Best Eye Makeup Remover

October 18, 2023 10:24 AM

I want to know the best eye makeup remover for black eye makeup.

I do not use a lot of makeup, but I have trouble with removal. I use a Laura Mercier caviar stick for eye shadow (neutral color), MAC technakohl eyeliner in graphblak, and some kind of mascara, usually great lash. I don't think I go super heavy on the liner and mascara (both only on top lids, in fact, not super thick line of liner), but the makeup is really stubborn. After showering, washing my face and specifically eyes with an eye-safe face wash, and removal, I still end up with dark circles under my eyes for days after. (I have VERY pale skin and already have dark circles, so this makes it worse). I've tried micellar water, jojoba oil, and standard remover. I've used thin woven pads as well as cotton balls.

posted by bookworm4125 to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (22 answers total)

Not sure where you are. I am in Canada and I have great luck with Marcelle brand "Gentle Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover". It takes off my waterproof liner and waterproof mascara infallibly and is easy on my skin. I use cotton pads.
posted by some chick at 10:29 AM on October 18, 2023

I suspect you might benefit from a change in technique, as opposed to product. I’ve had success with the technique in this video from makeup artist Lisa Eldridge. The eye makeup portion starts around the 2 minute mark.
posted by bluloo at 10:56 AM on October 18, 2023 [5 favorites]

I use whatever makeup remover happens to be on sale, so will watch this with interest, but one thing I've found helpful is to remove eye makeup first, before washing my face. I find I need enough makeup remover for dark or highly pigmented product that I usually have to wash residue from the the remover off after I'm done. I go in with a pretty saturated cotton pad and dab at the makeup first and then go back and start wiping it off, and replace pads as needed until they're coming away clean. Sometimes I find I need to saturate a cotton swab to use (gently) along the lash line to really get the last little bits of makeup off.
posted by EvaDestruction at 11:16 AM on October 18, 2023 [1 favorite]

I use the Lancôme one in the blue bottle you need to shake. I use it with a cotton round, then wash my face after. I also use dark eyeliner, and if I don’t remove my pillow cases all get stained. I assume it’s expensive, but it’s always in a gift with purchase, so i wait and buy something else and get it there. I also have a friend who lives their skin stuff but doesn’t wear eye makeup, so we split the gift bag.
posted by Valancy Rachel at 11:36 AM on October 18, 2023 [1 favorite]

I’m like you in that I don’t use a lot of makeup but have trouble with removing it! I’ve found that the lotion-type removers work best for me. I don’t know if they do a better job, or they just don’t feel as harsh on my face as the liquid ones do, so I can be more through.

Right now I have this Clinique one. In the past I’ve used a Neutrogena one in a teal tube, although I haven’t been able to find it lately, and see it’s $40 on eBay, so might have been discontinued.

Although the technique linked by bluloo looks promising so I may try that the next time I use heavier “going-out” makeup.
posted by sillysally at 11:46 AM on October 18, 2023

A little off topic, but I also started using tubing mascara for my every day mascara, which is a game changer because it’s so easy to remove. Just rub lightly with water and it flakes off, never makes black circles to begin with. And it doesn’t drip/smudge during the day. That doesn’t help with shadow and liner, but for me mascara was the WORST to remove and I almost never wore it until I found the tubing kind.
posted by sillysally at 11:49 AM on October 18, 2023

Following this, since I have the same problem -- I don't even usually bother with eyeliner because it's so hard to remove.
posted by maryellenreads at 11:56 AM on October 18, 2023

I use a cleansing oil (DHC olive) on my eyes and the rest of my face, then rinse. Then, I use a swipe of toner (Son and Park beauty water) on a cotton pad to get any last eye makeup smudges. Technique is also part of it -- I press the cotton pad gently into my lashes and hold it there to dissolve a bit before swiping.

I think Shereene Idriss and Lisa Eldridge both have some kind of "go to bed with me" videos about nighttime routines that have good tips on eye makeup removal, though I'm on mobile and can't dig them up right now.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 12:02 PM on October 18, 2023 [3 favorites]

Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Water. Used backstage at fashion shows to get makeup off. Most effective I have tried, and very gentle. No eye stinging or greasiness.

Don't get the Garnier knockoff. It's crap.
posted by pearl228 at 12:13 PM on October 18, 2023 [3 favorites]

I only wear mascara and eyeliner once a week or so but I've been really happy with the various Clinique "take the day off" products, they have one specifically for harder to remove products like lipstick and eye liner but I use whichever one I have one hand. And nth-ing I start with removing my eye makeup with one of those products first and then do a face wash with my regular cleanser. I generally replenish during the holiday sale season.
posted by snowymorninblues at 12:15 PM on October 18, 2023 [1 favorite]

I use eyeliner and mascara nearly every day. I always use make up remover first on my eyes with a round pad, a quick splash of water/rinse, and then go shower/wash my face with a cleanser. If there’s any tricky make up left, I use a thick white lotion cream like Cetaphil.

