Your Favourite Eye Makeup Remover

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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

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Your Favourite Eye Makeup Remover

— by Angie

on January 30, 2012

I use a drugstore bought cleanser for dry skin called “CeraVe” to clean my face and neck morning and night. It was recommended by my dermatologist after Impruv, which I used before, was discontinued. It’s a great facial cleanser and I am really happy with the product.

However, my facial cleanser does not adequately remove eye makeup. That I leave to Ponds cold cream, which I have been using since I was a teen. My Mum recommended Ponds to me in 1984 and I never looked back. I don’t know whether Ponds removes eyeshadow and eye liner as effectively because I don’t wear eye makeup other than mascara. But in my experience, nothing removes mascara as well as Ponds cold cream. It’s cheap as chips and lasts a long time.

What’s your favourite eye makeup remover?

Grooming

65 comments · Add a comment

teri

i used Ponds for years, but when it didn’t keep up with my dry skin I switched to Olay. It seems to be doing the job now, but i used Ponds for probably 25 years!

January 30, 2012 at 3:03 pm

MsMary

Veteran

I wear contact lenses so I don’t like to use cold cream or other creams that could get on my contacts. Lately I have been using pre-moistened towelettes that I get at Costco, of all places. They do a good job on my eye makeup and other makeup, and are quick and easy and no mess or oily residue.

January 30, 2012 at 3:04 pm

peach451

Active Member

I use Almay Eye Make Remover Pads: http://www.drugstore.com/produ.....ram=297441

I love these because I tend to make a lot of mistakes while putting on eye makeup so I fold the pads to make a small tip which is essentially an eraser for eye makeup.

January 30, 2012 at 3:21 pm

Queen Mum

Veteran

I wear Avon’s Waterproof Washoff Mascara, so my regular face cleanser is all I need. I’m with Mary– if I used cold cream every night I’d have a horrible time with perpetual goop eye. Not a good mix with contacts.

January 30, 2012 at 3:43 pm

lynn

Veteran

I use Mary Kay extra emollient cleansing on my face and eyes. I’ve been using it for 30 years now and I love it because I can wipe it off with a wet cloth…no bending over a sink splashing for me!

January 30, 2012 at 3:48 pm

Travelgal Nicole

Veteran

My mascara is also washable so my face wash is sufficient in removing all of my makeup along with a toner that I’ve just started using.

January 30, 2012 at 3:49 pm

Diana

Veteran

Right now I don’t have an eye makeup remover but I probably should get one. I don’t wear makeup often, but when I do, it’s always Maybelline waterproof mascara, which I love because it’s the only thing that doesn’t come off on my face. However, that quality also means that it’s pretty near impossible to remove with my normal face cleanser. I admit to sometimes having some of last night’s mascara still on my lashes the next day. Things are complicated by the fact that I’m allergic to lots of face products so I’m a little leery of trying new things.

January 30, 2012 at 3:56 pm

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Neutrogena oil-free eye make-up remover

January 30, 2012 at 4:02 pm

Chelsea S.

(website)

Ooooh I’m normally a lurker, but I use the BEST EYE MAKEUP REMOVER OF ALL TIME. And have since I was a teenager! It’s the Chamomile Gentle Eye Makeup Remover from The Body Shop. Non greasy, doesn’t sting too much if you get it in your eyes, removes every last stitch of concealer, primer, liner, shadow and mascara, and doesn’t irritate my overly sensitive eye skin. GET IT!

January 30, 2012 at 4:02 pm

ClaraT

I use baby oil on a cotton pad. Cheap and easy! Available in smaller (travel) sizes if you don’t want a large bottle.

January 30, 2012 at 4:12 pm

D'Ellen

Veteran

I use DHC Deep Cleansing Oil to remove all of my makeup, eyes included. It wipes/washes off very cleanly and doesn’t irritate my sensitive eyes.

