There’s a sense of dread when you look in the mirror after a long day and realize you still have to take off your makeup. Those woes don’t exist when you have a good eye makeup remover handy — one that won’t leave your lids irritated or take 10 swipes to remove all your eye makeup
Makeup remover wipes are sometimes too rough on the skin and create friction that can cause “potential irritation,” To minimize irritation, opt for cotton rounds or a soft reusable towel instead.
We set out to find the best picks among popular eye makeup removers, letting our testers create a full glam eye look, and then take it off (tragic). Looking at qualities like feel, residue, and overall performance, our team found the eye makeup removers that most effectively cleaned the skin without causing upset to the area.
Mary Kay Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover
Star Qualities
· Oil-free formula works on all skin types
· Gentle on skin
· Removes even waterproof makeup
· Doesn’t leave behind a film or residue
During testing, Mary Kay Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover felt soothing and did an amazing job removing makeup, leaving our skin feeling refreshed, clean, and hydrated without any irritation.
The gentle and oil-free formula makes this a great remover option for all skin types, and it leaves no greasy residue on the skin. It removed makeup easily and quickly, and we only needed a couple of swipes with this product applied on a cotton round to fully remove all of the testing makeup.
We wouldn’t change a thing about this product, though we noticed at 3.75 fluid ounces, it is bigger than the standard travel size (max 3.4 fluid ounces), so it’s not as portable as other options. That being said, it’s decently priced, and removes even the most adhesive makeup, like waterproof mascara, so it’s a clear winner.
Size: 3.75 fl. oz. | Oil-Free: Yes | Type: Liquid
e.l.f Cosmetics Cleansing Balm
Size: 2 oz. | Oil-Free: No | Type: Balm
Star Qualities
· Felt calming and gentle on the skin
· Hydrates the skin while removing makeup
· Didn’t require wiping with water afterward
Red Flags
· Might not work for oily skin types
This affordable option from e.l.f. delighted us with its gentle formula, overall performance, and lack of residue on the skin after use. We loved the feel of the balm, which felt soft and soothing on the skin. With ingredients like hyaluronic acid, peptides, and ceramides, this eye makeup remover works to clean and hydrate your skin without leaving behind a greasy residue.
You apply this balm on your face like a mask, lathering it up to absorb the makeup, and then wash it away with water. However, we observed that when applied on a cotton round, it effectively took off all our eyeshadow in only a few swipes.
Tata Harper Makeup Removing Oil Cleanser
Star Qualities
· Worked well on sensitive skin
· No residue unless you use more than the suggested amount
· A little goes a long way
Red Flags
· Not super portable
This luxury eye makeup remover from Tata Harper offers a gentle oil formula with alfalfa, vitamin A, and squalane to lift makeup while also nourishing your skin. This product felt really smooth and helped remove eyeshadow with very little pressure. Even those of us with sensitive skin experienced no irritation at all.
We did have a bit of a learning curve with this product — the first time we tried it, we used too much and experienced slight residue. But, after using a smaller amount on our next try, there was no residue at all. With a tiny amount applied to the eyelid, we were able to easily remove all our eyeshadow and primer.
Size: 4.1 oz. | Oil-Free: No | Type: Oil/liquid
Drunk Elephant Slaai Makeup-Melting Butter Cleanser
Size: 3.88 oz. | Oil-Free: No | Type: Balm
Star Qualities
· Moisturizing
· Oil formula didn’t irritate eyes
· Comes with a spoon to reduce contamination
Red Flags
· Somewhat pricey for a daily-use product
Drunk Elephant is known for impeccable skincare products, and this cleansing balm is no exception. This formula felt buttery smooth and incredibly moisturizing. Although there is oil in the formula, it didn’t get in our eyes and sting, which is a big plus for those who wear contacts.
In terms of performance, this makeup remover left no residue on our skin and took makeup off easily while leaving the skin soft, smooth, and not irritated. We love that it comes with a spoon to eliminate any cross-contamination or bacteria. This product also comes with an exfoliating powder, but that wasn’t part of our testing.
Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover
Star Qualities
· Felt nice on our skin
· Wiped away dark shadow effectively
· Easily removed mascara with one swipe
Red Flags
· Has a fragrance
This Clarins remover is a cut above. We used it on a waterproof mascara that’s always difficult to take off, and it still got the job done.
In testing, this eye makeup remover scored well across all categories. We noted that it felt nice on the skin, leaving it smooth and soft without any residue after use. It wiped away dark eyeshadow easily, even while we were wearing contact lenses. The only fault we could find was that it’s lightly scented, but fragrance could be a pro or con, depending on preference. That aside, we were blown away by how well this eye makeup remover worked.
Size: 4.2 fl oz. | Oil-Free: No | Type: Liquid
Glossier Milky Oil
Star Qualities
· Nourished the skin
· Felt smooth and not greasy
· Budget-friendly
Red Flags
· May be too oily for some
For a little skincare benefit while you’re removing your makeup, try this pick from Glossier. It’s extremely hydrating and leaves the skin feeling super nourished. In our tests, we noted that it didn’t feel greasy at all.
Our team was impressed with the feeling of this product and how effectively it removed makeup. We were able to use the same cotton round for both eyes and didn’t even need to apply more product to remove makeup — it took all of the makeup off after three swipes per eye. Given the low price and efficacy of this makeup remover, all of our testers were exceedingly pleased with this one.
Size: 3.4 fl. oz. | Oil-Free: No | Type: Oil
Laura Mercier Soothing Eye Makeup Remover
Star Qualities
· Extremely gentle formula
· Easy to use
· Portable size
Red Flags
· No cons detected during testing
Laura Mercier brings us this bi-phase formula that’s partially water-based and contains soothing oils to help calm irritated skin and reduce redness. It’s also infused with cornflower, which is rich in antioxidants. When applied, the remover felt smooth and calming on the skin.
