about more. In addition to these 5 tools, we've added EYELID SCRUB MITT to our lineup.
I was inspired to create EYELID SCRUB MITT to offer an eyelid hygiene solution for kids and people with dexterity challenges such as arthritis since holding skinny brush handles don't work. Here you can insert your fingertips into pockets which offers a wide range of control while significantly reducing the worry of "poking my eye."
EYELID SCRUB MITT is made of 100% BPA free silicone that is easy to wash and keep clean between uses. I took a traditional facial cleansing brush and had it engineered for eye care - so longer, softer, and a higher density of bristles to do the dirty work, xo. Ok, so I got OCD and counted. Over 1000+ silicone bristles work together to gently scrub and exfoliate. More about exfoliation below.
In addition to the gentle scrub effect, EYELID SCRUB MITT also offers gentle exfoliation of the eye area. This is a key feature because the physical exfoliation action will promote healthy cell turnover and the healthy removal of the topmost dead skin cell layer. This in turn can help those that are prone to milia and also an added benefit of addressing fine lines and wrinkles. Enjoy!
Love + Healthy Eyes,
Dr Tanya Gill, xo
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So why is oil cleansing better than traditional, soapy style cleansers? And why is this concept significant for eye care and those that have problems with dry eyes and blepharitis? Let me explain.
The eyelid skin is exceptional because not only is it coated with a natural layer of sebum, but it neighbors structures of the eye that interact upon every blink. The eyelid area has oil glands, sweat glands, hair follicles, and a tear film. In addition, there is good bacteria and a balanced tear film that is unique to each person.
Traditional soapy cleansers with surfactants, emulsifiers, and preservatives tend to strip away the good bacteria and the lipid layer of the tear film. This ultimately creates a shift in the natural pH of the sebum and tears, creating an imbalance which over times leads to inflammation and eye problems.
The most significant benefit of oil cleansing is that this style of cleansing does not change the natural pH of the skin and tears. This is truly significant. A cleansing oil allows the skin and tears to do what they are meant to do - defend against bad bacteria and inflammation. I call this a microbiome in balance. Again, it's important to repeat that the stripping away of the sebum and tear lipids creates imbalance which leads to inflammation. Over time, this leads to chronic problems such as intermittent blurry vision, dry eyes, and blepharitis.
Using cleansing oil for the first time to clean your eyelids and eyelashes? Let me be frank. It's weird. It feels greasy and messy. With some helpful tips, cleaning your eye area with We Love Eyes cleansing oils will become a life hack you can't live without.
TIP #1. Since cleansing oil does not contain an emulsifier (an ingredient that helps oils and waters blend), it cannot be rinsed away with just water. Here you will need some help from a washcloth, cotton pad (not cotton ball), or better yet – a We Love Eyes cleansing brush.
TIP #2. Using your cleansing oil right before bedtime will help with the occasional blurry vision. If you plan on working, reading, or watching TV before bed – oil cleanse after these activities, not before.
TIP #3. A little is all you need. 1 drop. 1-2 drops. 3-5 drops. Use as little as possible to get the clean you are looking for. Also, it's important to adjust the number of drops depending on the We Love Eyes cleansing brush you're using.
Oil cleansing is an ideal vehicle for eye care. Respecting the pH, microbiome, and turning off that pathway to inflammation have keep my patients happy.
Love + Healthy Eyes,
Dr. Tanya Gill, OD
]]>When it comes to eye problems such as blepharitis and dry eyes, it can be very frustrating. My patients tend to experience good days and bad days, No rhyme. No reason. In 2016, I started inventing tools to help my patients with very specific eye problems that originated at the eyelid margin. I found that my products, although very thoughtful . . . having the right tools on hand - made all the difference with scoring more good days than bad.
After several years and feedback from my blepharitis and dye eyes patients, the consensus was this: having all of these tools on hand helped the bad days become good ones. I am a firm believer that no two eyes are the same and no two days are the same - and that's what makes blepharitis and dry eyes frustrating.
Here we will talk about eyelid debris and the tools that bring the most success. Most of the time, my patients have no clue where to start. The number one starting point will always be the clinical evidence. Let's start.