January 30, 2012 at 4:16 pm

Aida

Veteran

I also only wear mascara on my eyes, but just use a gentle face cleanser (any, really) to get it off at night. I suspect it leaves a bit of mascara on, but my lashes are so dark it’s really hard to tell. I’m going to give Ponds a try, thanks for the recommendation Angie!

January 30, 2012 at 4:21 pm

Aziraphale

Veteran

I don’t know if I’m missing something here, but my mascara comes off with plain warm water. I take a little bath every night and it just washes right off. I never use waterproof mascara, just the regular kind — usually either Clinique or Estee Lauder. I did find, one time when I bought a Revlon one from the drugstore, that it didn’t come off with just water. It annoyed me so I didn’t buy it again.

I occasionally wear liner and shadow with my mascara, and I find that most of that comes off with plain water, too. I wipe off the residue that’s left with plain Cetaphil face cream, which is probably similar to Pond’s. I’m sure Pond’s would work equally well.

January 30, 2012 at 4:26 pm

rachylou

Veteran

I used to use Clinique, but I just go with Ponds now. I’m too lazy to go all the way out to the mall.

January 30, 2012 at 4:50 pm

Debora

Veteran

Like some of the others, my mascara comes off easily with warm water. If there is any residue, I use a little dab of moisturizer on a tissue to wipe it off. I use Clinique mild liquid facial cleanser on the rest of my face. No matter how tired I am, I never go to bed without cleansing my face and applying moisturizer.

January 30, 2012 at 5:06 pm

Atlantia

Veteran

I use the Almay pads, just like peach. I only use them if I wear eye makeup, which is pretty rare. Generally I only do my eyebrows, and that along with my regular makeup comes off with a regular washing with Cetaphil foaming cleanser. Love that stuff!

January 30, 2012 at 5:16 pm

Angela

I use a mild cleanser called cetaphil, takes off everything and is really gentle

And I use waterproof mascara and eyeliner

January 30, 2012 at 5:30 pm

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Oh, wow! I never thought about the possible effect that makeup remover residue can have on contacts.

January 30, 2012 at 5:30 pm

Christie

My eye make-up just washes off with water usually. Sometimes I use the almond oil that I moisturize my face with.

January 30, 2012 at 5:30 pm

sopranomom

Active Member

I’m with Peach451 – I love Almay moisturizing make-up remover pads. I like the oil version that is so moisturizing for the skin around my 50-something eyes. Almay also makes an oil-free pad. If you don’t need moisturizing, using Cetaphil is effective for removing eye make-up. I use it on the rest of my face as a gentle cleanser.

January 30, 2012 at 5:42 pm

Alison

I use coconut oil to clean my face and remove any eye makeup. Same idea as Pond’s and other cleansers that are oil-based. My next best favorite is Cetaphil.

January 30, 2012 at 6:01 pm

Travelgal Nicole

Veteran

I used to use Clinique but it just got to expensive.

January 30, 2012 at 6:08 pm

Katherine

Active Member

I agree with Chelsea S…Camomile Gentle Eye Make-up Remover from the Body Shop is the best I’ve tried. Works really well

January 30, 2012 at 6:09 pm

Lisa

Veteran

I use Dermatologica Special Cleansing Gel.

January 30, 2012 at 6:13 pm

bella

(website)

Veteran

Neutrogena Eye Makeup Remover Lotion – Hydrating. It is the best stuff for waterproof mascara, eye shadow and eyeliner. My local drugstores don’t carry it so I order online in bulk.

January 30, 2012 at 6:15 pm

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I use Yves Rocher Soft Eye Makeup Remover with Chamomile. It is liquid, not greasy and very gentle on the eyes.

January 30, 2012 at 6:19 pm

Due to super-sensitive dry skin and contact lenses, I have a hard time finding eye makeup removers that remove waterproof makeup without causing me to rub or pull on my lashes. I bought a few samples of Paula’s Choice Eye Makeup Remover and that has worked wonders. I wish I could go for a less expensive option, but I’m happier now that I’ve found something that won’t restrict the makeup I wear.

