Are You Removing Your Eye Makeup the Right Way?

Are you rubbing and tugging at your eye contour to remove your eye makeup? You’re doing it wrong. Below we share a few tell-tale signs you’ve been removing your eye makeup the wrong way and tips on how to get it right!

After a late night out with friends, the last thing you want to do is stand in front of the sink and wipe away the winged eyeliner you spent over an hour perfecting. But knowing what could happen if you skipped this necessary step before bed, you will push yourself to kick all that glittery eyeshadow to the curb before snoozing. Smart move—but are you doing it the right way? Believe it or not, there’s way more to removing eye makeup than just sweeping a cotton pad over your peepers willy-nilly. In fact, failing to adhere to proper eye-makeup-removing protocol may leave the delicate skin around your eyes looking irritated and puffy. Ahead, we share five mistakes you may be making while removing your eye makeup. Don’t allow these makeup removing gaffes to sabotage your skin any longer!

1. You’re using brute force.

Do you rub and tug at your eyes until all traces of makeup are wiped clean? It’s time to reconsider. The skin around your eyes is thin and fragile, which is why it should be handled with care. Being too aggressive in this area can lead to irritation. No matter how tired or rushed you are, don’t use brute force to remove your eye makeup. It’s not worth it!

Here’s what you should do instead: Soak a cotton pad with your favorite eye makeup remover. If you wear waterproof makeup, reach for a dual-phase remover like Lancôme Bi-Facil. The lipid phase helps lift off eye makeup, while the water phase helps refresh and hydrate skin. Gently (keyword: gently) press the solution-soaked pad onto your closed lid. Allow it to sit on your eyelid for a few seconds before lightly swiping from the inner corner outward. Repeat as needed.

2. You’re using the wrong product.

This seems like a no-brainer, but not all eye makeup removers are created equal. To cut back your time spent removing your makeup, you’ll want to gear up with a product that works well in a pinch. Luckily, there’s no shortage of eye makeup removers—from micellar water to cleansing oil—that have earned our praise. Curious to know what some of them are? Discover four gentle eye makeup removers—from the L’Oreal portfolio of brands—that won’t sting or strip your skin, here!  

3. You’re swiping back and forth. 

When it comes to removing your eye makeup, technique is everything. Instead of running the cotton pad back and forth over your lids (this can irritate your lashes and tug at your skin), swipe gently across your lash line from the inner corner of your eye outward. If there’s remaining residue, use a fresh pad at the inner corner once again making short downward motions until you reach the outer corner and all traces of makeup have disappeared. This technique is less likely to irritate or transfer fibers into your peepers.

4. You’re not changing your cotton pads.

After one swipe across your eyelid, your cotton pad gathers bits of makeup and dirt. If you continue to use the same side of the cotton pad to remove your makeup, you could be allowing the gunk on the pad to transfer back onto your lids. That’s right—all that makeup you just removed could simply make its way back to your “clean” eye. Instead of reaching for a new cotton pad with each swipe—we get it: stocking up on cotton pads can be pricy—simply switch the pad to the other side for your second go-around. If you want to really save space, fold the pad into quarters for four clean swipes with just one pad.

5. You’re not cleansing afterwards.

Do you remove your eye makeup at night and hit the hay without giving your entire face a thorough cleanse? We’re willing to bet that many of you are guilty of this. Some eye makeup removers—as great as they are—can leave behind a residue. We recommend cleansing your entire face after removing your eye makeup to help ensure that all lingering bits of residue, dirt, and makeup are effectively wiped clean. Follow up with toner if you wish.