According to Kaskade, the greatest DJ of our time (my opinion and only my opinion), the eyes are the mirror of the soul. My eyes, however? Sometimes a little rough. I don’t wear contact lenses or glasses, and my eyesight is pretty good, but I deal with redness in my eyes, especially if I drink or suffer from sleep deprivation. While curling my lashes and applying multiple layers of mascara can do wonders for my appearance, adding a few eye drops always helps too.
My drops of choice? Lumify eye drops ($24). I first heard about these eye drops from TikTok when they went viral to brighten people’s eyes in less than a minute, but the fact that celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Hailey Bieber are fans made me add the product to my cart and actually check. Although it took me a while to get on the train, I have been using them for the last few months and now I never leave the house without them.
Keep reading to see my full review and hear what the ophthalmologist thinks of the eye drops.
About Lumify eye drops
- Lumify is an FDA-approved over-the-counter eye drop containing 0.025% brimonidine tartrate.
- According to Diana Hilal-Campo, MD, board certified ophthalmologist and founder of Twenty/Twenty Beauty, “brimonidine tartrate constricts the blood vessels in the eyes, making them whiter and brighter.”
- Drops come in two sizes: 0.25 oz and 0.08 oz.
What I like about Lumify eye drops
When I have used other eye drops in the past, I developed redness shortly after using them, which Dr. S. Hilal-Campo says is called “ricochet” redness. “Unlike traditional anti-redness decongestant drops such as Visine, which work by causing arterial vasoconstriction, Lumify works on a different receptor in the eye and causes vasoconstriction,” says Dr. Hilal Campo says. This means that the Lumify drops don’t cause the rebound redness that can occur with other brands, which is a big plus.
My eyes immediately look brighter and whiter after use, and also look wider. I have a few red veins in the inner corners of my eyes and whenever I use these drops they disappear instantly. I also got a few comments from friends when I use them at night because the difference is so noticeable.
How to use Lumify eye drops
The brand recommends one drop in the affected eye every six to eight hours and no more than four times a day. I usually use eye drops only once a day a few times a week – usually when I go out for dinner or a date.
However, Dr. Hilal-Campo says that while the manufacturer says you can use them up to four times a day, she only recommends these drops for special occasions like weddings or when you’re shooting portraits. “This is a diluted version of the long-standing higher concentration brimonidine glaucoma eye drops known to be used only twice a day to cause an idiosyncratic severe allergic reaction in 25 percent of users,” she explains. .
If you have chronic red eyes, Dr. Hilal-Campo suggests seeing an ophthalmologist to find out the cause of the redness, rather than temporarily fixing the symptom.
What to Look for Before Trying Lumify Eye Drops
Lumify eye drops are intended for use by persons over 5 years of age. If you wear contact lenses, you should be aware that you must remove them before putting the drops in your eyes, and you also need to wait. 10 minutes before putting them back on after using Lumify. I don’t wear contact lenses so this wasn’t a problem for me, but it’s something to keep in mind because it takes a bit of time.
If you wish to use other products with Lumify, you must also wait five minutes between each product. Also, in addition to not being used more than four times a day (according to the manufacturer), they should not be used if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Where are Lumify eye drops available?
Lumify drops are available at Target.com, Amazon.com, and at your local pharmacy.
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Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Rene Rodriguez