Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 16, 2026
Intense Pulsed Light for the Treatment of Dry Eye Owing to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
Published on: April 1, 2019
Pilot study of the influence of eyeliner cosmetics on the molecular structure of human meibum
Morgan Hunter1, Rahul Bhola, Marta C Yappert
1Department of Chemistry, University of Louisville, Louisville, Ky., USA.
Background/Aims:
It has been suggested that eye makeup could interact with human meibum causing a decrease in the stability of the tear film. The aim of this pilot study was to measure makeup-human meibum interactions in vitro.
Methods:
Human meibum-makeup interactions were quantified by measuring order-to-disorder lipid phase transitions using infrared spectroscopy.
Results:
Makeup products exhibited lipid phase transition temperatures that were much higher than those for meibum. One product increased the lipid phase transition temperature by 4.2°C when combined with human meibum causing a large increase (from 30 to 49%) in the order of the meibum-lipid hydrocarbon chains and significantly decreased the minimum frequency, enthalpy and entropy of the phase transition of human meibum. Another eyeliner caused no significant (p < 0.05) change in the phase transition parameters of human meibum.
Conclusion:
Infrared spectroscopy may be used to measure interactions between human meibum and makeup. One makeup product increased the lipid order (viscosity) which could have adverse effects on tear film stability. Modern cosmetics are highly regulated and relatively safe to use; however, it could be beneficial to design makeup products that do not interact with meibum, especially since women have a higher prevalence of dry eye symptoms.
