The Gentlest Way to Remove All of Your Eye Makeup
July 19, 2022
We’ve all woken up with a ghost of yesterday’s mascara smeared under our eyes — even if we thought we got it all off the night prior. Of course, we know that it’s best to thoroughly remove all of our makeup before going to bed, but some products, like waterproof eyeliner and mascara, are difficult to remove without tugging on the sensitive eye area.
To find out how to remove all traces of makeup gently yet effectively, we reached out to Sharlena Hassani, celebrity esthetician and founder of Artisan of Skin. Keep reading for Hassani’s tips.
How to Remove Your Makeup, Step-by-Step
Step 1: Use a Micellar Water
“Before cleansing, apply micellar water to a cotton round,” says Hassani. “Use this to gently remove all traces of makeup from the face and eye area. Repeat until you’ve covered the whole face.” If you’re looking for a reusable option, the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Eco Pads last up to 1,000 washes.
One of our favorite micellar waters is the Garnier Skinactive Micellar Cleansing Water With Hyaluronic Acid + Aloe. The hydrating formula helps break down makeup and leaves skin looking plump and refreshed.
Step 2: Use a Makeup Remover
“If your eye makeup is super stubborn (like more waterproof mascaras are), the Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover by Lancôme works amazing,” says Hassani. The makeup remover’s dual-phase formula combines water and oil to cleanse your skin without leaving a sticky or greasy residue.
Step 3: Cleanse
Lastly, you’ll want to wash your face with a cleanser. Hassani recommends the Jan Marini Bioglycolic Face Cleanser, which contains glycolic acid for a mild exfoliating effect. “Massage onto dry skin for one minute, let it sit about one to two minutes, then rinse and pat dry,” says Hassani. Continue with the rest of your skincare routine.
Pro Tips
Tip 1: Soak Your Eyes
“For eye makeup specifically, a trick that I love is soaking the eye area,” says Hassani. “You basically apply your micellar water or makeup remover to the cotton round and let the cotton round sit and soak on the eye for 15 to 20 seconds. You can gently move the cotton round in light circular motions to help break down the makeup. Repeat as needed until it’s all removed.”
Tip 2: Stick to Washable Mascaras
“Limit the use of waterproof mascara, as it can be difficult to remove, and we want to avoid aggressive tugging at all costs,” says Hassani. The Maybelline New York Green Edition Mega Mousse Mascara offers dramatic volume and length all day, but comes off easily at night.
Photographer: Chaunte Vaughn, Art Director: Hannah Packer, Associate Creative Producer: Becca Solovay, Content Director: Victoria Moorhouse, Wardrobe Stylist: Alexis Badiyi, Makeup Artist: Allie Smith, Hair Stylist: Andrew Chen, Digi Tech: Paul Yem, Photo Assistant: Matt Licari, Model: Lily Blattner
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