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The days when color contacts were unbelievably expensive are long gone. As the manufacturing costs go down, disposable color contact lenses appear. These days you can find monthly, weekly and even daily disposable color contact lenses. But how do disposable color contacts compare with traditional color lenses, in terms of quality and health issues?
Disposable color contacts are a recent development, and they become progressively more popular. Sometimes it is not obvious whether the lenses are disposable or traditional (annual replacement schedule). The easiest way to spot the difference is to look at the package - if they are sold in a box (usually 6 lenses per box), then the lenses are disposable; if they are in a phial and the price is indicated per lens, then they are traditional color contact lenses.
Advantages of disposable color contacts
However, the main difference between disposable color contacts and annual replacement (traditional) lenses is that high quality traditional lenses are hand painted. Hand painted color lenses like Illusions by CibaVision create a more natural look than digitally printed lenses. None of the disposable color lenses is hand painted - it simply is not cost effective for the manufacturer.
See pictures of and hand painted contacts
Best disposable color contacts
Freshlook is one of the more popular brands in disposable color contacts. Freshlook offers you three collections: Freshlook Colorblends - opaque color contacts for people with dark eyes; Freshlook Impressions, which are partially transparent enhancement lenses designed to brighten naturally blue or green eyes; and Freshlook Dimensions, the unique designs of which make your eyes appear larger and deeper. All Freshlook color lenses are monthly disposable.
Acuvue 2 Colors by Johnson and Johnson is also a good choice. Acuvue 2 Colors offers opaque color lenses, for people with dark eyes, as well as enhancement lenses, for light eyes. Acuvue 2 Colors are 1-2 week disposable color contact lenses. They are also FDA approved to be worn for a week continuously, which means that you can sleep in them.
Recently released 1 Day Acuvue Colors are the first daily disposable color contact lenses. They look the same as Acuvue 2 Colors opaque color lenses, but you don’t have to worry about cleaning, disinfecting and storing them. 1 Day Acuvue Colors are ideal for people who only want to wear color contacts for special occasions; this way, you can wear fresh lenses every time.
Expression Colors by Cooper Vision also comes as opaque colors, for dark eyes, and enhancement colors, for light eyes. Expression lenses are monthly disposable color contacts.
See comparison and pictures of by different brands
Prescriptions for color contact lenses
Most disposable color contact lenses come in plano (no correction) as well as with corrective powers. Sometime people think that if they have a perfect vision and want color contacts purely for cosmetic effect, they can just order a box online without consulting an optometrist. This is not true, though: all contact lenses - including plano color lenses - are medical devices, so you can’t buy color contact lenses without doctor’s prescription.
However, after getting your prescription, you don’t have to buy your color contacts from your optometrist. Many reputable contact lens retailers sell color contacts online and ordering your color lenses through the Internet can save you a lot of money.
Color contacts are great, whether you wear enhancement color lenses to brighten your natural color or opaques to change it completely. However, you will also need to apply some eye make-up to get the best effect from your lenses. There are a few eye make-up secrets that will make your new eyes really stand out.
The shadow colors you will need to use depend on your skin color and the color of your colored contact lenses.
For women with fair skin
For green color contacts neutral or pale shadow in green or blue-green varieties are best. If you get blue or turquoise contacts use blue shadow, but a shade lighter than the color of your contacts. For amethyst, violet or gray color contacts, lavender shadows work great.
Use gray or brown eyeliner rather than black - it looks more natural on fair skin. And smooth the line under your eye, so it doesn’t look too sharp. Also, if your color lenses are blue or turquoise, try blue mascara. It will give your eyes a really deep blue color.
See pictures of women wearing with different make up.
For women with medium skin
With warm, medium-dark skin and green, blue or violet contacts, neutral shadows like taupe, browns or plums look best. For amethyst or turquoise color lenses, use dark lavender or plum eye shadow with a hint of silver across the eyelid.
Dark skin make-up suggestions
Amethyst, sapphire blue and green color lenses are magnificent on women with dark skin. If you apply bronze shadow in the crease, green eyes would look very deep. Mauve or deep brown shadows will do a good job emphasizing your blue or amethyst colored contact lenses. With aqua or turquoise lenses, try amber shadows across the top eyelid.
No matter what color contacts you wear, they will make your eyes bright and noticeable. Your eye make-up shouldn’t be too bright though; it shouldn’t overpower the new brilliance of your eye color.
Lipstick is also important in emphasizing your eye color. Neutral color lipsticks won’t do anything for your eyes. Most varieties of pink and bright, but light, red, on the other hand, would make your eyes stand out.
Eye make-up should be applied after your color contacts are already in place. Otherwise tiny particles of your mascara or eye shadow can get under your lenses and irritate your eyes. You should take your lenses off before you start removing make-up.
Use high quality mascara, so it doesn’t brush onto your lenses. Otherwise your eyes will feel very uncomfortable. Water-based mascaras are recommended. Also look carefully at the mascara label; some brands have a “safe for contact lens wearers" mark.