Dr Jacqueline Beltz is the founder of OKKIYO based in Melbourne. She is also the current co-president of the Australasian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons.
An ophthalmologist has launched a Revolutionary high performance mascara. which can be used on sensitive/dry eyes without causing redness, itching or painful side effects.
Dr. Jacqueline Beltz, founder of Melbourne-based OKKIYO, came up with the idea after years as an eye surgeon. As a self-confessed beauty aficionado, she hated the idea of patients being told to avoid makeup just because they were sensitive.
“I love how makeup makes me feel and I really think it can be even more important to feel powerful and in control when we have a sensitivity or health issue,” Dr. Beltz told FEMAIL.
‘During my studies in ophthalmology, makeup was never really talked about and was basically frowned upon. Only 23 per cent of ophthalmologists in Australia and New Zealand are women.
“It may be difficult, embarrassing, or perceived as not important enough for people with sensitive eyes to talk to their eye doctor about makeup.”
A ‘closet entrepreneur’. Dr. Beltz wanted to design a line of sensitive products for the eyes, since there is a line for almost every other sensitive area.
Dr. Beltz said most doctors tell their patients to “just don’t wear makeup,” advice that saddens her.
“For most people with sensitive eyes, wearing makeup may be perfectly fine, but of course it’s difficult to understand which products are okay and which aren’t, and how they should be applied.”
So he decided to come up with his own solution.
A ‘closet entrepreneur’. Dr. Beltz wanted to design a line of sensitive products for the eyes, since there is a line for almost every other sensitive area.
“I started with mascara because it’s the first product that people with sensitive eyes stop using and possibly the only product that many women desperately want to use,” she said.
Rubbing your eyes can not only contribute to the formation of wrinkles, but it can also put pressure on the cornea, the clear window at the front of the eye. This pressure can weaken the cornea over time, which could lead to permanent vision problems.
It took three years to launch priority eyes mascara under your brand Okkiyo. She worked with two different groups of chemists and had additional ophthalmological tests performed independently to ensure that the mascara was very well tolerated by people with sensitive eyes.
“My accessibility features also caused a lot of delays: it was really difficult and time-consuming to find the square tubes, let alone ones made from recycled materials, and it was difficult to correct the braille,” he said.
But it was worth it and the mascara was an instant hit.
The $49.50 mascara checks all the boxes: It’s clinically proven to be suitable for people with sensitive eyes, and its performance is so high that it’s similar to Dr. Beltz’s favorite brands.
“I was used to using high-end brands and didn’t want to take a step back, but more importantly, I didn’t want my patients or clients to feel like they had to compromise to use ‘eye-safe’ products or brand-name mascara.” doctor,” he said.
“Now that it’s launched, I’m so glad I had such high expectations; I think that’s why a lot of professional makeup artists enjoy the product.”
To create this innovative purchase, Dr. Beltz worked with a team of scientists to avoid common irritants and allergens and ingredients like alcohols that could further dry out the tear film.
It also included more nourishing and conditioning ingredients like manuka honey.
“It’s a lovely Australian ingredient that has a lot of history in the medical and dry eye space,” he said.
‘The final product is 90 per cent natural, lengthens and volumizes and, perhaps most importantly, stays put all day, without staining watery eyes or eye drops, but without being waterproof.
‘Waterproof mascara can be quite irritating to sensitive eyes due to the alcohols and ingredients needed to dry the mascara and keep it on, and also the harsh removers needed to remove it. So my mascara comes off very easily at the end of the day, without needing to rub my eyes.’
To create the revolutionary purchase, Dr. Beltz worked with a team of scientists to avoid common irritants and allergens and ingredients like alcohols that could further dry out the tear film.
Symptoms of dry eye include itching, grittiness, stinging, burning, redness, pain, or watering. Sometimes vision can become blurry between blinks, which is common in office environments.
Many people have sensitive eyes and dry eye is one of the most common causes; Seven per cent of adult Australians have dry eye and that number rises to 57 per cent over the age of 50.
Dry eye is not the only cause of sensitive eyes. Many other people suffer from allergies, wear contact lenses, have had eye surgery, or suffer from other eye conditions such as blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids), glaucoma, cataracts, or macular degeneration.
Many people with sensitive eyes may have difficulty applying eye makeup. It may be that makeup further irritates your sensitivities due to glitter, flakes, or drying or irritating ingredients, or it may simply be that your watery or itchy eyes or eye drops leave you with stained or panda eyes. at the end of the day.
Many people have sensitive eyes and dry eye is one of the most common causes; Seven per cent of adult Australians have dry eye and that number rises to 57 per cent over the age of 50.
Using typical mascaras when you have dry eyes, sensitivity, or other eye conditions may cause irritation or other concerns.
“First, many mascaras contain ingredients that can irritate sensitive eyes, exacerbating discomfort and potentially causing heaviness or itching,” Dr. Beltz said.
‘Some of the ingredients, such as alcohols, can further dry the tear film, thus exacerbating the symptoms of diseases such as dry eye syndrome. Additionally, these mascaras often lack conditioning properties, leaving lashes dry and brittle over time.
‘Plus, typical mascaras can smudge or create the dreaded ‘panda eyes’ effect, especially if eyes become watery during the day or eye drops are needed.
“This may lead the consumer to choose a waterproof mascara to avoid some of these side effects, but it can further dry the tear film and removing waterproof mascara can pose its own challenges.”
The need for stronger makeup removers to effectively dissolve stubborn or waterproof mascara can irritate the eyes, causing discomfort, dryness, and possible inflammation.
“My goal is to change the narrative by not only providing appropriate, well-tested products, but also by educating the community and my colleagues on how to safely use and recommend eye makeup in cases of eye sensitivity,” said Dr. Beltz.
‘Makeup is fun, empowering and a form of self-expression. I understand that sometimes it’s even more important to feel powerful, ready and awake when you have a sensitivity or a health issue, or when you just don’t feel that great.’
