Ep 129 – Eyes On – What Your Eye Doctor Wants You To Know About Makeup: Mascara, Eyeliner, PFAS And Eye Infections

Welcome back to Uncover Your Eyes with Dr. Meenal! Join us as we uncover our lives as healthcare professionals.

In this episode of the Uncover Your Eyes podcast, optometrist Dr. Meenal Agarwal takes you inside the science of eye makeup and shares what she wishes more makeup wearers knew about protecting their eyes. Watch the video episode on YouTube and listen to the audio episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and your other favorite podcast spots – follow and leave a 5-star review if you’re enjoying the show!

• Episode Summary & Player
• Show Notes
• Learn more about Uncover Your Eyes with Dr. Meenal
• Learn more about Dr. Meenal Agarwal

Uncover Your Eyes with Dr. Meenal Episode #129: Eyes On - What Your Eye Doctor Wants You To Know About Makeup: Mascara, Eyeliner, PFAS And Eye Infections

Your eyeliner can migrate into your tear film. Your mascara has an expiration date. And some of the ingredients hiding in eye makeup may surprise you.

So what is actually safe to put this close to your eyes—and what would an eye doctor avoid?

Optometrist Dr. Meenal Agarwal breaks down the research on mascara, eyeliner, PFAS, eye infections, and the everyday makeup habits that could be affecting your eyes.

Open your makeup bag.

Pull out your mascara, eyeliner, and eyeshadow.

Now ask yourself: Do you actually know what’s in them or what happens when you put these products millimetres from your eyes every day?

Most of us don’t.

In this episode of the Uncover Your Eyes podcast, optometrist Dr. Meenal Agarwal takes you inside the science of eye makeup and shares what she wishes more makeup wearers knew about protecting their eyes—without telling you to give up the products you love.

In this episode, you’ll uncover:

👁️ Where you should and shouldn’t apply eyeliner, and what research shows can happen when eyeliner is applied along the inner eyelid margin

👁️ How eye makeup can interact with your tear film and why placement matters, especially for people with dry eyes or contact lenses

👁️ How long you should actually keep mascara and why an old mascara tube may be more than just dried-out makeup

👁️ The makeup habits that can increase your risk of eye irritation or infection, including one thing you should never do with mascara

👁️ What PFAS (“forever chemicals”) are, why they may be used in cosmetics, and what to look for on an ingredient label

👁️ Dr. Meenal’s eye-doctor makeup rules for making your daily routine safer without giving up makeup

This isn't an anti-makeup episode. It's about understanding what happens when the products we use every day meet one of the most delicate surfaces of the body.

If you wear mascara, eyeliner, or eye makeup—or know someone who does—send them this episode.

Join the early access + get a free gift + exclusive insights for Dr. Meenal’s upcoming book, Stuck in a Flat World: How Screens Rewire Our Brains, Spatial Awareness, and Sense of Safety, coming November 2nd, 2026.

At Uncover Your Eyes, Dr. Meenal Agarwal explores the powerful body–brain connection, revealing how vision, neuroscience, mental health, and preventive care intersect — empowering listeners to recognize early signals before they become diagnoses.

🎧 Tune in and join Dr. Meenal Agarwal as we reimagine what it means to be well in today’s complex healthcare system. Because healing starts with understanding — and Uncovering Your Eyes.

Subscribe to Uncover Your Eyes on your favorite podcast platform and YouTube, and learn more about Dr. Meenal on Instagram @Dr.MeenalAgarwal

Show Notes

• Eyes On - What Your Eye Doctor Wants You To Know About Makeup: Mascara, Eyeliner, PFAS And Eye Infections
  • [0:01] Welcome to Uncover Your Eyes with Dr. Meenal
  • [0:56] Why Dr. Meenal's son inspired this episode
  • [2:21] The meibomian glands: what they do and why eyelid margin placement matters
  • [3:20] A few millimeters changes how much eyeliner migrates into your tears
  • [4:18] What a study of 220 women found about tear film stability and meibomian gland loss in makeup users
  • [5:14] Your mascara has a clock
  • [5:42] Never add water or saliva to dried mascara
  • [6:09] What the research and the FDA's 2025 assessment actually say about PFAS in cosmetics
  • [7:34] Estée Lauder, Canada, and undisclosed PFAS in eyeliner caused a $750,000 fine
  • [8:04] Separating cultural tradition from product safety, and the lead concern
  • [9:03] Dr. Meenal's 8-point eye doctor makeup audit: what to keep, change, and throw away today
  • Subscribe to Uncover Your Eyes on your favorite podcast platform and YouTube, and learn more about Dr. Meenal on Instagram @Dr.MeenalAgarwal
  • Theme Song: “Upbeat Motivational Pop Rock” by Alexey Anisimov

What is Uncover Your Eyes with Dr. Meenal?

Thanks for listening to Uncover Your Eyes with Dr. Meenal. Being an eye doctor makes life easy, right? Not so fast. Join us as we uncover our lives as healthcare professionals. In each episode, you will face reality and vulnerability. You’ll hear how to manage your wellbeing, culture, and physical and mental health. You’ll also navigate self-improvement and professional development, all while uncovering innovation in patient care from experts in our healthcare system. Let’s do this while keeping it “real” and authentic. Hosted by Dr. Meenal Agarwal, Expert Optometrist, Entrepreneur, Speaker, and Mom of 3.

Who is Dr. Meenal Agarwal?

With three clinics in Toronto and sought-after experience, Dr. Meenal Agarwal is an expert in vision and eyecare innovation. She is a leading voice on patient care, technology, professional development, and wellness in the healthcare industry.