January 30, 2012 at 6:20 pm

morethanbeige

Veteran

I have been using Ponds Cold Cream to remove face makeup and then Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover to remove eye makeup. I am going to try the Ponds to remove eye makeup and see how it works for me.

January 30, 2012 at 6:50 pm

jerseyjan

Active Member

As a contacts wearer I have found Rimmel Gentle Eye Makeup
Remover to be the best. I use it with a cotton pad. It’s under $5 at Target and other stores, so it’s very economical. And it really works better than anything else for ease and comfort. Then I use Olay Foaming Face Wash for Sensitive skin to whisk it all away. Voila!

January 30, 2012 at 7:33 pm

Laurie

Veteran

Mary Kay Oil-Free eye makeup remover is excellent and low-cost. One of their best products.

January 30, 2012 at 9:09 pm

LoP

Veteran

I’m with MaryK on the Costco make up removal towelettes. They do a good job getting my mostly mascara eye make up and facial powder/blush. I then wash my face with Origins frothy face wash.

January 30, 2012 at 9:45 pm

Corina88

Active Member

I use good old Johnsons Baby Lotion or Baby oil! I find that it removes even hard-to-remove eyeliner from brands like Mac and NYX! :))

January 30, 2012 at 9:48 pm

Lena

Anything with oil is usually a good bet. If I’m not mistaken, oil emulsifies tenacious makeup and sunscreens.
I don’t wear contacts, though.
Mascara is my only eye makeup.

I use Phisoderm Cream Cleanser (mineral oil based, like Ponds) or plain Cetaphil on my whole face. I also have MAC cleansing oil as backup for anything super tenacious (like some zinc based sunscreens), but it stings my eyes.

Right now I use non waterproof mascara that comes off with only water and Cetaphil cleanser or cream cleanser – Clinique and YSL. It really depends on the mascara actually. Some mascara brands like Chanel and Clarins and Dior seem to be *super* tenacious on my lashes (and surrounding skin!), and not even the waterproof versions. Too much bother for everyday.

I’ve heard good things about Ponds Cold Cream.

January 30, 2012 at 10:16 pm

Travelgal Nicole

Veteran

I think I’m going to try the nuetragena make up remover after seeing how many people use it.

January 30, 2012 at 10:16 pm

Lisa

I’m Australian so the term “cold cream” is new to me. Is it just a thick moisturising cream?

Currently I use a normal cleansing/moisturising wipe to remove my makeup at night as I’m using Maybelline the Magnum Volum’ Express Super Film, a mascara that’s supposed to just come off with warm water. (Anyone tried it? Brilliant!) But it also gets off my super-stay cosmetics.

January 30, 2012 at 10:36 pm

Scarlet

Veteran

I would definitely give Ponds a try. My mascara comes off with my face wash, but if there is residue from eyeliner or something then I use a remover from Avene. I have the problem that most eye makeup removers make my eyes sting, but this one doesn’t at all. It also doesn’t leave a greasy feeling afterward. Louis Widmer also makes a very good one but it is harder to find. These are both European products and probably cheaper here than in the US.

January 30, 2012 at 10:38 pm

Kate

Veteran

I use Cetaphil when I’m at home and when I travel, I use Boots No. 7 4-in-1 wipes. The wipes work great, apparently even on waterproof mascara. I can’t attest to that, since I only wear regular mascara.

http://www.drugstore.com/boots...../qxp219348

January 30, 2012 at 11:22 pm

fashionista

Veteran

Hey firstly hie to all the members here, am back after a long gap. And the first thing in the morning for me is to open this website. well, any oil- coconut, olive or baby oil does the trick for me and also mosturises my delicate skin around the eyes.

