There’s no denying the benefits of long-wear makeup, but removing those waterproof mascaras and smudge-proof liners can pose a challenge. In comparison to traditional makeup removers, "eye makeup removers are designed to break down waterproof and long-wear formulas without harsh scrubbing," says Kristin Gunn, a Texas-based aesthetician and owner of Halcyon Skincare and Beaux Medspa. "They have a gentler formula to avoid irritating the sensitive eye area." An intentional eye makeup removal process is paramount as the skin around our eyes is super delicate. To avoid rubbing and pulling at (read: irritating) the skin around your eyes, Gunn suggests a gentle yet effective eye makeup remover to avoid damaging 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 individually test 29 of the most popular eye makeup removers. After keeping application, feel, residue, and performance top of mind, the InStyle team determined the best eye makeup removers.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Best Budget:
Best for Sensitive Eyes:
Best Cleansing Water:
Best Bi-Phase:
Best for Sensitive Skin:
Why We Love It: 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. It goes on like a soft gel and only took gentle swipes to remove our tester's eyeshadow. It doesn't leave a weird residue either, just soft, moisturized eyelids.
Who It's For: Given its silky texture and gentle formula, we'd recommend this cleanser to any of our heavy eye makeup-wearing readers. Be sure to check the label before going all in as the formula contains sesame seed extract, which may trigger a reaction from those who are allergic to various nuts and seeds.
Active Ingredients: Sesame seed oil, algae extract | Texture: Lotion | Size: 2.5 oz
Samantha, tester: "I was a bit worried to put a cream on my eye since it is very different than what I usually use, but I was amazed! The product came right off and there was absolutely no burning at all."
Why We Love It: A luxurious makeup-removing balm doesn’t have to be expensive. Case in point: This cleansing balm from e.l.f. Cosmetics. Formulated with a blend of nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and peptides, the balm offers deep hydration on top of effective cleansing. Our tester, who has tested tons of balms prior to this one, said that it stood apart from the rest for it's seamless removal without feeling greasy or slimy. It doesn't even require water which made for a fuss-free application.
Who It's For: A little bit of this makeup-removing balm goes a long way, so you get the most bang for your buck.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.
Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, peptides | Texture: Balm | Size: 2 oz
Katherine, tester: "I loved the feel of the balm on my skin. It felt calming and not at all harsh on my eyelids, which I feel like some eye makeup removers do."
Why We Love It: Chances are, at one point or another, you’ve tried one of Mary Kay’s iconic cosmetic products. This eye makeup remover by the brand is our pick for those with sensitive eyes (like contact lens-wearers) because it refreshes skin and lifts makeup from the super sensitive eye area without any stinging or pain. Plus, it was approved by dermatologists and ophthalmologists. Our tester's skin felt hydrated, clean, and refreshed after swiping away her makeup with this product.
Who It's For: We love that this product was tested by dermatologists and ophthalmologists, who proved it to be suitable for those who wear contacts and those who have skin allergies. Even though it’s gentle enough for those with sensitivities, it’s still highly effective. We just wish more retailers carried it.
Active Ingredients: Water and dimethicone | Type: Bi-phase | Size: 3.75 oz
Michelle, tester: "The eye makeup remover felt so soothing on the skin and did an amazing job at removing makeup."
Why We Love It: Tata Harper is one of those brands you never stop hearing about. It’s for good reason, we can assure you that. If it wasn’t, celebs like Brooke Shields and Kate Hudson wouldn’t be feeding into the hype. 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 skin care brand, let it be on this one. Our tester Andrew loved how a tiny amount removed all signs of his makeup with very little pressure.
Who It's For: If you gravitate towards multifunctional products, this is the splurge for you. Containing a blend of botanical ingredients, this luxe cleanser restores balance to the skin while breaking down makeup and buildup.Not only did it wow our testers, but a little bit goes a long way, so you can get the most out of your money. If you overdo it, the cleanser does leave residual oil.
