11 gentle eye makeup removers to sweep away stubborn mascara, no problem
It seems a lot of our mascaras were created to withstand an apocalypse. Blusher, bronzer and foundation will all melt peacefully away. But unlike most of the couples in our fave TV binge, Married At First Australia, mascara is in it for the long-haul, especially if it's waterproof . The solution? Get your hands on one of the best eye makeup removers sharpish.
Our regular face cleansers aren’t always built with the muscle power necessary to coax our lashes free, so if you find you need to really rub to lift long-wearing and waterproof makeup away, it's likely your cleanser wasn't built for the task of hardcore removal. It's especially bad news for around your eyes as the skin there is ultra delicate and calls for a light touch.
Inadequate eye makeup removers won't do our lashes any favours either. Without a thorough and gentle cleanser, they can be left coated in waxy product, or feeling dry and brittle from harsh alcohol-filled face washes. Too much rubbing can tug away lashes and leave them looking sparse, which is the the opposite of the soft, healthy lashes we're after.
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Therefore you need an eye makeup remover to take off that stubborn mascara without the need to scrub, pull and drag at your lashes and under-eye skin. And, if your eye are is sensitive, you'll also want to look for removers that are fragrance-free, hypoallergenic and extra gentle.
While we don't advocate unnecessary extra steps in our skincare routine, it’s definitely worth starting off your cleansing routine by loosening away your eye makeup with a dedicated eye makeup remover. Particularly if you already use a face cleanser you love, and don't want to ditch in favour of something more heavy duty.
Skincare routine steps, order and products.
So, what is the best eye makeup remover?
Oil cleansers
Given waterproof formulas repel water (that's why they stay on in the rain), cleansing oils are your best bet if you wear a longer-wear mascara formula. They're like magic, slippy enough to lift your lashes free without the dragging. (Just steer clear of anything too fragranced, to avoid irritation). DHC's Deep Cleansing Oil is available from Look Fantastic and, infused with antioxidant-rich Olive Oil, loosens stubborn mascara and lifts it away gently.
Micellar water
Micellar water fits the bill thanks to its clever technology. It contains tiny sphere-like micelles inside that act as magnets, attracting, trapping and gently lifting away stubborn makeup, like mascara. Don't believe us? Top makeup artist Pat McGrath labelled Bioderma's Sensibio H2O her drugstore essential and celeb MUA Lisa Eldridge revealed, "I like to use Bioderma for eye makeup removal because I find it takes waterproof mascara off and fake lashes, and I don’t really like very oily removers,” in her YouTube round-up of the best makeup removers. We're huge fans of Garnier's Micellar Water For Delicate Skin & Eyes. It's £6.99 from Superdrug and acts like an actual magnet for makeup.
Bi-phase removers
Lastly, bi-phase formulas sit somewhere in the middle. Made up of water and oil (you shake them, to mix the two together), they cover all bases, gently expelling every trace of makeup. Our top recommendation? Nivea's Double Effect Eye Makeup Remover. It's only £3.89 in Boots and is suitable for all skin types.
Here are the best eye makeup removers to shop today, as recommended by our beauty editors.
Best eye makeup remover to also use on your skin
Sisley Gentle Make-up Remover for Face and Eyes, £85.50, John Lewis
If you want to use just one product on both your face and eyes, to save time and reduce the number of steps in your skincare routine, look towards this Sisley product. It's well worth the investment, cleansing and toning skin at the same time as removing all traces of makeup. With Linden blossom water and Neroli extract it soothes and softens skin while making you feel suitably relaxed.
Best eye makeup remover for speedy removal
Elemis White Flower Eye & Lip Makeup Remover, £25, Look Fantastic
This wonder product has the ability to banish all traces of makeup - even waterproof mascara - in just one swipe. It's formulated with white peony extract to hydrate and cooling white tea to soothe and refresh the skin - and it's suitable for all skin types and contact lens wearers. Oh, and you can use this product on your lips, too, to banish stubborn lip stains.
Best eye makeup remover for sensitive skin
Suqqu Eye Makeup Remover, £30, Selfridges
The best eye makeup remover for sensitive skin, this formulation combines oil with a lotion to nourish lashes and your under-eye skin. It contains rice squalane to moisturise, and banishes any traces of makeup in an instant.
Best eye makeup remover for conditioning lashes
Glossier Milky Oil, £10, Glossier
A combination of micellar water and oil, this ultra-gentle cleanser waves away mascara in an instant. It includes Comfrey Root Extract and Pro-Vitamin B5 which work to condition and soothe, so skin feels soft and fresh right after use - as do your lashes. Glossier, you've done it again.
Best eye makeup remover for long-wearing mascara
Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover, £21, Selfridges
This is a bi-phase eye makeup remover, so it combines oil with a gentle Micellar water. It tackles even the most stubborn of mascaras with ease, and is suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. One thing to note? It does have a light fragrance, and while it smells lovely, if the idea of putting anything fragranced on your eyes bothers you, this might not be for you.
Best eye makeup remover for its oil-free formula
Camomile Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover, £7.50, The Body Shop
Not only is this formula oil-free, but it fragrance and colour free, too. Plus, it's super light and feels soothing on the skin. It's suitable for anyone with sensitive skin, and for contact lens wearers, and it gently removes all traces of makeup effectively.
Best eye makeup remover for contact lens wearers
Garnier Micellar Water For Delicate Skin & Eyes, £6.99, Superdrug
An affordable and effective micellar water, this acts like a magnet for makeup. It's suitable for all skin types and even suitable for contact lens wearers, and is infused with oil - unlike Garnier's original Micellar water. It leaves your skin feeling genuinely soft and nourished.
Best eye makeup remover for waterproof mascara
DHC Deep Cleansing Oil, £24, Look Fantastic
A no-frills oil, this is very effective at loosening stubborn mascara and lifting it away gently. Rich in anti-oxidant Olive Oil, is performs a deep cleanse on the skin and lifts away impurities. It leaves your skin makeup-free, feeling soft and looking younger. Fact.
Best Micellar water eye makeup remover
Bioderma Sensibio H2O Water, £10.80, Boots
The OG of micellar waters, this erases every trace of makeup and is suitable for all skin types, whether you suffer from dryness, sensitivity or oily patches. It removes even the most stubborn of waterproof mascaras (trust), but it maintains the skin's balance thanks to its soap-free formula.
Best eye makeup remover for a bi-phase cleanse
Nivea Double Effect Eye Makeup Remover, £3.89, Boots
Specially formulated with the delicate eye area in mind, this bi-phase cleanser removes all traces of makeup without leaving an oily residue on the skin. Before applying, you need to shake the two sides to combine the water and oil mixture, then sweep away stubborn mascara.
Best eye makeup remover for protecting false lashes
Simple Kind To Skin Eye Makeup Remover, £3.80, Amazon
While oil is great for lifting away waterproof mascara, they can lift away lash inserts, too. So, if you're wearing falsies, stick to an oil-free formula, like this budget-friendly option from Simple.
