Are you removing your eye makeup the right way?

Due to COVID-19, many of us skip makeup altogether. We’re wearing a mask anyway, and it is best not to wear any face makeup because it can irritate the skin. But that doesn’t mean we don’t wear eye makeup! And because it’s summer, the eye makeup we wear tends to be sweatproof and/or waterproof to prevent the makeup from running in sweat and oil. But most of us, including me a long time ago, remove eye makeup the wrong way!

Some of you may be wondering, “as long as the makeup is removed and I feel fine with it, why should I be concerned if I’m removing eye makeup the wrong way?” That is because not removing eye makeup well could cause under-eye discoloration from eye makeup residue. And if you do not remove your eye makeup well, it could dry up the sensitive eye area, causing irritation and fine lines. What’s even worse is that the residue could get into your eyes and cause inflammation. I dare say that removing eye makeup the right way is more important and more worthwhile than using expensive eye creams. 

But what exactly are the wrong ways of removing eye makeup? I’ve asked a number of people around me and clients, and it seemed like the following were the most common ways they were removing eye makeup:

• Rubbing eyes horizontally with a cotton pad
• Rubbing under-eye areas 
• Using an exfoliator on and around your eyes 
• Not using an eye-specific remover

Let’s take a look at why each method is wrong. Keep in mind that the eye areas are the most sensitive and the thinnest areas on your face. So think of it like baby skin: it should be treated very gently.

Rubbing eyes horizontally with a cotton pad 

This could cause redness and irritate the skin. And over time, it will cause fine lines. And this could cause eyelashes to fall out, too. 

Rubbing under-eye areas

Once again, this area is very thin and is the first area to develop fine lines. If you rub it, it will only accelerate the process. 

Using an exfoliator on and around eyes

As mentioned, your eye areas are the most sensitive. So it could irritate the skin, and the exfoliant could even get into your eyes. 

Not using an eye-specific remover

Some ingredients in a conventional makeup remover can be too drying or too harsh for sensitive eye areas. And because regular face makeup remover is to be used for the face, it may not be entirely effective in removing heavy eye makeup or waterproof, sweatproof eye makeup. And because it is not as effective in removing eye makeup, we would have to rub our eyes harder to remove it. Going back to the first point, this would irritate the skin around the eyes and cause wrinkles. An eye makeup remover is designed to remove shadows, liners, and mascara easily without having to rub. 

Then what is the right way to remove eye makeup? The following are tips that I got from researching, asking around, and trying on my own eyes.

1. First, prepare 2 cotton pads per eye and 1 q-tip. => 4 cotton pads and 1 q-tip and an eye makeup remover of your choice.
2. Soak up one of the cotton pads and place it over one of the eyes. Leave it on for about 2-3 minutes for eye makeup to break down. This step is important because it’ll help break down the eye makeup, making it easier to remove it without rubbing and prevent eyelashes from falling out. 
3. Then GENTLY swipe outwards. 
4. Get a clean cotton pad, and line it along your lower lashline. 
5. Soak up one side of the q-tip with eye makeup remover, and gently wipe down along the lashes to remove mascara. Do it gently to prevent eyelashes from falling. 
6. Wash your entire face with makeup remover avoiding the eye area with a mild makeup remover, such as our Exfoliating Cleansing Cream, followed by pH balanced, low-foam cleanser, such as out Mild Face Cleanser, to remove makeup residue and excessive oil. 

Try the method above. You’ll find it that your eye makeup gets removed without having to rub, rub, rub.

If you have any questions about the blog post or our products in general, please feel free to contact me at cassidyk@drlouie.ca.