January 30, 2012 at 11:49 pm

Louise

Veteran

I very rarely wear any makeup, when I do I use Blinc mascara. When I wash my face I gently pull my eyelashes and the mascara slips off x

January 31, 2012 at 1:47 am

anchie

Veteran

I am a Clarins girl, so I use Clarins Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover Lotion.

January 31, 2012 at 2:54 am

kimlee

Veteran

I am a Pond’s Cold Cream girl, just like you Angie. My mother, her sisters, and both grandmothers have used Pond’s my entire life – so it seems only natural that I follow suit.

January 31, 2012 at 6:29 am

Deanna

I used to use Clinique, but I found that target’s up brand has the same remover for a quarter of the cost. Now I us it everyday.

January 31, 2012 at 6:54 am

rute

Veteran

Great tip!

January 31, 2012 at 7:01 am

clearlyclaire

Ponds is a great product, no question about that. I’ve tried a few seperate eye make-up
removers, but wanted to find a product that would do both. I stumbled upon St. Ives fresh skin make-up remover & facial cleanser and it works great for me. It’s not too oily, just lightly creamy and has a bit of chamomile in it. If and when my face ever gets drier, I’ll have to remember Ponds.

January 31, 2012 at 7:03 am

Lauren

Almay oil free eye makeup remover. I also use it to clean up eye makeup booboos – I just dip a q-tip into the container to fix it. It’s not perfect, but my skin is super sensitive to oils so I’m skeered to try anything else.

January 31, 2012 at 7:15 am

aLaMoDe

Active Member

As a Muslim woman, I choose not to wear any makeup outside… I have however, been applying it to myself and on others for years for weddings, parties, or just for fun (or my husband! ) at home. This can range to a pretty light application or a full face with a smokey eye. We’re talking face primer, eye primer, foundation, concealer, 4 – 7 different eye shadows, 2 -3 different eyeliners, lipliner, lipstick, lipgloss, blush, highlighter, bronzer, and pressed/loose powder to set.

In those cases, I apply with longevity in mind, and so it can be really difficult to remove everything, especially after spending a whole evening in heels, coming home exhausted and just wanting to sleep. I’ve tried a few eye makeup removers, lotions, liquids, small round pads… but the best and quickest way I’ve found to remove ALL of that makeup in 2 – 4 minutes and not have it sting my contacts/eyes/face or leave mascara residue is to use Garnier Nutritioniste Nutri-Pure detoxifying oil-free wet cleansing towlettes.

I am in LOVE with this product and consider it a God-send. When I first started using it, I thought – where have you been all my life?!?! and haven’t looked back since!

January 31, 2012 at 7:24 am

Katie

I’m surprised to see that nobody else uses plain old veggie oil, like jojoba or olive. I use either one of these after washing my face and the oil removes all makeup residue and acts as a great eye cream.

January 31, 2012 at 7:29 am

Meredith

Active Member

I use a very mild soap to remove all makeup. I used to use ponds and I’ve tried others, but they all give me massive zits.

January 31, 2012 at 7:30 am

Andrea

I use Boscia Make up Break Up cool Cleansing oil… an AMAZING product, takes waterproof mascara off in a single swipe, and leaves not a spec of make up on the towel afterwards when drying. I love this product

January 31, 2012 at 8:19 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Elisabeth, my cleanser removes most of my eye makeup too, but the residue around my eyes needs some Ponds action. I am fanatic about removing ALL my makeup, so I go to the trouble of using Ponds too.

January 31, 2012 at 8:51 am

carolyn

(website)

A beauty stylist at Nordstrom introduced me to MAC wipes a year ago , and I have been hooked! Very clean fragrance, generous,size, gentle for eyes, a bit of an exfoliant, even priced well. So easy to throw to have a one step very thorough cleanse!

January 31, 2012 at 9:13 am

Melody

Active Member

I use unscented baby wipes to take off eye makeup. I’ve not noticed much of a difference between them and more expensive facial wipes. Then I follow with L’oreal cream cleanser … the kind with the little rubber scrubber attached to the bottle.