Eyelid debris cause eye problems. You could be experience so many things: itching, redness, tearing, discomfort, foreign body sensation, sticky eyelids in the morning, blurry vision – but what is it? Truly? Don't skip this. Invest in a lighted magnification mirror.
This one is $300 and always sold out. I know that's a chunk of change. Blepharitis and dry eyes are expensive eye problems because they always come back. Many of my patients spend thousands of dollars in palliative care at my clinic. Here, you can take control. Identify, clean with precision, and prevent flareups.
Once you've identified the type of eyelid debris you currently have, it will be much easier to target and clean up the root cause of the eye problem. My patients love this process because understanding the appearance of eyelid margin becomes the best tool - prevention.
Sounds simple enough, but it's not. Diligently removing allergens such as pollen and eye makeup from the eyelids and eyelid margins is a chore, but gives instant results. Most of my patients that wear makeup do a lousy job of removing it. That's why I'm not a fan of makeup remover wipes. Fast and lazy (which I love!) - but just highly ineffective at the eyelid margin.
When you completely remove allergen sources, your relieve your tear film from having to work to flush them out for you. Now your tear film can concentrate on what it does best - lubricate your eyes.
Lash loss is the eye problem here. This type of debris is very stubborn because it cements to the base of the eyelash. You'll see this with the 10X mirror and know exactly what to do. My patient that helped me invent this tool just was so frustrated - he asked for a fork to 'stab it all out." Not as dramatic, but that's what I made him.
This type of debris usually comes back, so cleaning with the "fork" and rolling with heat on a regular basis will earn you success. Some of my patients have to do this daily. Some just once a week. Your 10X mirror can help you figure out the timing.
Capped glands from posterior blepharitis, aka meibomian gland dysfunction is the most common form of blepharitis in my clinic. I made this brush for my patient that asked for an "eyelid toothbrush." Using the 10X mirror, that capped / clogged meibomian gland is scrubbed away in SECONDS.
The capped gland is tiny and impossible to see with the naked eye, but responsible for all sorts of eye problems. Here is a short list of eye problems caused by capped glands. See why knowing the type of eyelid debris is key?
"Dr. Gill, there's an eyelash in my eye, but there's not."
"Dr. Gill, the contacts you prescribed are so dry."
"Dr. Gill, my eyes feel like there is sand in them."
"Dr. Gill, my eyes are red and by the end of the day, they are bloodshot."
Lash loss, discomfort that is worse in the morning than compared to night, and dry eyes are the most common complaints when it comes to demodex mites blepharitis. Many people can have mites in their eyelid margins and be symptom free and happy. If you are one of those people with symptoms - demodex is a bugger. Pun, I know. Constant and continued removing of the demodex debris, aka collarettes is vital.
If you have this cylindrical type of debris that wraps around your eyelashes at the eyelid margin - it's likely demodex. Using the right tools daily with my tea tree oil products can get you back on track. My patients that have demodex blepharitis have the most flare ups and flare downs. So please remember to clean, clean, clean and don't stop.
Love + Healthy Eyes,
Dr Tanya Gill, xo
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Home care is the single most important component to relieving and improving the appearance of a stye. When a patient walks into my exam room with a stye – I have 2 questions:
In addition to the medications I've likely prescribed for the stye pain and infection - home care is vital. Medications heal from the inside out. Home care and cleaning helps from the outside in.
The first thing we have to do, is clear out that infected debris. Heat up this roller under warm/hot water to create a rolling compress. Make sure to wrist test the heat level so you do not burn your eyelid skin.
This roller is finger sized and perfect for the size of a stye. The idea is to add heat to soften the stye debris so that it can be rolled out. Kinda like relieving an large, evil zit. Roll up and down in small motions to ease out the debris.
Roll up & down in the direction of the eyelid margin anatomy for best results. | Eyelid anatomy runs vertical. So should your hot compresses. |
Often, this needs to be repeated 2-3 times a day as the debris will slowly ooze on it's own time. Sometimes the stye hurts too much to add heat. The roller can also be placed under cold water and used as a cold compress to "calm" down the pain. Here a combination of cool and heat can help calm and also release stye debris.
