OT: How do you remove major makeup? - YouLookFab Forum

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OT: How do you remove major makeup?

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Through a fashion blog I recently discovered ELF (eyes-lips-face) brand makeup, which Target sells for $1 or $3 and seems really high quality for the price. I used their cream eyeliner for my dressy outfit last weekend and unlike most makeup on me, it actually lasted all evening.

So, my somewhat funny question is how do you gals take this kind of stuff off? I used some ELF makeup remover towelettes and then some Origins eye makeup remover on a cotton pad and it still didn't get it all - and stung my eyes like crazy in the process. Is using a q-tip a crazy idea, or do I need a different formulation of makeup remover?

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23 replies

Latest reply was from Kari

Aida

Veteran

After reading Angie's post about Ponds Cold Cream, I started using it to remove my mascara and it works like a dream. I scoop a bit out and rub gently along my lashline and leave it on there for 30 seconds or so, then gently wash off with warm water and blot dry. It works really well for me (gets ALL of it off), has a great rosy scent, and is so mild I can open my eyes WITH all the goop on them.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I like the Neutrogena liquid makeup remover (the kind that you have to shake).

velvetychocolate

Veteran

Nothing works better than Pond's Cold Cream for removing makeup.

That said, if you don't want to use it on your eyes (apparently some contact lens wearers find it annoying), you'll want to get Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover. Both of these items are available at grocery and drugstores. (pic #1)

In addition, if you want 'really clean' - you can try using a very gentle toner after the Pond's (on your face, not your eyes).

Ponds in pic #2

Nivea Moisturizing Toner in pic #3

Swisspers brand cotton pads (for eye makeup remover) in pic #4

Step 1: douse cotton pad with Neutrogena eyemakeup remover - swipe gently over both eyes until all eye makeup is gone.

Step 2: smear Pond's Cold Cream over your dry face

Step 3: Rinse off with luke-warm or even slightly cool water - you can use a gentle washcloth if you like

Step 4: Douse a second cotton pad with toner, and wipe over face once dry from the Pond's and rinsing.

After that - you can add whatever night time skin care products/treatments you like.

Just a note - you may not need the toner - just that the Pond's is kind of creamy, and you might like the toner as a final cleansing step. Also - the Pond's works so well that you will be pleasantly surprised at how soft and clean your face feels. Not the tight/dry feeling that you can get with some cleansers, and yet - this stuff *dissolves* makeup like nothing else.

Hope this helps

eta: the Swisspers brand of cotton pads are the nicest I've found - worth the few extra cents compared to other cotton pads.

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Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

I use liberal amounts of Shiseido Instant Eye and Lip Makeup Remover on a Shiseido cotton pad (both from Sephora). I apply it to my eyes, tapping gently, and allowing for the remover to dissolve the makeup, then gently skootch it off my eyes.

http://www.sephora.com/browse/.....id=P173629
http://www.sephora.com/browse/.....oryId=5337

I really had no idea the proper technique for removing eye makeup until I saw this video by makeup artist, Lisa Eldridge:
http://www.lisaeldridge.com/vi.....p-removal/

Aida

Veteran

(I rather like the creaminess of the Ponds. I don't quite wash it all off and use it kind of like nighttime moisturizer )

velvetychocolate

Veteran

I feel the same way Aida - I can't believe how much I love the Ponds. Ended up back home last summer during a family emergency and found a brand-new jar of Pond's Cold Cream in the medicine cabinet in the downstairs guest bath... and because I'd packed in a huge hurry, I'd forgotten to bring all that stuff, so ended up using Pond's Cold Cream to wash my face at night.

It was *lovely*. I couldn't believe it. Something that's no more than $6-$8 worked that well? Colour me totally impressed and very pleasantly surprised.

I liked it so much that when I got back from my trip, I bought some to use at home. Don't laugh, but even my husband likes the smell of that stuff. He's never commented on anything like that, but he likes the way the Pond's smells.

It really makes my skin feel good - and cleans beautifully. I like it so much that I actually look forward to washing my face at night.

Anonymous

Vaseline works well with removing eye makeup. Swipe the Vaseline with a cotton swab and work it around. Wait about 20 seconds, and then take a cotton pad and wipe it off. Wash your face with your usual cleanser/soap.

If you're wearing mascara, close your eyes and use the Vaseline + a cotton pad to wipe it down, (towards your cheek). Clean up that with a cotton swab + Vaseline. And then use a swab to work on the eyeliner.

