Your first instinct will be to rub your eye like you're trying to start a fire. Stop. Rubbing grinds the gritty sunscreen particles deeper into your cornea, making the sting last three times longer.
It also pushes the chemicals into your tear ducts, which is like inviting the party crasher back for an encore. Keep your hands off, even if your eye is screaming at you.
Flush Like Your Life Depends On It
Grab the cleanest water you can find. Tap water works in a pinch, but bottled or distilled water is so much gentler. Tilt your head back, open your eye wide (force it if you have to), and pour a steady stream over the eyeball for at least 30 seconds.
If you have a contact lens case or a small cup, fill it with water and hold it to your eye, then blink repeatedly underwater. It feels ridiculous, but it flushes out the gritty culprit better than a splashing faucet ever could.