Active Ingredients: Alfalfa, vitamin A, squalane | Texture: Cleansing oil | Size: 4.1 oz
Andrew, tester: "This product goes a long way. With a tiny amount applied to my eyelid, I was able to easily remove all eyeshadow and primer with ease."
Why We Love It: There’s no question about it: Drunk Elephant knows skin care. This buttery smooth formula felt incredibly moisturizing, even on former InStyle writer Caitlyn Martyn's eyes. And, although there’s oil in the formula, it didn’t get into her eyes or make her temporarily blind, which happens often since she wears contact lenses.The brand intends for the product to be used on your whole face, either on its own to remove makeup or in conjunction with the exfoliating powder that comes with it. We wouldn’t put the exfoliating powder anywhere near my eyes (that screams a recipe for disaster), but it does work quite nicely when you want to give you skin an extra zhuzh while cleansing.
Who It's For: The tub that this product is packed in is pretty large, so even though the price is up there, we know we'd get a good use out of it. It comes with a spoon that can be used to dish out the perfect amount of product every time and eliminate any cross-contamination so those with acne-prone skin don't have to worry about irritation from bacteria or grubby fingers.Although it’s due in part to natural ingredients, the balm has a fruity fragrance that can be off putting to some.
Active Ingredients: Blueberry extract, kiwi extract, strawberry extract, cranberry seed oil, açai fruit oil, watermelon seed oil | Texture: Balm | Size: 3.88 oz
Caitlyn, tester: "There was no residue left on my skin. It took my makeup off well and left my eye area feeling soft, smooth and not irritated in the slightest."
Why We Love It: Our chronically-online readers will recognize this French brand—a quick TikTok search will reveal tons of videos of people raving about Caudalie products. We must say it lives up to the hype—shining in several of our tests. This pampering cleansing oil feels so luxurious it turns your daily cleanse from a chore into a treat. The gentle oil is formulated with sweet almond, rapeseed, sunflower, and castor oil—to condition skin as you cleanse, leaving it silky smooth and product-free.
Who It's For: This cleansing oil is a delight for removing eye makeup from dry skin types. The formula transforms into a hydrating milk that leaves skin silky smooth and makeup-free.Our tester Mariah—who usually stays away from oil-based products—loved how fresh her face felt after use. She recommends applying a small drop to your hands or a cotton round before applying to avoid a huge mess. If you're prone to breakouts or clogged pores, the oil in this product may be too much for you.
Active Ingredients: Sweet almond oil, rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, castor oil | Texture: Cleansing oil | Size: 5 oz
Mariah, tester: "I've been looking for a good eye makeup remover and this feels like a holy grail product."
Why We Love It: This milky oil-meets-micellar water contains comfrey root extract and pro-vitamin B5 to nourish skin after dissolving makeup.The bottle is squeezable, so it’s mess-free, and it can be used either alone or with a cotton pad. Our tester loved how smooth and nongreasy the cleansing water felt on skin, a major step up from the other removers she's tried in the past.
Who It's For: If you hate the idea of slathering an oil or a balm all over your face, try this milky oil from Glossier. It received a perfect score for it's performance and easy use. Plus, the bottle is an in between size—not very big but not small enough to travel with.
Active Ingredients: Comfrey root extract, pro-vitamin B5, castor oil | Texture: Micellar water, oil | Size: 3.4 oz
Ellie, tester: "I was able to use the same cotton round for both eyes and didn't even need to apply more product. It got all of the makeup off after three swipes per eye."
Why We Love It: 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 skin care benefits are even better.The oil-based formula feels watery but is surprisingly pleasant to work with. InStyle associate editorial director Shannon Bauer loved how it removed her eyeshadow and mascara without leaving a slimy feeling in its trace.
Who It's For: Almost $40 feels like a lot for a makeup remover, especially one that’s only 3 ounces. But, given the results during the lab test, our tester would recommend it for lighter makeup days. It has a slight scent, that isn't unpleasant but is unnecessary.
