TL;DR Use oil-based cleansers or specific mascara removers, and let them sit on your lashes before wiping off gently.
Oil-Based Cleansers
Oil-based cleansers are highly recommended for removing waterproof mascara. They work by breaking down the makeup without damaging the skin or lashes. Users suggest using cleansing oils or balms, such as Clinique's Take the Day Off balm [3:1], which is effective and gentle on the eyes
[4:1]. Coconut oil and jojoba oil are also popular choices among users for their ability to melt away stubborn makeup
[2:7]
[5:7].
Specialized Mascara Removers
Some users recommend specialized products like the Kiss Me Heroine Make Mascara Remover, which is praised for its effectiveness in removing even the toughest mascaras [1:3]
[3:4]. These products are designed specifically for waterproof formulas and can be a good investment if you frequently wear waterproof mascara.
Double Cleansing Method
The double cleansing method involves using an oil-based cleanser first to break down the mascara, followed by a water-based cleanser to remove any remaining residue [3:6]. This method ensures that all traces of makeup are removed while being gentle on the skin.
Gentle Application Techniques
When applying these removers, it's important to let them sit on the lashes for a few minutes to allow the product to loosen the mascara before wiping it off [1:2]
[5:2]. Using a cotton pad soaked in remover and holding it against the lashes can help minimize rubbing and potential damage to the lashes.
Additional Tips
For those looking for alternatives, some users suggest applying a layer of regular mascara under the waterproof one to make removal easier [3:5]. Additionally, using a microfiber cloth in conjunction with the remover can enhance the removal process
[1:1].
i use the maybelline lash sensational waterproof mascara and its the most amazing mascara ive ever used its the only one that holds a curl with my really straight lashes. However i cant get it off at night ive tried micellar water,cleansing balm,coconut oil,makeup wipes, face wash and simple eye makeup remover nothing works. im so scared of damaging my eyes does anyone know a way to get it off?
What ever one you decide to use, be sure to let it set for a little bit to give it a chance to loosen up the mascara before you try to remove it. Also, I've found a very light coat of regular mascara, not waterproof, under the waterproof one really helps make removal easier.
kissme heroine make mascara remover! it works soo well
thankyou!
Oily eye makeup remover. One of those 2 phase cleansers for example.
Yeah I can have this issue too sometimes I gotta throw more than one thing at certain mascaras. You could try leaving your cleansing oil on longer to let it break down? I don't like using plain oil on its own 'cos you can get more oomph (and emulsification) from a blended oil but still, even that isn't always enough. Otherwise, seconding a biphasic remover (it's got the two layers and you have to shake to mix it), um, Lancome make one, Sephora cheaper, see if L'Oreal or Garnier do one, I think they do. You could also double up with a microfibre cloth too at the same time (e.g. Face Halo).
I use the Neutrogena one and it does the trick. I love Lancôme Bifacil, it works amazing (for me) but $$$ lol.
ETA: Neutrogena Gentle Oil Free eye makeup remover. Followed by Neutrogena Ultra Light Face Cleansing Oil
Ah interesting. Thanks. I'll see if we get the Neutrogena one in my country. Yes I usually go in with that combo too in that order and Face Halo comes out if I'm really getting stroppy to keep going if I have to (I just really dislike washing them though lol).
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Jojoba oil. Works wonder on my waterproof eyeliner too.
Take a Q-tip and soak it in olive oil. Then hold the Q-tip to your lashes and rub the olive oil in as good as you can. It should come off with warm water pretty easily 😊
Coconut oil works well
Honestly it's amazing and I can never convince anyone to try it. It just MELTS off eye makeup and if for some bizarre reason it doesn't work for them they could just use it to cook with.
Yes and it’s great for the skin and body! Such a beauty hack. Lots of beauty balms have coconut oil in them.
Oil based cleanser/cleansing balm. No need to scrub. Follow with a water based cleanser.
cleansing oil. it melts everything without damaging the skin/lashes
This, but also consider tubing mascara! L'Oreal extender lash or something or other is great!
So I’ve tried a few different eye makeup removers, a Clinique and Sephora brand one but they both really hurt my eyes(and the Sephora one didn’t even budge it. I was just wondering if anyone had any recommendations that didn’t sting?
have you tried the kiss me mascara remover? it's a japanese brand and it's the best. can get rid of my judydoll mascara (literally the hardest product i've tried to remove)
This, 100%. I use oil cleansers religiously but even they can’t take off some mascaras, like the Clio one.
also here to echo this suggestion!! The condition of my lashes has improved immensely since using this as I’m no longer rubbing at my eyes, I just apply this, leave it on for about 30 seconds and my mascara wipes away very easily!
Yes this is the one right here everyone!! I’ve used various oil cleansers that aren’t nearly as efficient as the Kiss me
I’d love to give it a try! Where do you buy it?
I use eye makeup remover with an old mascara brush. It fully coats my lashes so I can gently wipe it or rinse and it all comes off.
That is so freakin' smart!
Try applying a waterproof over a non water proof mascara. It comes right off when you use any cleanser, but stays waterproof otherwise. I learned it from Wayne goss years ago. Works like a charm!