Styes are buggers. Get one, and they seem to come back over and over again. Investing in a 10x lighted magnification mirror is a good choice. You'll use this mirror to clean the current stye and to clean up the eyelid margins to prevent future flare ups. Use the mirror to inspect the stye area to find the "head." It's usually on the eyelid margin, not the actual eyelid skin where you see the stye.
Here you will want to place 1 drop of Tea Tree Eyelid & Eyelash Cleansing Oil on the Eyelid Margin Scrub Brush. Scrub the head of the stye clean. Remember you are focusing on the eyelid margin where the head is. For some of my patients, I have them do this up to 4 times a day depending on the severity and how much they want to improve.
If the head of the stye is on the upper eyelid margin (and vice versa), it will likely kiss the lower eyelid margin on the blink and infect it. So running the Eyelid Margin Scrub Brush on the opposite eyelid margin will be of preventative benefit. Make sure to scrub the opposite eyelid margin before scrubbing the actual head of the stye to avoid transferring the infection with the scrub brush. Keep the scrub brush very clean after each use by spraying it with Calm Eyelid Cleansing Spray and/or Tea Tree Eyelid & Eyelash Foaming Cleanser (keep reading).
After using Focused Eye Roll and/or Eyelid Margin Scrub Brush, you'll want to wash off all that discharge and debris. Usually the debris contains bacteria, so washing it away is vital to improving. Use Tea Tree Eyelid & Eyelash Foaming Cleanser to do just that. I formulated this foaming cleanser to be pro-biotic as there is much discussion that styes can happen when the microbiome has gone out of balance. This foaming cleanser can also be used to wash the roller and brush to keep them clean.
This step has been tested by my patients. Styes clean up faster when Calm Eyelid Spray is used 4x a day then when it's not used. So don't skip this step. Spray Calm directly on the head of stye 4x a day to wash away the bacteria that helped create the stye in the first place.
The spray will also help the stye from infecting other meibomian glands and can also be used to clean the roller and brush for future use.
Use that 10x lighted magnification mirror to inspect all 4 eyelid margins for debris. This is the kind of debris that can lead to future styes and flare ups.
Capped Meibomian Glands can trap bacteria and lead to a stye. | Demodex collarettes can lead to styes if the debris accumulates. |
Remove this eyelid margin debris as soon as you feel or see it. Just 1 drop of Tea Tree Eyelid Cleansing Oil on Eyelid Margin Scrub Brush will do the dirty work for you.
Love + Healthy Eyes,
Dr Tanya Gill, xo
]]>Item #1, THE REMOVER: Unless you are flat out allergic to tea tree oil, my Tea Tree Eye Makeup Remover Oil (30mL) is your answer. Oil based to remove even the most stubborn eye makeup, it also provides preservative free cleansing which is ideal for the tear film. The Australian tea tree oil is particularly cleansing for the meibomian glands which is significant if you like to wear eyeliner on your water line.
This limited ingredient formula is ideal for healthy eye makeup removal and sensitive eyes:
Item #2, THE BRUSH: Place a few drops of eye makeup remover oil on a dry Lashfull Thinking™ lash + brow cleaning brush (40mm x 118mm). Make sure the brush is dry for best results. This cleansing brush has been made in the shape of your orbital socket and eyelids. The shape and plush density of the bristles work in harmony to limit as much premature lash loss as possible.
Use makeup remover oil and brush to smudge out and loosen all eye makeup. Keep your eyes closed during this process. You will feel the super luscious bristles gliding over your eyelid area. It will feel very soft and gentle.
Item #3, THE FOAMING CLEANSER: Use Tea Tree Eyelid & Eyelash Foaming Cleanser to wash off all makeup debris from eyes and face area. What’s beautiful about my foaming cleanser? Again, the benefits of Australian tea tree oil – added with the pro-biotic preservative system to help balance the natural flora of the eyelid skin. Now, that’s healthy.
Close your eyes and use 1-2 pumps of foaming cleanser to wash off eyes and face. Rinse with water and pat dry with a clean towel. It’s a soap, so don’t get this inside the eyes.