Active Ingredients: Cornflower and rose extract | Texture: Bi-phase liquid | Size: 3.4 oz
Shannon, tester: "This product was the perfect consistency. It was a water-y formula but not drippy and though it contains oil, it wasn't greasy or slimy feeling."
Why We Love It: These pre-soaked makeup remover pads gently clean away makeup and don’t leave eyes red and irritated.Seeing as the pads aren’t overloaded with liquid, they may dry out over time, especially if you don’t use them that often. If that’s the case, you may need to wet them a bit in order to bring them back to life.The minimal feel works in it's favor though—our tester enjoyed the fact that the product on pads doesn't seep into your eyes or make your face overly wet. They don't have a strong scent, which is another plus for sensitive skin. What we loved most though is that it only took one wipe to remove the entirety of our tester's makeup.
Who It's For: If you’re still part of the camp of people who stand by their makeup remover wipes over oils, these gentle pads are right up your alley.
Active Ingredients: Aloe vera | Texture: Wipes | Size: 85 wipes
Lauren, tester: "The pads were the perfect level of moist, without my eyelids feeling wet after use or no drying period needed. My eyelids did not feel like they had any residue left. They felt smooth and not sticky."
Why We Love It: This drugstore staple has been around for decades and continues to be a favorite among supermodels, beauty professionals, and everyday makeup wearers alike. Why? It’s affordable, effective and doesn’t tout any bells and whistles. All you need is a cotton pad and a tiny bit of the dual-phase liquid to lift eye makeup without the need for scrubbing or tugging.
Who It's For: The oil-free formula is particularly gentle on skin and is equally as effective at removing waterproof mascara. To get the best results, the brand suggests shaking the bottle to break up the formula and then apply it directly to the face. You might notice an immediate calming effect, thanks to soothing aloe and cucumber extracts.
Active Ingredients: Aloe vera and cucumber extracts | Texture: Bi-phase liquid | Size: 5.5 oz
Sara, tester: “I love that the product is water-based and feels nice on my eyelids. Very little is needed to take off all of my makeup, which is huge.”
Why We Love It: Anything Cetaphil makes is known for being super gentle, and this makeup remover is no exception. The formula is kind to skin, but doesn’t back down against waterproof pigments. The result: Calm, relaxed skin without a trace of makeup.Because it has a micellar water feel with a slightly oily texture, it feels conditioning yet doesn’t leave behind that annoying oily residue. Plus, it contains aloe vera, ginseng, and green tea botanicals to soothe skin along the way.
Who It's For: The formula is perfect for sensitive skin because it’s fragrance and oil-free. One note: the formula needs some shaking before each use.
Active Ingredients: Aloe vera, Ginseng, Green tea botanicals | Type: Bi-phase liquid | Size: 6 oz
Marina, tester: "It felt really nice on my skin and I did not experience any discomfort or irritation. It took most of the makeup off in one swipe without me having to apply too much pressure or tugging on my skin too much."
Best for Waterproof Makeup
Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover
Why We Love It: Waterproof eye makeup is key for a long-lasting, impenetrable makeup look. But, if you’ve ever packed on waterproof mascara, then you know how much of a struggle it is to get off. Our tester, who tried it on eyes covered in dark shadow and mascara, was easily impressed. It seamlessly wiped away her eyeshadow and left her skin “comfortable and soothed” with no residue in sight.
Who It's For: To rid yourself of raccoon eyes for good, consider Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover: As the name suggests, it removes tough eye makeup in an instant. If we could change one thing, it would be to make it fragrance-free, since not everyone is a fan of fragrance and it can be irritating to some.
Active Ingredients: Glycerin, chamomile extract, damascus rose extract | Type: Bi-phase | Size: 4.2 oz
Caroline, tester: “Usually, makeup removers leave a sticky oil on my eyes and I can’t see clearly for some time, but this one didn’t do that.”
