Why You Shouldn't Use Petrolatum On The Waterline, From An Optometrist

Trudging through gusts of cold wind with endlessly teary eyes is a dreaded winter experience. If you wear makeup, then mascara streams are likely to follow suit—and stick around after your tears dry too. 

Is there any way to prevent this? Some users on TikTok suggest dabbing petrolatum (aka mineral oil) around the eyes to block the tears, but an optometrist begs to differ in the name of safety.

The user in the original video applies a petrolatum jelly (think Vaseline or Aquaphor) to a cotton swab, then rubs it along her bottom lash line. Because mineral oil is highly occlusive, it serves as a barrier for the tears, like a dam for a river. 

However, the jelly can block something else too: your oil glands, board-certified optometrist Jennifer Tsai, O.D., says in a reaction video. 

Tsai explained to me in a previous interview that blocked oil glands can lead to dark under-eye circles and dry eyes over time. So while the hack may work at the moment, it's not the safest method to use long term. 

Instead, Tsai recommends using gel-based eyedrops (like the Blink GelTears Eye Drops) five minutes before applying your makeup to hold tears back without clogging up your glands. These drops will also help keep your eyes lubricated when faced with dry wind, which is the innate function of that excess watering in the first place.

As a rule of thumb, you should always be careful when applying products to or around the eye area. The eyes are extremely sensitive and can easily trap bacteria and contaminants with a single touch.

Not to mention, petrolatum-based products, which contain mineral oil, have a notably heavy environmental impact (which you can read about here). So it's worth reconsidering the product from a sustainability standpoint too. 

Tsai advises against using petrolatum-based balms near the eyes to prevent mascara smudging and overwatering, as it may block oil glands, leading to potential eye health issues down the line.