Will it still hold curl tho? Only waterproof will hold a curl for me!
I think so... I dont have lashes that stay curled well either
Oil-based cleansers or oil.
You can do a double cleanse. First, oil to break down everything and then a cleansing gel that’s safe to use around your eyes. I like this method because it removes face from my whole face. If there’s some stubborn makeup around your eyes use micellar water.
When I use Clinique Take Off the Day balm on my whole face I rub a bit over my eyes and then take a shower after and that gets it off without stinging or aggressive rubbing. The product is so oily and thick that it does the work for you
I currently just scrub my eyes with a makeup wemovwr clothe, it's says it works on waterproof mascara but by the time I'm finished my eyes are all red! Any advice on removing it gently without repeated rubbing?
Petroleum jelly (Vaseline). It’s completely sting-free, very gentle, just rub gently until the mascara is dissolved & wipe away. It will also condition your eyelashes and promote growth. Oh, and it’s as cheap as chips! Try it, you’ll love it. (Baby oil stings my eyes)
Cleansing oil on a cotton round—but don’t rub for a bit, just put it on your eye and let it rest there for a minute. It starts to dissolve the makeup and then it’ll come off with gentler motiob
Use baby oil to remove the mascara (GENTLY with your fingers) and then use the cloth to wipe the excess off. Your eye area will be moisturized and the baby oil will help your lashes grow!
Thanks! I'll be sure to try this!
Try cleansing oils or cleansing balms - they tend to be gentler on the skin and remove makeup from your face by bonding with and chemically breaking down the makeup. You'll irritate your skin much more by scrubbing at makeup with a cloth. There's a wide range of products at different price points, so try looking up the keywords for recommendations and usage experiences from others.
I love the Clinique Take the Day Off cleansing balm. I'm a stickler for waterproof mascara and I only use a small amount (pea size?) rub between my fingers and then massage gently over my eyes for a bit, rinse, and then use my usual cleanser for my whole face. It works wonders for all makeup (like a full face day) but I conserve and mostly use it on the mascara. Hope that helps! Bonus: comes in a travel size too!
I accidentally bought water proof mascara I didn’t realize until it was actually on and I was washing my face for the night. I love the mascara and that I don’t get smudges under my eyes through the day. I would like to keep using it but I need advice on washing it off or suggestions on a non smudgy mascara I can buy at the drug store that will give me long lushes eye lashes. Thank you 😊
The real question is, « how do I remove waterproof mascara without also removing all of my eyelashes? » 🙈
Soak your eyes with cotton pad and waterproof makeup remover. The mascara should become loose and much easier to wipe off. I soak each eye for a few mins. My eyelashes are brittle tho so they fall out anyway 🥲 but a lot fewer when soaked longer.
lol yes! This is the right question
Right?!
I use Garnier Micellar water with the blue cap. It’s for waterproof makeup. It works just fine
That's what I use too. The first time I used micellar water I was amazed at the amount of makeup that came off my face. I thought I was mostly gone by the end of the day, but I was wrong.
That's what we use too.
Coconut oil works on literally the toughest makeup
Any oil cleaner, also you should always doble cleanse specifically if you wear makeup / sunscreen.
Not saying this gonna cure anyone, but I had bad acne before I started oil cleansing. It is great for your skin and it’ll remove ANY makeup.
As someone with sensitive skin, I have used jojoba, grapeseed, avocado, and hemp seed oils. I’ve heard jojoba is especially gentle so that’s my go-to rec for anyone starting with oil cleansing.
Try oil cleansing
I find that when I use cleansing oils/ makeup removers with oils in them my skin has a really bad reaction - like one time my eyes swelled up for a whole week after I used a cleansing oil for a bit.
Using waterproof mascara is better than regular mascara for me because my lashes cannot hold a curl very well unless I use waterproof mascara.
Are there any other ways to take off waterproof mascara because the fact that I have to use oil to remove it is stopping me from wearing mascara every day :(
Any help/advice would be appreciated!!
I have extremely sensitive skin and can’t use any makeup removers without them burning.
The cloth brand “Makeup Eraser” works well for me, even on waterproof eye makeup. You need hot water, hold the cloth over the eye for 10-15 seconds, then it will start to come off.
Wait another comment suggested this and I will 100% look into buying it, but do you know how it works?? Like how does it just remove waterproof mascara so easily lool
Yes it literally just comes off with water!
I have been using them since 2018 and haven’t had to buy makeup remover or makeup wipes since.
I do want to be clear though— they work best if you’re doing the double cleansing method. AKA, makeup remover to remove makeup, then soap after to clean the skin.
With my normal mascara, I can get 99% of it off just the cloth, but I do usually get some black left in the bottom crease of my eye. I do need soap to get that off.
I’d say for waterproof mascara it takes longer to get off, like you have to work for it more, but it’s not “oily” and doesn’t stick to my skin as much as normal mascara.
Makeup Eraser towels work well for me.
Wow I has no idea they existed but I'm so confused on how it removes waterproof mascara with just hot water like how does that work?? It's quite expensive on Amazon for me but I might have to try it lol
Erase Your Face brand are the best I have found
Have you tried tubing mascaras?