I developed this system to help my patients with their eye care. A nostalgic note – Tea Tree Eye Makeup Remover Oil was my very first product I formulated. I made it for my patient that had terrible contact lens discomfort because she refused to remove her eye makeup because it “hurt.” Fast forward 7 years later. She love her contacts and she loves her We Love Eyes, xo.
Our philosophy is that clean eyes = a happy life. We Love Eyes products do not treat any eye disease. Although our founder is an Optometrist, We Love Eyes products do not replace your eye care professional. Always consult your eye care professional when using eye care products.
Love & Healthy Eyes,
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THE PANIC (& THE UGLY) SET IN
Your optometrist to the rescue. Not only do you now know the difference between anterior and posterior blepharitis, you also learned that blepharitis (bleh·fr·ai·tuhs) is a real word.
The source of eyelid inflammation is now revealed and your optometrist sends you home with The Eyelid Scrub Kit with custom cleansing directions of 1-2x per day in the morning and before bed.
PLEASE NOTE: An eyelid that’s red and hot may need antibiotics for preceptal cellulitis. Think: your eyes are close to your nasal passages which are in turn close to your brain. Not good. Your optometrist can tell you if you need oral antibiotics in this case. So, snap a photo and email it to them for reassurance.
AND DRUMROLL . . .
Passionate about their patients & eye care, this case study happened at Theia Vision Care located at
213 E Capitol Drive, Hartland, WI 53029. It’s no secret why they were voted #1 best local optometrist in 2021
Our Eyelid Scrub Kit is unique. We formulated with ingredients specific to the anatomy of the eyes. Armed with a proprietary concentration of Australian tea tree oil, the Tea Tree Eyelid & Eyelash Cleansing Oil (brown dropper bottle) allows cleansing of the eyelid margins without preservatives. This is especially beneficial to maintaining eyelid margin hygiene.
Next up is our Tea Tree Eyelid & Eyelash Foaming Cleanser. It’s formulated to work with the Cleansing Oil. Mild surfactants for cleansing action, but also an ingenious probiotic preservative system to balance the natural flora of the eyelids. Click this link to find out more.
Our philosophy is that clean eyes = a happy life. We Love Eyes products do not treat any eye disease. Although our founder is an Optometrist, We Love Eyes products do not replace your eye care professional. Always consult your eye care professional when using eye care products.
Love + Healthy Eyes,
]]>At We Love Eyes, we are getting better and better with eye care for lash extensions as time goes by. We also learning - why are some lash bars so successful while others struggle? One common philosophy shared with top lash bars is an obsessive addiction to very strict home care. I repeat. Very strict home care. Here we will discuss what these top lash bars are doing and what their clients are doing when they get home.
WHAT THE EYE CARE PROFESSIONAL SEES: In both examples below (apologies for the gross pictures!), the debris is accumulated at the base of the eyelash, and sometimes surrounds the eyelash. This creates an environment of inflammation that may contribute to a weakened eyelash follicle, poor lash retention, and mild to severe lash loss.The eyelid debris is called a collarette which is primarily assocaited with demodex mites. The collar is choking the eyelash, creating inflammation and lash loss.
DUO A – THE FOAMING CLEANSER + HEART BRUSH.
After extensions are installed, DUO A is what you need for home care. Use Tea Tree Water Eyelid & Eyelash Foaming Cleanser & Eyelid Margin Cleansing Brush daily to optimize eyelash follicle health and to prevent debris buildup which can lead to poor lash retention and lash loss. If you want to wear eyeliner or eye shadow, no problem. Choose water soluble varieties to ensure easy removal with this cleanser and brush duo.
This 100% oil free formula packed with beautiful botanicals will make you bat your lashes:
Tier Shaped Head & Chunky Handle
The tiered heart shape design allows for precise product placement and cleansing along the eyelid margin without disrupting freshly installed extensions. The wider and shorter handle allows for a firm hold in the hand for performing detailed cleansing action.
SUGGESTED USE: Your lash artist knows best. Ask them for exact directions as they can vary from mine depending on the extension type, adhesive used, humidity, and your past experience with extensions.
