10 Tips for Removing Eye Makeup Gently and Effectively (2024)

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Gently Remove Eye Makeup

Before touching your face, wash your hands to prevent transferring bacteria to your skin and eyes, which could cause irritation. Then, choose a good quality and effective makeup remover. "With that first step done, the technique you use to apply the remover is next," says Rachel Nazarian, MD, an NYC-based dermatologist. "Avoid scrubbing or rough rubbing. Gentle dabbing and soft circular movements should be enough to lift the eye makeup off, without traumatizing the skin."

While makeup cloths conveniently remove dirt, they leave behind residue. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser after disposing of the cloth. To try to avoid irritation, use a fragrance-and-alcohol-free wipe.

Rinse Off Your Eye Remover

"Although many people skip this step, remember that makeup remover contains many ingredients and chemicals that make it shelf-stable, and you don't want those chemicals, or any residue, left on your skin," says Dr. Nazarian. "It's the buildup of all these preservatives and residue that can lead to early skin aging. Find a gentle soap like Dove's Beauty Barand quickly rinse." Drugstore cleansers, which are both budget friendly and effective, are a must-have for your daily skin routine, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Soak Your Makeup

"'Soaking' the eyes with cotton pads is a very gentle way of removing eye makeup," says Honey artist Robert Greene. "Cover your entire eye area with [makeup remover] gel, remembering to get your under-eye area as well. Spray two cotton pads liberally with Avéne's Thermal Spring Waterand place them over your eyes like cucumbers. Wiggle the pads gently to help break down your makeup for about 15 seconds, and repeat if necessary. Any leftover makeup should be removed by using Q-tips, especially around the lash line. I like to finish this process by placing liberally sprayed cotton pads with Thermal Spring Water over the eyes to help soothe." Treat yourself to spa-level care even on the long days where you're tempted to skip washing your face, use a makeup wipe, and call it a night.

Double Cleanse Stubborn Makeup

Layers of sunscreen and waterproof makeup don't stand a chance against a cleansing oil. Soak a cotton pad with Boscia's MakeUp-BreakUp oil and gently swipe from the inner corner of your eye and outwards. The oil breaks down the makeup and helps lift it from your skin and eyelashes. Sunday Riley's Blue Moon Tranquility Cleansing Balm is another popular double cleansing favorite. Once applied, the balm turns into a silky oil, allowing your makeup to slide off your face.

If you’re only using a cleansing oil, the greasy residue may act as a barrier and won’t let other skin products like your eye cream penetrate properly. So after the oil, use a second cleanser, as you want the skin to be clean and bare to allow the active ingredients from eye creams, serums, and the like, to penetrate deep within the skin and deliver the best results.

Look For Active Ingredients

Be sure the products you're using contain the active ingredients that address your specific skin concerns. If after using a particular product, you feel a burning sensation, your skin may be reacting negatively. To test how your skin will react to new ingredients, clean the inside of your forearm, and swatch the product. Wait 24 hours to see how your skin responds.

"If you love active ingredients like me, you'll also love Hyssop essential oil," says celebrity makeup artist Kira Nasrat. "Hyssop essential oil, which is natural, has healing components, and helps to keep your skin clean. So when you're wiping away your makeup you're not left with irritated skin. It's anti-inflammatory and helps regulate breakouts too. I love this, especially in the winter."

Take Care of Sensitive Skin

Makeup removers for sensitive skin can protect your under-eye area as it is purported to be one of the first places to show aging on the face. Celebrity esthetician Renée Rouleau explains, "It’s so important to treat this area gently. It is subjected to a lot of wear and tear from smiling, squinting, and rubbing of the eyes, which translates into wrinkles and fine lines." For eye makeup removal, Rouleau always suggests using a "liquid, oil-free, fragrance-free, no-sting eye makeup remover" (like herSoothing Eye Makeup Remover). She says, these don’t contain "irritants and oils that can seep into the eyes and cause unnecessary under-eye puffiness."

Rouleau instructs, "Apply eye makeup remover to a lint-free toning cloth and gently press down on the eye, holding for 20 seconds. This gives your eye makeup a chance to dissolve to avoid unnecessary rubbing and touching. Then, after 20 seconds, wipe away your eye makeup and mascara in downward motions. Move the pad in an upward direction to get underneath the top lashes. Voilà!"

Fold Your Cotton Pad

To maximize the use of your cotton pad, fold the unused section over with each swipe. Using the same side of the cotton pad will redeposit the makeup you removed. Rouleau suggests, "Wipe away your eye makeup and mascara in downward motions. Flip the pad or cloth over and move in an upward direction to get underneath the top lashes." Using this method will save you from reaching for multiple cotton pads. Reusable eye makeup removers, like Face Halo'sReusable Makeup Remover Pads will save you even more.

Protect Your Eyes

"If you wear contacts and prefer a water-based remover, I love Koh Gen Do's Spa Cleansing Water," says Honeymakeup artist Suzy Gerstein. "I saturate twocotton pads (Koh Gen Do makes the absolute softest and most luxurious ones) and apply one above and one just below the lashes. Then, hold them there for a good minute or so to let them do their work without pulling the eye."

Use a 'sting-free' formula because not only is it irritating when eyes sting but it might also cause under-eye puffiness, which is a prominent concern for many.

Keep Your Skin Moisturized

After you have applied eye cream to your freshly washed face, your skin should feel a bit damp. Instead of waiting for your skin to dry, seal hydration into your skin with a moisturizer like Drunk Elephant's Protini Polypeptide Moisturizer. The moisturizer promises to balance oil production and protect your skin from fine lines and wrinkles. Forgot this step? Spray a facial mist or hydrating toner to bring the moisture back to your face.

Maintain A Morning Routine

Since your morning routine maintains your cleansing efforts from the night before, clean skin will allow the active ingredients in your other products to serve their purpose. La Roche-Posay's Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser cleanses the skin without stripping moisture from the skin. The cleanser will also remove any makeup that remains, say clinging to one stubborn eyelash. Once your skin is clean, wake up and brighten your eyes with Patchology's FlashPatch Rejuvenating Eye Gels.

1. Pilkington SJ, Belden S, Miller RA. The tricky tear trough: a review of topical cosmeceuticals for periorbital skin rejuvenation.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2015;8(9):39-47.