I just looked it up and I had no idea you could just use warm water to remove it!! I'll buy one the next time I go shopping, thanksss :))
Tubing mascaras are a godsend. I have refused my whole life to wear waterproof mascara unless I know I’ll be swimming because I’m too lazy to use makeup remover. Tubing mascara stays on in the pool and ocean (as long as I don’t rub my eyes) and is so easy to wash off with my normal cleansers.
Not sure about how it holds a curl but it’s definitely worth a try.
Use a type of plain oil you're not allergic to. (Like olive oil, coconut oil, vitamin E oil)
I know what you mean, I need intensely waterpoof mascara and a lot of it. Micellar water doesn't really work without scrubbing, liquid eye makeup remover is only marginally better.
Cleansing balm works best. And is not oily to me. I liked the Clinique one but it is expensive. At the cheapest pricing online, $8.22 USD per ounce.
I just recently tried the Garnier version instead, and not only does it work twice as well, it works out to $3.57 an ounce.
Yes I just looked up the Clinique one I think it's out of price range for now 😭 I can't find anywhere near me that sells the garnier balm either (and I noticed hyaluronic acid does not react that well with my skin)
But I'll def try the Clinique one if other suggestions do not work out that well for me, so thank you!!
my eyelashes dont stay up with normal mascara so i use waterproof, i love it but it is such a massive pain to remove it, atm i’m using a cera ve cleanser then garnier micellar water with the pink cap and then the simple waterproof makeup remover, this isn’t really working and takes about half of an hour to do just to remove mascara. i bought the glossier waterproof makeup remover but haven’t tried it yet. how can i remove waterproof mascara without damaging my eyelashes,
any tips are greatly appreciated thank you!
Any cleansing oil, or cooking oil for that matter, will take waterproof mascara off.
I swear by baby oil. I’ve been using is for 15+ years. Never irritates my eyes. I’ve tried makeup removers, wipes, other oils, lotion. Baby oil is the only thing that gets everything off, doesn’t irritate, and moisturizes my skin and lashes. Highly recommend!!!
Ponds cold cream, one swipe and off it comes!
Olive oil or coconut oil works really well.
Clinique Take the Day Off liquid remover
I’m using one of Maybelline’s waterproof mascara and it’s not coming off with Garnier’s Micellar Water All-in-1 Waterproof. It’s just clumping together and sticking to my eyelashes, causing me to pull them out when I rub it off. How do I take it off without damaging my eyelashes?
EDIT: Thanks everyone! I used olive oil in emergency and it worked! Going to buy a more proper makeup remover now :)
I have never been able to get mascara off with micellar water, even the non waterproof
I feel the same. Use either point makeup remover or oil based products will help you.
Use an oil based makeup remover.
Dove deep cleanser will get any waterproof mascara off and is super gentle on the eyes
Micellar water won’t effectively remove waterproof makeup. I’d recommend the Neutrogena oil-free liquid makeup remover or a Makeup Eraser towel. Never use wipes!
Maybe soak a cotton round in the micellar and lay down with it over your eye? That may soak the product enough that it'll slide off the hair shafts
Coconut oil, it takes off all of my waterproof mascara without damage.
i lost my non-waterproof mascara so i used this random one i bought months ago, never noticed that the tube says super waterproof…haven’t been able to get it off my eyelashes in almost 3 days. ive used almost everything google has recommended me, every single oil, and nothing works 😭!! any advice?
Biphasic micellar water. Pick a cotton disk, or a reusable one, doesn't matter, and pour some on it. Keep it on your eye for at least 15 seconds and then start to swipe delicately until all of it comes off
Coconut oil
Biphasic micelara water. The one from the Sephora brand is the best
Coconut oil is the easiest and great to have around because it's versatile - body lotion, hair, cooking.
Kiss Me Heroine Make Speedy Mascara remover. Comes in a mascara tube. Stuff is magic. They have it on iHerb if you don’t want to shop Amazon
I use tubing mascaras, and I use either warm water or micellar water on a cotton pad. I hold it to my lashes and it melts off.
Yes--this is my answer too!
Tubing mascara never runs, but also comes off easily when you want it to.
it has suspicious ingredients because it's an ancient product, but i use good ol' albolene to take everything off. drag queens generally use it, if that tells you anything.
I love the Clinique take the day off eye makeup remover. It’s oil based but don’t let that scare you, because In the end it will help moisturize your eyes. If you were contacts I suggest to take your contacts off first. Soak a cotton pad with it place the pad on your eye for like 5 seconds then you can gently take off. Easy peasy ❣️🥰
Micelles water
You can use coconut oil to remove mascara. It will work great for you.
how to remove waterproof mascara
Here are some effective methods to remove waterproof mascara:
Use an Oil-Based Makeup Remover:
Coconut Oil or Olive Oil:
Micellar Water:
Gentle Rubbing:
Follow Up with a Cleanser:
Tips:
Recommendation: If you frequently wear waterproof mascara, investing in a good oil-based makeup remover can save you time and effort while ensuring your lashes remain healthy.
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