January 31, 2012 at 10:09 am

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

I’ve been using Estee Lauder Gently Eye Makeup Remover (blue bottle) for a number of years and it’s the only EL product I use, and it works well, without irritation or any oily residue. I do wear eye liner, mascara and eye shadow, so it’s important that I have a non-stinging, gentle eye makeup remover.

I liked hearing about the Body Shop Chamomile and the Garnier towelettes products and will keep those on my makeup list.

January 31, 2012 at 10:47 am

Isabel

Veteran

I only use mascara too…and Pond’s Cold cream in the cooler months. In the summer I put a little vaseline on a cotton pad and use that.

January 31, 2012 at 11:12 am

keruchina

Active Member

Sonia Kashuk Eye Makeup Remover from Target. It is seriously amazing stuff.

January 31, 2012 at 11:22 am

NJD

Active Member

Received a sample of Lancome Bi-Facil eye makeup remover and loved everyrhing about it except the cost. Then I discovered that the Neutrogena oil-free remover is virtually identical for a fraction of the price. Takes off waterproof mascara like a charm, and no oily residue for us contact wearers.

January 31, 2012 at 1:30 pm

Auburn

Veteran

Ditto what NJD said. Exactly.
When I’m traveling, I use the Neutrogena face wipes (since I never check bags so am bound to the 3 oz rule) and those do the trick but because the require a bit more wiping, I prefer to stay with the liquid solution when I’m at home–I’ve heard that the less tugging and pulling we do on our delicate eye skin, the better.

I’ve tried Ponds and it was way too goopy for me, and I don’t wear contacts. Perhaps I used too much but it just ended up in a mess and took me far longer to wipe completely away than the basic liquid removers.

January 31, 2012 at 4:43 pm

maharani

Active Member

Olive oil! It works beautifully!

January 31, 2012 at 6:20 pm

StephanieB

(website)

DHC’s Deep Cleansing Oil. It’s a little known secret that several on a makeup community site know about. You have to order it from dhccares.com. It’s Japanese and fantastic. It rinses off cleanly with water and doesn’t have an unpleasant odor like a lot of cleansing oils. I tried Lancome and Almay and several mentioned here. I have sensitive eyes and wear waterproof mascara (not a good combo!!) Since finding DCO, nothing else has come close for me. I keep it stocked. It removes other makeup without breaking you out if you want to double cleanse. I only use it for my eyemakeup though since my regular Olay cleanser works for my face makeup. I always recommend DHC to people when they ask.

January 31, 2012 at 8:20 pm

ManidipaM

Veteran

A dab of apricot or coconut oil does the trick for me, even with waterproof mascara. Indeed, without something oily, that stuff makes my lashes quite brittle, even with the same-brand makeup removers.

January 31, 2012 at 8:36 pm

momstheword

(website)

I use baby shampoo. It works perfectly well, it’s cheap and it doesn’t bother my eyes!

January 31, 2012 at 9:59 pm

MRM

Olive Oil is simple and works very well.

February 1, 2012 at 4:46 pm

Marley

Veteran

Missed this post a few days ago – but just want to give a shout-out to Lancome’s Bi-facial eye make-up remover. Because I usually do some type of physical exercise each day, I usually wear waterproof mascara – and Lancome’s is perfect for removing waterproof make-up. Its pricey, but they usually include it in their “free gift” promotions, so I haven’t had to buy any for years!

February 2, 2012 at 1:35 pm

Johanna

Coconut Oil: melt in the palm of my hand and it removes it all, even waterproof mascara.
Gently rub off with a warm wash rag.

I apply rose oil afterward.

Easy and works beautifully

February 3, 2012 at 9:21 pm

Kristine

Veteran

Vaseline. It works very well and I dab on a little extra afterwards to serve as an eye cream. I use cold cream to clean my face in the winter but it makes my contacts cloudy, so unfortunately I can’t use it on my eyes.

February 4, 2012 at 4:31 pm

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