While you're busy trying out new products that you think will improve your appearance, don't forget how cosmetics used around your face can impact the health of your eyes! Optometrist Dr. Kimberly Friedman gives you tips for looking great while protecting your eyes:

Cosmetic contact lenses. Wish your eyes looked bigger? These contact lenses enhance the appearance of your eye by including a dark circle on the lens to enlarge the colored section of your eye and minimize the white. While they seem like an accessory, Dr. Friedman says they should still be prescribed by a medical professional. "It's actually illegal to obtain these contact lenses without a prescription," she says, noting you can otherwise run into problems. "It may not fit the eye appropriately leading to some complications, like, for example, corneal abrasions ... While they don't lead to permanent vision loss, they're extremely painful."

Tanning booths. Always wear goggles to cover your eyes in a tanning booth, Dr. Friedman says, noting that just closing your eyelids in a tanning booth may not be enough protection for your eyes. "The actual UV radiation can penetrate through the eyelids. The eyelids are so thin!" she says. "We need the goggles in order to protect the eyes." Failing to do so could bring health risks. "Cataracts, macular degeneration, which is a breakdown of the retina that can lead to blindness as well, we can end up with skin cancers in and around the eyes."

False eyelashes. Dr. Friedman suggests using fake eyelashes from a pharmacy or department store. "It's going to have the appropriate glue with it that's safe for application and remover," she says. And, wear them in moderation. "The constant pulling of the lashes off and on can damage the hair follicle ultimately resulting in very thin, sparse eyelashes." For salon lash extensions, she says some people are allergic to the glue used, so use a precaution for your first application. "What they're supposed to do is do a patch test first to make sure that you're not sensitive to that chemical."