WHAT TO DO AT HOME: Place 1 pump onto the brush. Swipe along eyelid margin until clean. Rinse brush with water and swipe along eyelid margin again to remove all soapy debris. Repeat if necessary. The foaming cleanser is a soap, so you will want to avoid getting it into the eyes. For home care, use a 10X lighted magnifying mirror to offer precision. When done, wash the brush with the foam and towel dry.
WHO USES DUO A: If you have extensions installed, you should use DUO A at the end of each day to maintain eyelid health and to prevent eyelid debris buildup. Keep the eyelid margins completely clean to enhance length, retention, and prevent lash loss. If you also have eyelid debris . . . oh no! Keep reading.
Revisiting this eyelid debris. Apologies, lol. If you have ANY of this eyelid debris – put DUO B on repeat every night. Whether its super mild or totally severe – use this every night. For severe cases, cleaning twice a day would be advisable, but ask your lash artist. They know best.
DUO B – THE CLEANSING SPRAY + IN BETWEEN BRUSH.
I can’t brag enough about this duo. Calm Eyelid & Eyelash Cleansing Spray is 100% oil free, pH balanced for eye care, and completely no-sting. The ingredient that creates the cleansing magic is 0.012% hypochlorous. It’s a powerful, but extremely gentle ingredient that has anti-bacterial and anti-viral activity. When used with the In Between Eyelash Cleansing Brush, the user can access AND remove debris from the eyelid margin area without harming the lash extension. This is made possible by my awesome brush design – an angled head and the fork shaped bristles. Love it, xo.
SUGGESTED USE: Your lash artist will always know best. Ask them for specific instructions as they can vary depending on the extension type, adhesive used, humidity, and your past experiences with extensions.
WHAT TO DO AT HOME: Spray 1-2 pumps onto the brush. Stoke up and down along the eyelid margin to gently and effectively dislodge eyelid margin debris. Initially, you may need to repeat these steps a few times to get a perfect clean. For home care, use a 10X lighted magnifying mirror to guide you. When done, wash the brush with the cleansing spray and towel dry.
WHO USES DUO B: For anyone with ANY eyelid margin debris. DUO B should be used every night until the debris is gone. If the debris should come back, no worries – you just might have the body chemistry that needs to use this duo every night no matter what. Just use it every night, no excuses. Your lash retention and healthy eyelash follicles will thank you.
Strict home care is the secret to lash retention. You may just need daily maintenance-style cleansing with DUO A. Or perhaps you have eyelid debris and need DUO B. From what I’ve learned, having both DUO A & DUO B ready to go, in the power of your hand – saves lashes. Fall in love with my lash extensions system to optimize lash length, comfort, and long term eye health. I’m a firm believer that clean eyes = a happy life. Let’s do this.
Our philosophy is that clean eyes = a happy life. We Love Eyes products do not treat any eye disease. Although our founder is an Optometrist, We Love Eyes products do not replace your eye care professional. Always consult your eye care professional when using eye care products.
Love & Healthy Eyes,
The tell-tale sign is a whitish looking collection of debris at the base of the eyelash. Location is key. The debris will be located where the eyelashes emerge. Often, this whitish looking debris is accompanied with redness and swelling on the eyelid margin where the eyelashes are located.
Your eye care professional will be able to see this quite easily with a loupe or slit lamp magnifier. At home, you will likely have to use a 10X lighted magnifying mirror to view the debris.
1. Debris that forms a whitish line across the eyelid margin has likely been there for weeks.
2. Debris is located exactly at the base of the eyelash, suffocating the eyelash follicle.
3. This debris style is caused by the demodex mite and is very stubborn to remove.
Because the eyelid inflammation occurs exactly where the eyelashes emerge, lash loss is a significant concern. With inflammation, an eyelash follicle is simply unhappy and won’t make happy lashes. Unhappy lashes will not likely grow to their full potential, so think shorter and fewer lashes over time. If you happen to wear or install lash extensions, an unhappy eyelash follicle will significantly affect lash retention.
Anterior blepharitis is difficult to address mostly because by the time my patient complains about it – it’s been there for weeks. The debris becomes almost cemented onto the eyelid margin, anchoring in between each eyelash. Think of how a concrete engineer would anchor concrete with rebar. The debris is the cement and the eyelash is the rebar.