It's cheap and works fine (especially for sensitive, contact-lens wearers, like myself).

Clean hands work too!

Traci

Veteran

I recently started using shu uemura cleansing oil at night and it melts my eye make up off like nothing I've ever tried. After I dissolve with the oil it rinses right off with water. No scrubbing required at all. I don't even need to get a cotton pad involved. Its great stuff!

Anonymous

My favourite eye make up remover is from Avon, I haven't been in contact with a rep for years but doesn't sting and gets everything off. I currently use Cetaphil and it is ok on my face but takes extra work on my eyes

Victoria

(website)

Veteran

I have been using Ponds for the last few years and it works wondefully. It takes off all the eyeshadow, mascara and anything else you can throw at it. I can't believe how well it works!

Scarlet

Veteran

I was going to recommend the Lisa Eldridge video too. The we she shows it there is no rubbing, which was something I was always concerned about.

fashionista

Veteran

I use either Olive oil or Baby oil for such stubborn makeups. And specially formulated eye makeup remover to protect my eyes sometimes. But olive oil or baby oil is the best for me since it doesn't hurt my eye it they get in and also remove the makeup that's acting more stubborn than me.

christieanne

Veteran

I like Rimmel or Neutrogena Oil Free remover. Also the Almay non-oily pads are great but pricier per use than a bottle and your own cotton pad/qtip. I do love the Shiseido cotton pads (I get a cheaper brand at Daiso (Japanese dollar store).

Kirti

(website)

Veteran

For eye makeup, especially stubborn eye liner, I use lancome's bi facil cleanser. It removes everything!

Meredith1953

Veteran

If I wore a foundation of makeup (not often)I use Albolene which sort of just "melts it". Then I can remove the rest wih a wet, warm washcloth. I usually follow up with either my Aveeno soy cleanser/exfoient or Paula's choice skin balancing cleanser.

If I only wore sunscreen, and tinted moisturizer (which is most of the time) and my usual eye and brow makup then I can use the Aveen soy/exfolient to take of the makeup and then just cleane with Paula's choice to catch any residue.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Ponds cream is best in my book.

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

With a shovel.

I do a multi step thing. I remove makeup (usually eye make up as that is the most stubborn for me) with either olive oil or jojoba oil. Then i use my face wash. Then lastly i use an extremely gentle toner (Neutrogena alcohol free) with a cotton pad to make sure everything is all clean before i moisturize.

Anonymous

I forgot/ran out of my creamy cleanser on our trip and all I had was a big tube of Dermasil sensitive skin lotion (that I found at the 99cent store). So I thought, what the heck, it's kind of like my cleanser or Ponds so I tried it and it worked great! In fact, it didn't even sting my eyes like some eye make-up removers have. Hope I don't grow another nose or something!

Anonymous

I use a very simple moisturizer, Cetaphil, to rub off my eye makeup and gently wipe off. I do not wear foundation or mineral makeup on a regular basis but if I do, my cleanser, Locittane Riz cleanser, takes all makeup off in a flash.

The loccitane product has been discontinued so I will have to find an alternative once I run off my stash of about 30 bottles.

Cetaphil is similar to the Cerave product Angie uses.

Aziraphale

Veteran

I use Cetaphil face cream, which is the same kind of thing as Pond's. I wash off the makeup in the bath with a gentle cleanser, then remove the residue (there's usually some eye makeup left around my eyes) with the face cream and some tissue or makeup pads.

krishnidoux

Veteran

There are fine oily solutions without perfumes that will not sting your eyes, like Andrea's Eye-Q or Revlon. Let the round pad sit a little bit on your closed eye before any rubbing. After about 15 second, gently swipe and you will be surprised at how much is removed after it has sit a little bit like this, and with absolutely no burning. It is a beautician secret.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for all the suggestions! I think the key is probably to use more goo, and let it sit for a bit before trying to to remove. I will try that with the options I have, and see if that works, and if not will consider some new products. MPJ, thanks for the video link - now I can spend all afternoon watching her videos.

I should have included in my original post that my regular cleanser is Cerave which I really like, but it doesn't really get off major makeup like this liner very well. I break out easily so I'd rather not add another step to my process, but it seems like I have to, at least on the days when I wear a lot of makeup.

Kari

Veteran

Jojoba oil on a cotton ball - seriously! Works like a charm and my skin LOVES it.