This post is not sponsored, btw. I hate to start a blog post off like that, but I just want to be transparent and make sure we’re all on the same page. Okay, let’s get into it!
Back in February, I had posted an Instagram story that was meant to be funny… I had stayed out late at a concert and had an early morning workout class so I posted a little “how to look alive” starter-pack. 😂 Coffee, pump-up music, Visine, concealer, you get the idea.
And then someone DM’d me about how I should use Refresh Optive for dryness and Lumify for redness instead of Visine. I think I quickly responded, “Thanks, I’ll have to look into those. I think Visine works just fine!” That’s when I put my foot in my mouth… Turns out she was/is an eye doctor and kind of knows what she’s talking about!
Up until recently, I had used Visine every single day (usually more than once a day) for the last three-ish years. My mom has dry eyes, too, and even has prescription eye drops from her doctor, so I just figured it was just a genetic curse from having huge eyes. (There’s more surface area to dry out, you know? 😂)
And that’s when the eye doctor on Instagram dropped some knowledge… I’m not here to shit on Visine, but she told me that Visine has something in it that actually dries out your eyes so you have to use and re-use it constantly. It doesn’t actually fix the problem, just temporarily masks it, hence why I was having to use it so much. (I’m paraphrasing here, as this was months ago and I can’t find the DM, but that was my general understanding.)
When my Visine ran out in March, I went ahead and purchased Refresh Optive and remembered that the PR agency for Lumify had sent me an email a few weeks prior, so I circled back and shot them a quick email asking for a sample to test out. So I’ve been testing both of these out for the last two-ish months, and you guys, they’re both magic.
Refresh Optive is what I now use when my eyes feel dry, but it’s crazy… Even in the thick of allergy season, I don’t have to use it every day. It’s still mind-boggling to me.
And then when I’m doing my makeup or getting ready to go somewhere, I use Lumify to make my eyes look extra clear! It’s wild how well it works and how the whites of my eyes look pearly white in just a minute or two. It’s essentially like a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. No signs of insomnia, allergies, tears, etc! 🙌🏼
Thank you for this! I had heard of Lumify and had wanted to try it! Now I will try both!!
So I had a similar situation. Went in for eye exam and mentioned that I use Visine every day (also big eyes!). My doc told me to stop and warned of same. Went on to tell me that if you use it every day it is drug addicting and that I may experience eye pain when wean off. Never realized that itโs not intended for every day use.