My remover is from Neutrogena, mostly because it is what my mom uses and it’s always worked well for me.
posted by inevitability at 12:32 PM on October 18, 2023

After I shower, I just rub some Vaseline under my eyes (and on my eyelids, if necessary) and wipe it off with a tissue. Works great for me.
posted by SageTrail at 12:44 PM on October 18, 2023 [2 favorites]

When you use micellar water, you need to saturate the pad and hold it on your eye for at least 15 seconds, 30 is better. Then you can gently wipe away most of the makeup. I always follow with face wash, and I massage it in little circles 50 times around my eye area and lash line. If I still have residue, I repeat these steps until it's gone. I don't think I've ever had to do it more than twice, and that was only when I went very heavy handed on the waterproof black liquid liner.
posted by ananci at 1:39 PM on October 18, 2023

I have dry, sensitive skin and I use the elf makeup melting balm. It will remove ANYTHING and does not irritate my eyes.

In your situation I would suggest using a cotton swab or similar to spread some around your lashes and then swiping your lids with some on your fingertips just so you aren’t smooshing your sensitive eye skin every night, but give it a few seconds to do the “melting” and then gently swipe with fingertips to dislodge it and rinse or wipe away. You could also slap some on and then get directly into the shower without wiping it off. It’s awesome stuff.

Sometimes I use it in a double cleanse as the oil part if I’ve put on makeup enough to use a fixative that day, and sometimes I’ll use it when I’ve put on sunscreen and am otherwise bare faced as a moisturizing cleanser all on its own - just slap some on, rub it all over my face, rinse off with warm water, done. Start with dry skin so it clings better and isn’t diluted at first.
posted by Mizu at 2:25 PM on October 18, 2023

I use Garnier Micellar Water. Inexpensive, available in all the regular stores, just use a cotton round, bam! Your makeup is gone. Look how beautiful you are!
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 3:53 PM on October 18, 2023

Oh I have also used Vaseline petroleum jelly on my finger tips and gently rubbed my eyes, then followed with a Kleenex tissue to wipe off. I look like a raccoon in the process but it works!
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 3:57 PM on October 18, 2023

I typically wear waterproof, dark mascara along with cream eyeshadow and want both to stay on until I'm ready to remove them.

I've tried so many types of eye make up remover. Its a little old-school but Ponds cold cream usually does the trick. It does leave my skin greasy and can also leave a greasy film in the sink.

Most recently I had a coupon for Almay Longwear and Waterproof makeup remover pads. I have been very pleasantly surprised at how well these work to remove my eye makeup.

Somewhere out there is a magical combo of mascara that wont flake or sweat off and eye makeup remover that will take it all away in one swoop. But I havne't found it yet. Good luck.
posted by JennyJupiter at 4:45 PM on October 18, 2023

I wear a dramatic cat eye with primer underneath, as well as a very bold black lash with a tubing mascara. The only makeup remover that works for me is Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover, and it removes everything very quickly with no harsh scrubbing needed. When I'm done removing, i have *no* makeup on my eyes, even between the lashes. I usually rinse quickly with water after using the remover.

I have found Micellar water to be hopeless at getting my makeup off – I have to scrub and scrub, and even then it isn't completely removed. I try not to ever run out of the Clinique stuff.
posted by RubyScarlet at 8:31 PM on October 18, 2023

From time to time I wear substantial amounts of very heavy, gothic levels of black eye makeup. I also set it with the most aggressive makeup setting sprays I can find, and have used hairspray for the job. What I'm saying is when my makeup goes on, it's sandblast proof.

The best tack for me to get that shit back off is to wet my face lightly, then use a rich basic lotion (coco butter, shea butter, sorbolene) applied directly to the makeup. EYES CLOSED, gentle massage into heavy areas then slowly remove with a Magic Halo microfibre makeup removing pad, or you can use cotton pads or a face washer.

The important part is to give the fats in the lotion time to bind to the pigments in the makeup. I usually need two passes of this, but if you're not painting for an Abbath concert one pass should get most of it off. Then I use a micellular water (brand not important) on cotton, as mentioned above taking my time to let it lift the remnants as well as any other lotions. Finally I do a standard cleanse (just Cetaphil, nothing fancy) and my usual toner/moisturizer, but in the shower so I can really use the jets from the showerhead to make sure I've rinsed things off. If your face isn't spackled with corpse-paint you can probably get away with just rinsing at a sink.

The trick is to use a fat. Micellular water works on lighter makeup because it has little beads of oil through it. I just cut to the chase and go wild with the oil in the first step.
posted by Jilder at 8:37 PM on October 18, 2023 [1 favorite]

I've always used Paula's Choice Gentle Touch Makeup Remover, which I refer to as my "makeup solvent". For most occasions I don't wear mascara, but if I do, I use waterproof, and I need the makeup solvent. I apply and wipe with cotton balls, and clean my face with my usual facial cleanser afterwards to remove the oily residue.
posted by LadyOscar at 9:58 PM on October 18, 2023

I use jojoba oil or baby oil (and I wear very stubborn waterproof eye makeup), and as above, think it might be down to technique.

First thing, take out contacts if you have them. Next, BEFORE shower or washing your face, use JUST your fingers with a small amount of oil and gently but thoroughly rub into your lashes and lash line. Wait a minute, then wipe off. I just use toilet paper but you could use a wipe. Repeat if necessary on any stubborn leftovers. Then wash your face, paying special attention to the eye area. I always use just my fingers as much as possible because the skin there is so sensitive.
posted by Isingthebodyelectric at 6:10 AM on October 19, 2023

I have used the Body Shop Camomile Gentle Eye Makeup Remover for many years. I only use mascara and lip gloss; this product removes the mascara by gently rubbing a cotton pad saturated with it across my lashes.
posted by Lynsey at 7:42 AM on October 19, 2023