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Carly Avatar

The EL Gentle Eye Makeup Remover is not gentle on my eyes at all, it burns my skin and makes it very red and irritated afterward, also doesn’t remove the makeup very well at all! I have been able to use it for touch ups with a q-tip though, if I make a liner mistake I can fix it pretty easily since this is oil free. Not a total loss but I def don’t use it for removal.

Fireinthehead - Bunny Avatar

Those Simple make up remover wipes, I couldn’t bring myself to even put them near my eyes because they felt like sandpaper on my cheeks! Seriously ouchy!

BooBooNinja Avatar

Thanks for writing — I have two sample packs of Simple makeup remover wipes. Now I know to keep ’em far from my eyes if I dare try them!

Jeanne Avatar

The ones I’ve tried that made my eyes burn and sting were: Clinique’s Take the Day Off, Almay’s Moisturizing Eye Makeup Remover, Neutrogena’s Extra Gentle Eye Makeup Remover Pads, and The Body Shop’s Chamomile Gentle Eye Make-up Remover. They’re all equally awful to me because eye makeup removers (especially the ones specifically marked as gentle or for sensitive eyes) shouldn’t sting or burn at all.

Espe Barajas Avatar

One of the Clinique ones…it was blue. I can’t remember the name because I angrily threw it away the first time I used it. It made my eyelids swell, extra sensitive and super red. My eyes were a mess for almost three weeks!

Nicole Avatar

definatly the clinique take the day off! i just couldn’t hold my eyes open after using it, it hurt so bad!

(though anything with oil in in hurts.. but this one was the worst i’ve ever tried.)

Megan Avatar

Likewise! I really didn’t get on with this at all.

MAC’s one also hurt when I tried it. The MUA used it on me and after a minute or so I said, “Is it supposed to sting like that?” She looked horrified, bless her! No harm done, though, as she immediately washed it off.

t_zwiggy Avatar

Let me just start by saying I don’t have sensitive eyes at all. I have tried lots of different ones, some good, some bad, but only one have actually been uncomfortable to use.

Dior Instant Eye Makeup Remover!!! Not the blue duo phase one, but the creamy one in an opaque white bottle with pink cap. OMFG! It burned inside my eyes, it burned my lids, it burned my entire under eye area. Like, it made my skin dry, red and flaky for a couple of days. Awful, awful stuff. And to make matters worse, it didn’t even remove the mascara properly.

My top 3 favorites are YSL Instant Pur, Lancome Bi-Facil and Clinique Take the Day Off (in that order) 🙂

xamyx Avatar

I don’t care for Pond’s Cold Cream for eye makeup removal, although I use it on occasion for the rest of my face. Aside from that, I’ve really only used a few others, including a couple from L’Oreal, Lancome Bi-Facil (LOVE), and DIY removers made from kitchen oils (coconut, olive, canola, castor, etc), none of which caused adverse reactions. Purpose Facial Wash also works well, and I use it to wash residual makeup & remover off my face & eyes.

Kiss & Make-up Avatar

I absolutely adore La Roche Posay, but when their waterproof make-up remover for sensitive eyes got in my eyes, I ended up with swollen, bloodshot eyes that stayed like that for the whole night. I’m pretty sure that kind of thing shouldn’t happen… 🙂

Naty Avatar

Sephora’s makeup remover I got it as a free gift. It came in those little sample bottles. The first time I used it, it burned my eyes and then afterwards my eyelids became very dry. I couldn’t even apply makeup the next day because the eyeshadow would get all patchy.

MOnika Avatar

I’m a professional makeup artist for 23 years and I only use Clinique take the day off because it takes off everything with super ease. As a matter of fact my clients always ask what I use and they always love it

Angel Avatar

Almay’s oil-free remover pads and the Walmart Equate brand burn my eyes so badly that I had to splash cold water on them. And did nothing to remove my makeup. I find it “funny” that Almay’ burns so badly considering they are supposed to be formulated especially for sensitive skin. I did find that the Kroger version of Neutrogena makeup remover works beautifully and is less than $4.