We appreciated how this eye makeup remover was easy to use and didn’t cause issues or irritate the skin. This product completely removed makeup without too much effort and had no residue issues — there was no greasy film like some remover products tend to leave behind. And as an added benefit, it’s travel-friendly, given the size.
Size: 3.4 fl. oz. | Oil-Free: No | Type: Liquid
Nivea Eye Make-Up Remover
Star Qualities
· Refreshing feel
· Took just two drops and minimal effort to remove makeup
· Good price point
Red Flags
· We couldn’t find any
If you’re looking for an easy remedy to makeup removal that won’t leave your skin feeling tired, greasy, and heavy, the Double Effect eye makeup remover from Nivea should be on your radar. This makeup remover easily took off our makeup with just two drops of product.
We were completely impressed with the performance and the lightweight and refreshing feel. The product left behind no residue. It’s priced well and works exactly as promised. All that is to say, there’s nothing that we’d change about this remover.
Size: 4.4 fl. oz. | Oil-Free: No | Type: Liquid
Cetaphil Waterproof Makeup Remover
Star Qualities
· Effective on waterproof makeup
· Gentle on sensitive skin
· Includes botanicals to nourish skin
Red Flags
· Faint residue left over
Cetaphil is a favorite for everyday skincare, and this waterproof makeup remover, which contains botanicals like aloe vera, ginseng, and green tea, nourishes the skin while breaking up makeup, even waterproof mascara, and lifting it from the skin. The bi-phase water-based formula targets dryness, irritation, rough texture, tightness in the skin, and any weaknesses in the surface of the skin.
This product seamlessly removed the shadow from our eyelids and felt nice and calming on the skin without causing any irritation. It took most of the makeup off in one gentle swipe. It’s also oil-free and fragrance-free, making it a gentle alternative to some makeup removers. We noticed a slight residue after use that felt lightly oily, sort of like micellar water. That said, we loved how well it worked, and the light residue didn’t bother us enough to change that.
Size: 6 fl. oz. | Oil-Free: Yes | Type: Liquid
Caudalie Makeup Removing Cleansing Oil
Star Qualities
· Removed all makeup easily
· No residue left over
· Eyelids were clean and felt fresh after use
Red Flags
· Oil formula is a little messy to apply
Oil makeup removers work effectively because they break up the makeup’s pigment, yet this one doesn’t leave a greasy residue like some oils do. This product was super soft and felt great on the skin. Even our testers who typically steer clear of oil-based products liked this makeup remover.
It was easy to remove our makeup with this product applied on a cotton pad. It didn’t burn at all, and our eyelids didn’t feel greasy after removal. The instructions on the package suggested using your hands to apply the oil, but we found this to be messy and preferred to use a cotton round. Overall, this product left our skin feeling soft and smooth with no irritation and no trace of makeup left over.
Size: 5 fl. oz. | Oil-Free: No | Type: Oil
Neutrogena Eye Makeup Remover
Star Qualities
· One bottle lasts a long time
· Works quickly
· Very little product required to effectively remove makeup
· Available in two sizes
Red Flags
· Can be difficult to open with wet hands
This water-based formula from Neutrogena offers a quick and easy removal solution to get your eye makeup off at the end of the day. We didn’t feel any residue when applying this product onto the cotton pad and wiping our eye makeup away. It only took two swipes to remove it all.
The product performed quickly, which impressed our team, and we appreciated that a little goes a long way. The oil-free formula also removes waterproof mascara, which is a huge plus. However, one point of concern is that the bottle may be hard to open if your hands are wet. It comes in two sizes, but both are too big for carry-on travel requirements.
Size: 3.8, 5.5 fl. oz. | Oil-Free: Yes | Type: Liquid
Chanel Eye Makeup Remover
Star Qualities
· Removed every speck of makeup in one swipe
· Ideal consistency
· Didn’t feel oily or greasy
Red Flags
· Has a fragrance, which might be a con for some
Chanel brings the touch of designer flair to an eye makeup remover that’s great for those with oily skin. This product has a watery consistency, and though it contains oil, it doesn’t have a greasy or slimy feeling.
We loved that this product left no residue on our eyelids and that we didn’t feel the need to wash it off with a cleanser. The performance of this remover also stood out to our team. The bi-phase formula removed every speck of shadow and mascara with one good swipe. In line with other Chanel products, this one is lightly fragranced, which could be a pro for some and a con for others, depending on scent preference.
Size: 3.4 oz. | Oil-Free: No | Type: Liquid
Marcelle Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover Pads
Star Qualities
· No strong scent
· Removed makeup easily with no residue
· Eyelids were completely smooth and dry immediately after use
Red Flags
· Could potentially dry out over time
These oil-free pads from Marcelle are pre-soaked so you can swipe them right over your eyelid to remove makeup with ease. Just one wipe took off the entirety of our makeup during our tests. The pads are just moist enough to work well without leaving residue behind. The product dried quickly, and our eyelids were left feeling smooth, soft, and not sticky.
These pads proved highly effective and didn’t have a strong scent or cause redness or irritation. We wondered if these pads would dry out over time given that they weren’t overly soaked upon use, but we appreciated how easy this remover product was to use. With 85 pads included in this package, it should last you a while, and if you’re worried about them drying out, consider storing the package upside down so the fluids thoroughly soak every pad.
Quantity: 85 pads | Oil-Free: Yes | Type: Pads
