5 experts share eye make-up removal tips that actually work

Raise your hands if you’ve ever woken up with panda eyes, courtesy of the kajal from the previous night that smeared all over. It’s not like we always hit the sack without taking off make-up (guilty about the times when we do) but somehow obstinate eye make-up like waterproof mascara or long-stay kohl take their own sweet time to say goodb(e)ye. However, makeup a.k.a chemical residue and your eyes can never be best friends. Celebrity make-up artist Florian Hurel warns, “Leaving eye make-up on causes its own set of problems, including eye infections and irritation, styes and broken eyelashes.” He reinstates the significance of the ultimate solution, “Removing your make-up every night is a (skincare) necessity.” If you’re determined to go all out with your glam game this festive season but detest irksome episodes of eye make-up removal, these expert-approved tips will certainly come in handy.

Namrata Soni, founder, Simply Nam and celebrity make-up artist

“One of the best ways of removing stubborn eye make-up like glitter eyes or super dark smokey eyes with lots of shimmer is using the Simply Nam Makeup Remover Towel. All you need to do is dampen the towel with a little bit of warm water, squeeze out the excess and then place the towel on your eye. This allows the product to disintegrate; then gently wipe off. I suggest doing this one more time. For the second round, take a little bit of the Clinique Take The Day Off Balm on the towel, rotate it around your eye and swipe it away. So a combination of the Simply Nam Makeup Remover Towel (my first and most go-to preference) and any of your favourite eye make-up removers (if you are wearing very stubborn and heavy eye make-up) can be used.” 

Florian Hurel, celebrity make-up artist

“You can start by breaking down your make-up with a cleanser. I recommend using the Bioderma Sensibio H2O which is perfect for all skin types, including sensitive skin. It soothes and cleanses the skin, removing all impurities. It does not need to be rinsed and is fragrance-free too. All it takes is three simple steps. First, soak a cotton pad with the Bioderma Sensibio H2O. Next, close your eyes and hold the cotton pad over your lids and lashes for about 10 seconds to give the remover time to dissolve the product before you begin to take it off. Use a cotton bud for inner corners, if needed. After you’ve removed your make-up, take another pass with a dry cotton pad to make sure you get rid of any last bits of product and the excess make-up remover, too. Although rinsing is not essentially required, it’s always good to wash your face whenever possible.”

Mehak Oberoi, celebrity makeup artist

“I think my tried-and-tested trick is that I love to dilute mascara with a cleansing oil—I love Bobbi Brown’s Soothing Cleansing Oil—and right after that go in with a make-up removing cloth dampened with warm water. Remove whatever comes off with this cloth first, and follow it up with an eye make-up remover (made specifically for eyes); I love the ones from Bobbi Brown, Lancôme, Clinique and M.A.C Cosmetics. Next, use micellar water as the last and final cleanse. All in all, this 3-4 step eye make-up removal routine will promise squeaky clean eyes, and lashes. I can’t emphasise enough: nourish the under-eye area after removing your make-up.”

Kavye Sharma, celebrity make-up artist

“Bioderma’s Sensibio H2O is my all-time favourite for removing eye make-up. You can use the milder, toxic-free and pleasant-smelling Sensibio Tonic Lotion [from Bioderma] to remove your make-up, too. Remember: avoid using scrubbing or rough rubbing methods. Gentle dabbing and soft circular movements should be enough to remove all the make-up from your eyes. Don’t forget that the eye area has the thinnest skin on your face and is very sensitive. ‘Soaking’ the eyes with cotton pads (dipped in micellar water) is a very gentle and effective way of removing eye make-up. Removing make-up can dry out the eye area, so you need to opt for an eye cream that suits your skin to keep it soft and hydrated.”

Arti Nayar, celebrity make-up artist

“I usually oscillate between two methods—I love them both equally. First: I use Bioderma’s Sensibio H2O Micellar Water which is super gentle on the skin but very quick to melt off all that eye make-up; even the most stubborn mascara comes off beautifully with the product and a cotton pad. But recently, I have also moved to a more environment-friendly approach and so I use a make-up removal towel. Once you get used to it, it becomes very easy, even when you’re travelling—you only need one product (and, of course, warm water). Dampen it, apply it on your skin and it removes all your make-up. The one from Simply Nam is my favourite at the moment. It has two sides, a soft and a slightly not-so-soft side. While the former cleanses the skin, the latter helps to exfoliate it.”