It’s an excellent time to be a makeup lover. While I never let trends dictate how I paint my face—I clung to my liquid winged eyeliner throughout the entire “clean girl” era—the long-overdue return of vibrant, colorful makeup means we’re in for an avalanche of innovative new products and fun new techniques. And I’m so here for it. But ask anyone who uses makeup as a form of creative expression, and they’ll tell you: How you remove your makeup is just as important as how you apply it. And that’s especially true of eye makeup.
As one of the most sensitive areas of the body (and home to some of the thinnest skin of all), the eye area poses a unique challenge when removing makeup: For the sake of your ophthalmological and skin health, it’s crucial to get rid of every last flake and sparkle—but the products you use to do so need to be gentle and non-irritating.
Thankfully, in the 109 years since Maybelline cake mascara hit the market (the first water-soluble eye makeup, made of coal dust and Vaseline), there’s been a lot of innovation on the removal front, especially in the last couple of decades. From old-school department store classics to K-beauty balms and French pharmacy staples, there are so many ways to melt away your eyeshadow and mascara without tears. Ahead, some of my top picks for gentle yet effective eye makeup removers.
Keepin’ It Classic
To be totally honest, dedicated eye makeup removers aren’t my first choice; I go for balms and wipes first. That said, these three liquids are classics for a reason. Pop a few drops on a cotton round, hold it to your eye for about 30 seconds (don’t tug or rub!), and voila—makeup-free lids.
Lancôme
Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover
This is one of my favorite “If it’s in your budget, give it a try” beauty picks. The price is undeniably steep, but in exchange, you get a gentle, grease-free formula that removes mascara and liner with ease. Shout-out to the Lancôme gifts-with-purchase that kept me stocked with this one for months back in the day.
Clinique
Take The Day Off Liquid Makeup Remover
Another department store rock star, Clinique’s Take The Day Off comes in a liquid, balm, and wipes; I like the liquid format (yes, despite my obsession with balms), especially for spot removal, like when I suddenly decide I hate my eye makeup just when I’m about done with the look.
Neutrogena
Gentle Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover
Neutrogena is practically synonymous with drugstore makeup removers. While the ubiquitous wipes are not my personal favorite, the no-frills eye makeup remover is the platonic ideal of an affordable skincare product: It gets the job done, and for under $10.
Melt Away
As a double-cleansing devotee, my preferred method of makeup removal is oils and balms that melt away eyeshadow and liner without leaving any greasy residue—or, at least, the best ones do. These three are among them.
For eye makeup, specifically, removers should be as gentle as they are tough—yes, you want to get off every last stitch of makeup, but not if it means tugging and watery red eyes. This K-beauty fave transforms into an oil, then a milk, effortlessly melting away makeup and wiping right away with a soft, warm washcloth.
Dezi Skin
Skin So Balm Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm
Dezi Skin is easily one of the most underrated skincare brands, and the Skin So Balm Cleansing Balm is among its standouts. (The Auga Fresca Moisturizer is also a winner.) It features jojoba seed oil to help dissolve even the most waterproof makeup. Just rub a bit in gentle circles and watch your liner and shadow disappear.
DHC
Facial Cleansing Oil & Makeup Remover
Okay, so this is more of a cult classic, but this oil (one of the first I ever used, actually) still has a fervent fanbase, years after it first started making the Reddit rounds. The key ingredient in this no-frills pick is olive oil, which—fun fact—has been used in skincare since antiquity.
Wipe ‘n Go
While I wouldn’t rely on makeup wipes alone for my cleansing needs (I still follow up with a cream, foam, or gel), they are a great way to remove eye makeup quickly, especially when traveling.
Olay claims its Daily Facial Wipes “effectively remove mascara 2X better than basic cleaning,” and that certainly bears out in my experience. Lather one of these sheets up, wipe it across your lids, and you’re good to go. Pro tip: You can also rip them in half and keep them on hand for little spot touch-ups as you’re doing your eye makeup, too.
Makeup Eraser
The Original MakeUp Eraser PRO
I was so skeptical of this product when it first hit my desk, but it really does work. It’s essentially a standard washcloth—but, through some wizardry I am not privy to, it actually removes even waterproof makeup. (Okay, it’s science, the wizardry is science.) I use mine all the time at home, but it’s an especially great choice for sustainable, liquid-free travel.
No-Rinse Micellar
While it isn’t my preferred method, I know so many beauty editors who swear by micellar water for all their makeup removal and first-step cleansing—and when the time comes to clean up a little errant liner, even I can’t deny its power.
Garnier
Micellar Cleansing Water
Garnier’s bestselling Micellar Water comes in loads of different formulas (with benefit claims including brightening and mattifying) and costs less than $10 at most retailers. It’s probably my top pick for makeup beginners and anyone looking for a budget-friendly option that’s still highly efficacious.
La Roche-Posay
Micellar Cleansing Water
The French have perfected micellar water; see also the cult-classic Bioderma. Keep a bottle of this sensitive-skin-friendly offering from La Roche-Posay on your vanity beside some Q-tips for sopping up mascara flakes and erasing too-heavy eyeliner wings. (At least, that’s what I do.)
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