Our Testing Process
As InStyle editors, we're constantly testing new mascaras, concealers, eyeshadows—the list goes on. So we understand the importance of having a good eye makeup remover in your cabinet. But who has time to test all of them? Well, us. After spending weeks researching the highest-rated eye makeup removers, we brought over 20 of our testers into the lab to test 29 eye makeup-removing products. We spent six hours testing each one, paying close attention to feel, performance, and residue. Then, our editors compiled all of the insights and narrowed the list down to the best eye makeup removers.
What to Keep in Mind
- Type: Makeup removers come in different forms—from wipes, oils, and cleansing balms to micellar water and bi-phase solutions. According to cosmetic chemist Julie Pefferman, they’re all effective but differ only in ingredients. “Oil cleansers are largely oil, and micellar water or bi-phase solutions contain mostly water. Both are effective at removing makeup, but with added ingredients like glycol and a surfactant, the cleansing powers are amplified,” she explains. Balms contain a lot of oil but differ from traditional oils because they sit on the skin for a bit longer and usually melt into a milky liquid when they come in contact with water. Wipes she says, are mostly made of water but have “a significant portion of emollients and silicones” to ensure the wipes glide easily over the skin.
- Skin Type: Choosing the right makeup remover for your skin type is important for optimum results. Oily skin types should look for micellar solutions to draw out impurities and dirt on the skin. Those with dry skin should opt for creamier, oil-based formulas that deliver hydration as they cleanse. Sensitive and mature skin types should look for more mild formulations that are fragrance-free and void of gritty exfoliants.
- Ingredients: According to board-certified ophthalmologist Diane Hilal-Campo, M.D., you should avoid using makeup removers containing parabens and sulfates, as well as benzalkonium chloride. This type of preservative is harmful to the ocular surface of the eye and has been found to decrease the production of tears, resulting in dry eye and overall discomfort. “Fragrance—a blanket term for anything that adds scent to a product—should be avoided,” she explains. “Many of these fragrances can be irritating and allergenic.”
Your Questions, Answered
What is the best way to remove eye makeup?
To avoid aggravating the skin and to protect the eyes, Dr. Hilal-Campo recommends using light pressure to push the product firmly against the eye (while your eye is closed). “Waiting a few minutes will allow the oils in the makeup remover to break down the makeup,” she says. “Then, gently wipe it away from your eyes and repeat as necessary until all makeup has been fully removed.”
Which eye makeup removers are best for sensitive skin?
Those with sensitive skin and eyes may need to be more careful about the formulas they choose. You’ll want to look for formulas chock-full of skin-conditioning ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid while avoiding irritants like alcohol, fragrances, and sulfates. You may also want to avoid makeup wipes if you have ultrasensitive skin as the rubbing might be aggravating.
What can I do if I get eye makeup remover in my eyes?
Whenever you’re experiencing eye irritation from getting something in your eye, whether it be eye makeup remover or a stray eyelash, the technique is always the same. “Use a sterile eyewash solution—you can buy some at the drugstore—to flush out your eye,” Dr. Hilal-Campo explains. “Use more than you think you need to ensure the offender is fully flushed out.” If you’re still experiencing some redness and inflammation, a cool compress can help relieve any lingering discomfort. Of course, if the discomfort still persists, you should see your eye doctor, she says.
Why Shop With Us
Caitlyn Martyn is a former writer for InStyle, where she covered skin care, makeup, hair, and fashion. With expert insight from cosmetic chemist Julie Pefferman, ophthalmologist Dr. Diane Hilal-Campo, M.D., aesthetician Kristin Gunn, and tester firsthand experience, she poured over product specifications and rounded up our top picks for this story. Caitlyn has experience researching, testing and writing about beauty products and has tried tons of different eye makeup removers, including several from the above brands, including Drunk Elephant, Neutrogena, and Caudalie.