When it comes to the the most sensitive skin around your gaze, nothing but the best eye makeup remover will do. Mascara, liquid eyeliner, and long-wear eyeshadows are notoriously stubborn, and scrubbing too hard can bolster lash shedding and skin irritation.
Vogue’s Favorite Eye Makeup Removers
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Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm
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Kora Organics Milky Mushroom Gentle Cleansing Oil
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CeraVe Comforting Eye Makeup Remover
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“Eye makeup removal is one of the most overlooked steps in a beauty routine, yet it is absolutely critical to maintaining healthy skin and lashes,” says pro makeup artist Lauren D’Amelio Ventre “After nearly two decades in the beauty industry, working with everyone from brides to celebrities, I’ve seen how improper removal can age the eye area prematurely or lead to irritation, and how the right products can completely transform the skin’s resilience.”
That’s where a gentle yet powerful formulas comes in—one that dissolves makeup (from concealer to waterproof eyeliner) in a swipe without tugging on the delicate eye area on your lids or under eye. The right remover not only keeps lids clean but also helps maintain lash health and the integrity of your skin barrier, making it a non-negotiable step in every nighttime skin-care routine. Consider it the quiet hero of your beauty arsenal, ensuring you wake up fresh-faced, bright-eyed, and ready for another day of glam. Below, Vogue’s favorite eye makeup removers from balms to milky cleaners, micellar waters, and more.
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Best Cleansing Balm: Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm Makeup Remover
- Why We Love It: This oh-so-creamy makeup balm takes removing makeup from a chore to a quick fix. Watch and be amazed as saffron seed oil easily dissolves even the most waterproof of makeup, leaving behind a dewy glow. “I love how this melts makeup quickly and leaves the skin soft,” pro makeup artist Brielle Pollara tells Vogue. As a pro tip for using this type of makeup remover, D’Amelio Ventre recommends warming the cleansing balm between your fingers before application, then using gentle circular motions to massage it in. “This not only helps dissolve every trace of makeup but also stimulates circulation in the eye area,” she says. Plus, rest assured contact lens wearers—this pick is ophthalmologist-tested and safe for you too.
- Key Ingredients: Safflower seed oil, tocopherol
- Type: Balm
- Fragrance: Yes
- Size: 200 ml/6.7 oz, 125 ml/3.8 oz, 30 ml/1 oz
Best for Sensitive Eyes: CeraVe Comforting Eye Makeup Remover
- Why We Love It: “For sensitive eyes or those prone to irritation, CeraVe’s eye makeup remover is excellent because it balances effectiveness with skin-soothing ingredients,” says D’Amelio Ventre. Ceramides and hyaluronic acid ensure lids and lashes stay hydrated, leaving the delicate eye area cleansed, comforted, and cared for. Milky, non-greasy, ophthalmologist-tested, and just $10, there’s no reason not to stock up on it.
- Key Ingredients: Ceramide np, ceramide ap, ceramide eop, hyaluronic acid
- Type: Liquid
- Fragrance: No
- Size: 4 fl oz
Best Naturally-Derived: Kora Organics Milky Mushroom Gentle Cleansing Oil
- Why We Love It: Calling all loyalists to clean beauty products: Look no further than Kora Organics’s plant-based cleansing oil. Derived from 98% natural origin, this formula is a concoction of botanic oils made for makeup removal that never strips or tugs skin. “This is a super gentle and nourishing clean beauty pick that’s great for sensitive eyes,” says Pollara. Best of, the texture of this pick transforms from oil to milky cleanser when lathered with water, leaving behind no residue. With the added element of aroma therapy from rose and basil oils (no artificial fragrance here!), suddenly your end-of-day face wash becomes a spa-like experience.
- Key Ingredients: Aloe vera leaf Juice, sunflower seed oil, glycerin, apple seed oil, lactic acid, snow mushroom extract, basil oil
- Type: Cleansing oil
- Fragrance: Yes (naturally-derived, only)
- Size: 5.0 fl oz
Best Micellar Water: Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water
- Why We Love It: Even the most sensitive of skin types will be pleased to note that this micellar cleansing water is non-irritating and still manages to remove SPF, eye looks, face makeup, and more—pair it with a super-soft cotton pad for best results. Board-certified dermatologist Blair Murphy-Rose likes it because of it’s paraben- and fragrance-free formula that effectively cleanses, sans greasy residue. Plus, it’s an entirely non-comedogenic pick, making it safe for even the most acne-prone skin types. Vogue’s associate director of shopping, Talia Abbas, has been using this pick for 15 years and counting. “It’s no surprise, my Italian mother, who lived in France for several years, introduced it to me when I was a teenager. It’s an OG in my routine and will always be,” she previously shared.
