Stubborn Mascara Won’t Stand a Chance Against These Removers (2024)

So you applied a flawless face of makeup and were the life of the party...but now you're home and it's time for bed. Until you remember that, yes, you are an adult, and, unfortunately, that means taking your makeup off before the next morning. The best eye makeup remover will sweep away your colorful eyeliner, sexy smokey eye, or dramatic mascara without a hitch. We tapped Jamie Greenberg, celebrity makeup artist and founder of Jamie Makeup, and Brittany Thomas, aesthetician and professional makeup artist, for their go-to products, plus what you should look for when shopping for the best makeup remover.

"The point of removing your makeup is to cleanse and soothe your skin, not agitate it," says Greenberg. "It’s important to choose a makeup removing method that is effective without irritating your face. Look for products with simple ingredient lists, and avoid harsh fragrances." You shouldn't have to tug at your skin or use a whole bottle of product to take the day off. Instead, find a product that feels gentle and lifts makeup off your skin (without taking your lashes and brow hairs with it). Bonus points if your go-to remover has skincare benefits, too.

Below, we're letting you in on all of Greenberg's and Thomas's eye makeup remover recommendations, plus our own and other popular options from across the internet. We've included everything from traditional makeup removers and micellar waters to cleansing balms and innovative sustainable remover pads so you can find the formula that's best suited to your skin, makeup routine, and cleansing habits. You'll find budget-friendly options, more high-end products, and everything in between from brands like Bioderma, M.A.C., La Roche-Posay, and Cetaphil. Your waterproof mascara doesn't stand a chance.

This beloved micellar water is a French beauty staple. It has a brief list of ingredients and feels extra gentle on sensitive eyes. The waterlike remover is free from fragrances, dyes, parabens, and more but still manages to take off stubborn eyeliner. We and 35,000+ five-star reviewers are loyal repeat customers.

Thomas recommends Garnier's micellar waters because they're budget-friendly, formulated without fragrances, easy to use, and not only remove makeup but cleanse the skin, too (which makes them great travel products). This one in particular is made specifically for waterproof makeup but still relies on the hero ingredient, micelles, to get the job done.

Another hero product recommended by Thomas, Lancôme's Bi-Facil eye makeup remover is one to reach for if you have dry or mature skin. She notes that its non-drying, oil-based formula is lightweight and effective on waterproof makeup without needing to pull at the skin.

La Roche-Posay's popular waterproof makeup remover combines water- and oil-based cleansers that, when combined, do double duty to remove your foundation and waterproof mascara. It's formulated with pol0xamer, a mild cleanser you'll find in contact lens solution.

Glossier's dual-phase waterproof makeup remover combines powerhouse micelles with castor oil. The formulation is weightless and silky smooth. Squirt it onto a cotton round and watch all your eye makeup come off with ease in one fell swoop. Not to mention, the bottle will sit pretty on your vanity. With it, you might even look forward to taking your makeup off.

Here's a generational staple that has stood the test of time. Neotrogena's eye makeup remover is oil-free, if cleansing balms and oils aren't your cup of tea, so it doesn't leave your skin feeling greasy. It's formulated with cucumber and aloe to soothe the skin and provide a fresh scent.

"She is that girl," says Thomas of MAC's makeup remover. "It's dermatologist-approved and great for waterproof makeup, too." It's packed with cucumber and rose extracts for a soothing, clean scent. It relies on a combination of cleansers that do all the work, so all you need to do is swipe.

If Oprah loves these, chances are you will, too. Similar to Face Halo, these cleansing pads are activated with water. They're a bit larger, so you can focus on your whole face of makeup—not just your eyes—and they're made out of 100 percent recycled materials.

Sometimes you just need to use a makeup wipe. Whether you stash them in your gym bag for a post-workout refresh or keep them in your carry-on for long flights, they certainly come in handy. Cetaphil's use gentle ingredients that won't irritate your skin.

Greenberg recommends these innovative pads for anyone who doesn't like oil-based cleansers and makeup removers—or for folks who can't seem to break up with their single-use makeup wipes. "The microfibers break down your makeup effectively, and you can reuse it up to 200 times," she says. "They're much more sustainable than traditional makeup wipes." All you need is water, but you can soak the pads in micellar water for heavier makeup.

Eadem's pillowy, gentle cleansing balm isn't heavy or occlusive—which a lot of other balms can't say. With ingredients like tiger grass, allantoin, and melon and moringa, it's soothing for even sensitive skin but still swipes off your heavy eye makeup (and SPF, too).

For those with sensitive, acne-prone skin who are wary of using oil-based cleansers, this one from One Love Organics is for you. It's made with finicky skin in mind and is fortified with enzymes that gently exfoliate the skin and remove dirt and makeup. The smell is divine (like fresh-cut tropical fruit), and the texture is silky but still rinses off without any oily residue.