The debris can be made of any of these elements: bacteria, demodex mites, greasy epithelial cells, or makeup. In this scenario, the best next step is to ask your eye care professional to remove all that debris to get you to a baseline clean of zero – a perfect clean. This requires a loupe or slit lamp magnifier and the right tools and cleansers. We Love Eyes to the rescue!
HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
STEP 1 with 2: You’ll need this forked brush and cleansing spray to properly remove the debris in between the eyelashes. Saturate the brush with the spray and gently stoke up and down along the eyelash margin until the debris is loosened and dislodged. Continue this at home with a 10x lighted, magnification mirror for precision.
GOAL: loosen & dislodge trapped, stubborn debris stuck in between eyelashes
STEP 3: Dispense 1-2 pump of foam onto clean fingertips. With eyes closed, wash eyelid margins. Because the foam is a soap, do not let it get inside the eyes (it will sting).
GOAL: wash away all dislodged debris; probiotic wash re-balances the eyelid margins
STEP 4: Use warm or room temperature. Roll up & down (from 12 to 6 o’clock) and/or side to side (3 to 9 o’clock) along eyelid margins. Timing will vary from 20 – 60 seconds per session.
GOAL: increase blood flow circulation to the eyelash follicles & loosen debris
I’m confident that this anterior blepharitis system will get results for you. It’s been tested and refined by my patients over the past 2 years.. Like I always say, clean eyes = a happy life, xo.
Our philosophy is that clean eyes = a happy life. We Love Eyes products do not treat any eye disease. Although our founder is an Optometrist, We Love Eyes products do not replace your eye care professional. Always consult your eye care professional when using eye care products.
Love + Healthy Eyes,
Well, what about MGD / Posterior Blepharitis? READ TUTORIAL
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I’m a firm believer that one eye cream can’t do it all. Here I’ll discuss the thought process behind my Eye Cream System and how it marries clean beauty with eye care. As an eye doctor and an eye cream fanatic, I believe that a water based eye cream paired with an oil based eye cream (loaded with the right botanical actives) is the winning combination.
This is AM Eyelid Gel (7.5mL), a water based eye cream packed with botanical actives in effective concentrations – I did not skim!
Every morning, apply a thin layer under eye area. I love the analogy that AM Eyelid Gel is like drinking a tall glass of water first thing in the morning followed by a shot of espresso. Nothing better than hydrating and waking up your eyelid skin circulation first thing in the morning.
These are my favorite botanical actives and how they pay homage to eye anatomy:
This is PM Eyelid Butter (7.5mL), a super rich oil based emollient formulated to perform one very specific task at night – protect transepidermal water loss.
Why is transepidermal water loss (TEWL) significant for eye care? The eyelid skin is 4x thinner than the face. The eyelid skin is so thin and delicate that water readily evaporates, leaving dryness that we see as fine lines & wrinkles. As a result, many of my dry eye patients tend to have damaged skin barriers with very sensitive skin. They think that hydration is what they are lacking, when in fact it’s both – hydration AND protection from TEWL.
Every night, apply a thin layer under the eye area. PM Eyelid Butter is naturally thick and sticky. Get full TEWL benefits by using it straight up. You can also add a smidge of AM Eyelid Gel to make it less sticky (scroll down for more on DIY EMULSIONS).
This is Focused Eye Roll. Face rollers were just too big! Sized perfectly for the eyelids and anatomy of the orbital bones. Adjust the temperature and the rolling pattern to create the experience your eyes need.
After applying AM and/or PM eye creams. Use this stainless steel roller under the eyes to improve product absorption. You can also heat up the roller in warm water to promote absorption. Cool in cold water to create an astringent effect.
Not every patient is the same. Not every morning is the same. Not every night is the same. Stayed up all night to binge watch Netflix? Drink an extra glass of wine yesterday? Your eyelid skin will have good and bad days. To address my good and bad days, I started mixing AM & PM eye creams to create a more customized experience. I loved it so much, I’m sharing the how and the why:
WHAT'S TO LOVE.
Most of my dry eye and contact lens patients are shocked to discover that their existing face and eye products contain these ingredients. PS: We Love Eyes eye creams do not contain any of these ingredients. Yes, I did that on purpose 😄.