- Key Ingredients: Water, cucumber fruit extract
- Type: Micellar Water
- Fragrance: No
- Size: 16.7 oz, 8.33 oz, 3.33 oz
Best Milky Cleanser: Bubble Wipe Out Makeup Remover
- Why We Love It: Another reliable pick you can find on drugstore shelves and beyond? Bubble’s ultra-gentle cleansing milk that effortlessly dissolves even stubborn mascara—massaged on with just your fingertips, then wiped clean without tugging or irritation. Not to mention, the formula is enriched with meadowfoam seed oil, raspberry seed oil, and chickweed extract to hydrate and soothe while cleansing. It’s the perfect combination of power and tenderness.
- Key Ingredients: Meadowfoam seed oil, raspberry seed oil, chickweed extract, glycerin, tocopheryl acetate, tocopherol
- Type: Milky cleanser
- Fragrance: No
- Size: 1.7 fl oz
Best Emulsifying: Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil
- Why We Love It: This K-beauty staple melts away makeup with ease and hydration, thanks to tangerine peel extract, squalene, and a blend of traditional Korean oils such as pine nut oil, camellia seed oil, and plum seed oil. Esthetician Amity Murray recommends it to all of her dry skin clients, previously calling it “a gorgeous, natural formulation that emulsifies with ease and rinses clean, leaving the skin refreshed but never stripped”—characteristics that makes this Vogue’s senior beauty shopping writer Kiana Murden’s favorite cleansing oil of all time. Just a few pumps of this silky oil is all you need to tackle even the toughest mascaras—add a bit of water to watch it emulsify into a plush foam.
- Key Ingredients: Glycerin, squalene, mulberry leaf extracts, mountain yam extracts
- Type: Cleansing oil
- Fragrance: Yes
- Size: 200 mL
Best Korean Cleansing Balm: Banila Co. Clean it Zero Cleansing Balm
- Why We Love It: D’Amelio Ventre considers this Banila’s cleansing balm phenomenal for efficient, everyday makeup removal. “Its lightweight sorbet texture melts seamlessly into a silky oil that breaks down even waterproof mascara without leaving behind a heavy residue,” she says. “It is especially great for anyone who wants a quick yet thorough cleanse that leaves the skin feeling refreshed.” Plus, this pick is packed with antioxidants thanks to a blend of bamboo and cherry extracts.
- Key Ingredients: Synthetic wax, red root extract, vitamin E, bamboo extract, acerola (cherry) extract
- Type: Balm
- Fragrance: Yes
- Size: 25 mL / 100mL / 80mL
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover
- Why We Love It: A classic drugstore option, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Nazanin Saedi considers this a go-to recommendation for sensitive to acne-prone skin types. “This is great for people who have acne-prone skin because it is an oil-free makeup remover that won’t clog pores, preventing breakouts,” Saedi previously told Vogue. Plus, it doesn’t require any tugging at your eyes, which can be irritating. It’s worth noting, though the formula is oil-free, this does glide on with an oil-like texture for added slip—just make sure to shake it up before use.
- Key Ingredients: Aloe extracts, cucumber extracts
- Type: Oil-free liquid
- Fragrance: No
- Size: 162 mL / 5.5 oz
Best Bi-Phase: Merit Great Skin Double Cleanse
- Why We Love It: Here at Vogue, we’ve long been in love with Merit’s makeup—but we’re often reminded that they offer excellent skincare, too. Take its new Great Skin Double Cleanse, for example. A clever two-in-one that fuses makeup removal with gentle exfoliation—shake to activate its bi-phase formula and watch it transform into a soft foam that lifts away sunscreen, impurities, and SPF without stripping. Shockingly effective at removing even a full face of glam, it’s the shortcut for clean, smooth, hydrated skin in one easy step.
