There’s no denying the benefits of long-wear makeup, but removing those waterproof mascaras and smudge-proof liners can pose a challenge. To avoid rubbing and pulling at (read: irritating) the delicate skin around your eyes, consider a gentle yet effective makeup remover designed specifically for your eyes. These formulas dissolve makeup, even the most stubborn kind, without bothering your skin.
With so many eye makeup removers available in various forms that range from balms and oils to wipes and water, finding the right one can be overwhelming. To help you pick the best remover for you, we enlisted the help of a handful of testers to individualli test 11 of the most popular eye makeup removers. After keeping application, feel, residue, and performance top of mind, the team determined the 5 best eye makeup removers.
1.Clinique Eye Makeup Remover
Size: 2.5 fl oz. | Type: Lotion | Ingredients: Sesame seed oil, Algae extract
What We Love
This soft gel removes all traces of eye makeup in a gentle swipe.
What We Don’t Love
The formula contains sesame seed oil, which some people can be highly allergic to.
As far as eye makeup removers are concerned, a creamy lotion isn’t usually what comes to mind first. But, after putting this rich formula from Clinique to the test, it’s changed everything we know about eye makeup remover. “Initially, I was a bit worried about putting a cream on my eye since it’s a lot different than what I usually use, but I was amazed,” “It didn’t get in my eyes or cause burning—instead, it made my makeup come right off.”
One thing to note: The formula contains sesame seed extract, which may trigger a reaction from those who are allergic to various nuts and seeds.
2.e.l.f Cosmetics Cleansing Balm
Size: 2 oz. | Type: Balm | Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, Ceramides, Peptides
What We Love
A little bit of this makeup-removing balm goes a long way, so you get the most bang for your buck.
What We Don’t Love
You might need to work it into your skin when removing waterproof mascara and eyeliner.
This cleansing balm from e.l.f. Cosmetics, the feel of this balm on my skin. It didn’t feel harsh, it required minimal product—which is something I value a lot—and left behind no residue. Formulated with a blend of nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and peptides, the balm offers deep hydration on top of effective cleansing. The product effectively took off all of the eyeshadow I was wearing in just a few swipes and I never once felt greasy or slimy.
While our tester didn’t have a bad thing to say about the product’s makeup-removing capabilities, reviewers online mentioned that it might take a bit of elbow grease to remove waterproof eyeliner and mascara.
3.Tata Harper Makeup Removing Oil Cleanser
Size: 4.1 fl oz. | Type: Cleansing oil | Ingredients: Alfalfa, Vitamin A, Squalane
What We Love
Containing a blend of botanical ingredients, this luxe cleanser restores balance to the skin while breaking down makeup and buildup.
What We Don’t Love
If you use too much, you might notice some residual oil.
Tata Harper is one of those brands you never stop hearing about. What makes the brand so special is that it’s dedicated to sourcing plant-based ingredients from its own farm in Vermont with the intention of using nature to provide clear, youthful skin. With that said, farm-to-face isn’t cheap, so if you’re going to splurge on a luxury skincare brand, let it be on this one. I used a tiny amount on my eyelid and was able to easily remove my makeup, It required minimal effort and pressure, used a little too much and noticed some residual oil.
4.Caudalie Makeup Removing Cleansing Oil
Size: 5 fl oz. | Type: Cleansing oil | Ingredients: Sweet almond oil, Rapeseed oil, Sunflower oil, Castor oil
What We Love
The luxurious cleansing oil transforms into a hydrating milk that leaves skin silky smooth and makeup-free.
What We Don’t Love
The oil might clog pores if you’re prone to breakouts.
This pampering cleansing oil feels so luxurious it turns your daily cleanse from a chore into a treat. The gentle oil is formulated with four oils—sweet almond, rapeseed, sunflower and castor oil—to condition skin as you cleanse, leaving it silky smooth and product-free. This cleanser didn’t feel greasy on the skin, after using it, the skin felt fresh with no residue left behind, making it my new holy grail product.
5.Chanel Eye Makeup Remover
Size: 3.4 fl oz. | Type: Bi-phase liquid | Ingredients: Cornflower and Rose extracts
Like all of our favorite Chanel beauty products stamped with the coveted branding, there’s an intentional and meticulous construction behind this formula. Spoiler alert: It’s exceptional. While it dissolves all traces of stubborn makeup as well as any top-performing makeup remover, its skincare benefits are even better. The oil-based formula feels watery but is surprisingly pleasant to work with. “It’s not drippy, and though it contains oil, it didn’t leave behind a greasy or slimy feeling”, “It removed every speck of eyeshadow in one swipe. There was no residue left on my eyes after using it and I didn’t feel like I needed to wash it off with a cleanser.”
Almost $40 feels like a lot for a makeup remover, especially one that’s only three ounces. But, given the results during the test, it for lighter makeup days. “It can get off the tough stuff, but for glam looks I would reach for something a little tougher”.