No retinol. Shown to damage the meibomian gland epithelium which impairs oil and tear function; may cause meibomian gland dysfunction and/or dry eye syndrome. As a precaution, I have all of my patients avoid retinol on the face as it can absorb and migrate into the meibomian glands.
No phenoxyethanol. I'm currently working on a leave on formula for a future product and thought I'd put this to task. One bottle contained 1% phenoxyethanol and the other contained 1% of a natural preservative. It was interesting to note that the eye with the 1% phenoxyethanol felt a foreign body sensation all day. Over time the eye felt irritated and more dry that the other. The jury is still out, but I’m personally not a fan of this preservative for eye care.
No CBD. There are studies that may or may not suggest that CBD may or may not increase eye pressure. I know, super vague and iffy – but until I know that CBD definitely does not alter eye pressure, my patients are restricted from using CBD products around their eyes or face.
No BAK. Benzalkonium chloride is the most common form of preservation in medicated eye drops and multi-purpose solution for contact lens disinfection. I have more patients allergic to BAK than I ever thought possible. And for some of my patients that are addicted to eye drops, having them discontinue the eye drop (hence eliminating the BAK) – fixes their dry eye problems!
Our philosophy is that clean eyes = a happy life. We Love Eyes products do not treat any eye disease. Although our founder is an Optometrist, We Love Eyes products do not replace your eye care professional. Always consult your eye care professional when using eye care products.
Love + Healthy Eyes,
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Ocular allergy is the most common eye diagnosis with my patients. It tends to start around Valentine’s Day and tends to taper around Labor Day. Whether it’s pet dander, pollen, dust mites, or other pollutants – the tearing and itching can severely affect the happiness of your work day and quality of life. Who wants to struggle with teary and itchy eyes on vacation?
There are so many ways to help the eyes when it comes to ocular allergies. My 20+ years of clinical experience has taught me one thing – no 2 patients are the same. Because of this, I’ve designed an ocular allergy system that can be customized for your personal allergy season. On bad days, you can use all of this. On good days, just use what you need.
What I love about my ocular allergy cleansing system – it’s meant to work with your current allergy meds. So you can use your Alrex, Bepreve, Olopatidine OTC (Patanol, Pataday), Zaditor OTC, Lastacaft, Epinastine, and Alaway OTC allergy eye drops safely. You can also use your inhalers such as Flonase and Albuterol safely. I got you.
Here I’ll talk about what I have my patients do in general. Feel free to play around with the when and in what order you use your We Love Eyes. Every eye is different and during your personal allergy season, every day is going to be different too.
USE ITEMS 1 and 2 DURING and/or AFTER ACTIVITIES. Eyelashes are sticky. Wash away allergens, pollen, and debris before they enter the tear film. Dispense 1-2 pumps of Calm Eyelid & Eyelash Cleansing Spray onto the Eyelid Scrub Mitt. With eyes closed, gently scrub over eyelids, eyelashes, & eyebrows. No need to rinse.
ON BAD DAYS, USE ITEM 1 AS NEEDED. Spray as many pumps of Calm Eyelid & Eyelash Cleansing Spray directly onto closed eyes for immediate results. No need to rinse off. Pat dry if needed.
USE ITEMS 2 and 3 BEFORE BED. This combo addresses a deep clean of the eyes, brows, AND face. Dispense 1 pump of foam* onto cleansing brush. With eyes closed, gently rub onto eyelids, eyelashes, & brows. Rinse off with water. Lastly, wash face with foaming cleanser to ensure pollen & dust are removed from face and hairline. *Warning: Because this product is a soap, do not get into eyes.
WHEN YOU’RE OUT AND ABOUT during your personal allergy season, it’s a good idea to carry a couple things on your body. A bottle of allergy eye drops (see the many I’ve named above) and a bottle of Calm Eyelid & Eyelash Cleansing Spray which will cleanse and soothe without the need for rinsing off. It’s a day saver!
Our philosophy is that clean eyes = a happy life. We Love Eyes products do not treat any eye disease. Although our founder is an Optometrist, We Love Eyes products do not replace your eye care professional. Always consult your eye care professional when using eye care products.
Love & Healthy Eyes,
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