- Key Ingredients: Oat-derived surfactants, plant-derived humectants, PHA (gluconolactone), fermentation-based extract
- Type: Bi-phase foam cleanser
- Fragrance-free: Yes
- Size: 5 fl oz
Best Multi-Purpose: Shiseido Essentials Instant Eye & Lip Makeup Remover
- Why We Love It: A true multitasker, this bi-phase formula sweeps away even the most stubborn makeup, from waterproof formulas to long-wearing lip combos—without tugging or irritation. The silky texture leaves skin refreshed and nourished, so you’re not left with dryness after cleansing. It’s gentle enough for daily use, yet powerful enough to stand in as your one-and-done remover.
- Key Ingredients: Xylitol, aloe vera leaf extract, arginine, sodium hyaluronate
- Type: Liquid
- Fragrance: No
- Size: 4.2 oz
Best for Waterproof Makeup: Lancôme Bi-facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover
- Why We Love It: “Traditional waterproof mascaras require oil-based or bi-phase formulations that contain a good amount of oil to soften and dissolve the waterproof film around each lash,” cosmetic chemist and president of SOS Beauty Charlene Valledor previously told Vogue, noting she personally thinks Lancome’s Bi-facil is the best waterproof eye makeup remover—utilizing two phases, first an oil then a water, to sweep away makeup before cleansing.
- Key Ingredients: Lipid concentrate, emollients
- Type: Bi-phase liquid
- Fragrance: Yes
- Size: 4.2 oz / 6.7 oz / 13.5 oz
Everything You Need to Know
What is eye makeup remover?
Much like a standard makeup remover, eye makeup removers cleanse the eyelids and lashes by removing stubborn cosmetics, impurities, and buildup. It’s available in a plethora forms, from micellar water, oil cleansers, balms, and various liquids, according to Pollara.
What’s the best type of eye makeup remover?
There’s no definitive answer as to which is the best eye makeup remover. According to Pollara, what’s considered best varies per person. “Cleansing balms and oil cleansers are great for breaking down heavy or waterproof makeup without irritation,” she says. “Meanwhile, micellar water is lighter and works well for minimal makeup or sensitive eyes. Both can be effective if used properly.”
How to Use Eye Makeup Remover
No matter what type of cleanser you choose, the experts agree, the key to eye makeup removal is patience and a gentle touch. “The skin around the eyes is the thinnest and most delicate on the face, so tugging or scrubbing will only cause irritation, redness, or long-term laxity,” says D’Amelio Ventre.
If you’re opting for a liquid-based cleanser, she recommends saturating a cotton round or reusable pad (like the MakeUp Eraser). Next, let the pad sit on your eye for 10 to 15 seconds before gradually sweeping downward. “This method allows the remover to break down even the most stubborn formulas like waterproof mascara, so the makeup literally melts away without friction.”
When opting for a balm or oil cleanser, first warm up the formula in your hands and gently massage your eyes while closed. Next, gently rinse the formula away as you would with a standard face wash—remember, this is only the first step in a double cleansing routine, so be sure to follow with a gel or cream cleanser, too.
Are makeup wipes recommended for eye makeup removal?
The experts agree, it’s best to skip makeup remover wipes, especially when opting for a thorough cleanse around sensitive areas like the eyes. “Makeup wipes are convenient in a pinch, but they are not a long-term solution for eye makeup removal.” says says D’Amelio Ventre. “The friction from wiping back and forth on such a fragile area can cause micro-tears, lash breakage, and irritation over time.” The solution? She advises saving makeup wipes for travel or emergencies, but for the most part, treating your eyes with the same reverence one would give to their “most expensive silk blouse.”
- Lauren D’Amelio Ventre is a celebrity makeup artist, beauty educator, and fouder of The Art of Enhancement, D’Amelio Cosmetics, and La Ve Da Beauty.
- Dr. Blair Murphy-Rose is a top cosmetic and medical dermatologist specializing in facial rejuvenation at Newport Beach Dermatology & Plastic Surgery and clinical instructor of dermatology at Cornell.
- Amity Murray is the lead esthetician at Hotel Chelsea in New York City.
- Brielle Pollara is a professional makeup artist and licensed esthetician based between New York and New Jersey.
- Dr. Nazanin Saedi is a board-certified dermatologist and clinical associate professor at Thomas Jefferson University.
- Charlene Valledor is a cosmetic chemist and president of SOS Beauty.
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