How to select the best lid care product

Looking after and cleansing the eyelids is all about protecting and maintaining the delicate skin around the eyes. We recommend that you use your lid care product twice a day, it's a good idea to link it to your toothbrushing if you are likely to forget.

Which products you use and whether it is single use wipes or a multi dose bottle is largely down to personal preference. However, when choosing a brand we would recommend considering the following.

• Are they free-from:
  • preservatives
  • alcohol
  • parabens
  • fragrance/perfume
• Do they contain any additional ingredients:
  • tea-tree
  • sodium hyaluronate
  • chamomile
  • aloe vera
• Single (wipes) or multi use (solution)
• Biodegradable

Impregnated wipes can be used in the same way and can be used to remove eye makeup at the same time. Some wipes have additional soothing and eye-friendly ingredients such as aloe vera, chamomile, flower/fruit extracts and sodium hyaluronate. They usually work out to be less cost-effective compared to multi-use bottles but can be more convenient.

Non-rinse solutions and oils usually need to be applied with a cotton pad which can then be used as a lid scrub to agitate and remove the oily debris. Some products include both a solution and pads together, or you can use your own cosmetic cotton pads. Foams can be applied with clean fingers and rinsed off in the shower, so this is a good option for anyone who showers every day.

Tea tree oil is a natural, anti-bacterial oil and can help blepharitis by reducing the levels of bacteria and mites around the eyes. There are foams and wipes available with varying concentrations of tea tree oil (usually less than 2%) or the active ingredient in tea tree oil, terpineol-4-ol (usually 2-5%). Some can sting mildly on application, the milder ones are for regular daily use whereas the stronger ones are for a few months course of treatment.

Choosing a preservative-free product is recommended as regular, daily use could allow sensitivity to preservatives to develop. 

Remember you don't always need to use the same product. For instance, you may choose a non-rinse solution or wipe-off gel for use in the morning and a quicker eye wipe in the evening or for travelling.