Q Avatar

I know everyone loves the simple eye makeup remover but it seriously burns and stings for me! Which is alright, it doesn’t do such a great job of removing my non-waterproof makeup anyways but I was disappointed since I really, really wanted to like it.

Claire Avatar

The Simple one burnt my eyes like crazy too, and my friend’s. Her eyes were still stinging the next day. Currently loving Vichy waterproof remover for sensitive eyes. I don’t think it would sting if I just threw the bottle at myself and it takes everything off very well.

Calle Avatar

The l’oreal one burned a bit. But the neutrogena wipes burned like HELL! I used to be in love with my ponds wipes but I think they changed the formula recently. Now I use the simple wipes and they work well. Don’t sting at all.

Kate Avatar

The Body Shop Camomile Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover.
It is an absolute nightmare, it stings the eyes and it takes its time in removing makeup, you have to rub, so it gets in between your eyelids and it irritates your eyes. I’ve bought it, because I did a comparison of a Polish brand “Ziaja/Blubel” and their American, allegedly more eco-friendly, counterparts- and Ziaja won undisputedely.

I think that it is also worth mentioning I don’t even have sensitive eyes to start with, and never had any problems with any other eye makeup removers, my eyes agree with stuff targeted for acne like Clinique 3 Step or Garnier Pure line.

Barbara Avatar

Tried this a few years ago and had to return it. Made my eyes burn and sting and the Body Shop employee was all “but it’s so gentle” and I was arguing and saying “No, it’s not”.

Becca @ The Beauty Sample Avatar

Clarins Gentle Eye Makeup Remover Lotion. It seriously does not remove ANYTHING–not even regular mascara and eyeliner! I’ve never tried an eye makeup remover that was this ineffective. I mean it just moved stuff around my eyes in a really strange way without removing a lick.

Janice Avatar

I used to like Lancôme bi-facial remover until I started getting milia around my eyes 🙁 I’m now using neutrogena and its works fine, no milia in sight.

Denise Avatar

MAC’s I forgot what it was called but it basically a bottle of oil that gets in your eyes and never leaves.Lots of love to the neutrogena blue bottle.

Jennifer D. Avatar

The Walmart (Equate), Almay and the other brand I cannot put my finger on it that is so popular in drugstores just burn my eyes so badly I cannot use it. I use CVS brand non oily in the bottle and Mary Kay gentle makeup remover. The MK removes much better. I just try to save it for “special occasions” where I have a bit more on. I love using it to gently remove the glue and mascara from my false lashes with a cosmetic q tip. However, the pads burn so badly and it takes about two hours for me to see clearly (like I have a cataract) and I love the Neutrogena makeup wipes for the face, but they burn my eyes like heck. The proactiv wipes are AMAZING especially if you definitely are crashing at night and have to remove all makeup. Otherwise, I use the costco the other 99.9% of the time and then do my nightly routine with Mary Kay or CVS non oily:) Thanks!

everytomorrow Avatar

The Mary Kay gentle makeup remover made my eyelids get dry and flakey! It was pretty scary. I guess it just depends what your skin reacts to. I have the same problem with Sephora’s makeup removers — they make my skin completely freak out, and it gets dry and starts to peel.

casey23 Avatar

Oh yes not only for eyes, but it burns the whole face!!!! I bought it over the hype and left in my work place for emergency situations, but after only one use I noticed that “it” was the emergency situation!! Also, the same range’s (cucumber) eye gel is very bad too, it burns my eyes crazy when I used it..

Sara Avatar

I got a sample of a Dior one when I purchesed something at sephora and LORD did that burn my eyes. It was so oily and I felt gross when I used it, and no matter how hard I tried, the stuff would always find a way to swim into my eyes and burn for a little while. I only used it a few times before throwing it away.

Kimie Avatar

Equate make up remover wipes! Some guru said they were the best and so cheap, so I bought lots of packages. My biggest regret! Burns like crazy!

Sasha Avatar

I used to use Urban Decay’s Clean and Sober, it removes, but I had to spread out a really thin layer on whatever tissue etc i was using and squeeze my eye shut as tight as possible to avoid the burning. Now I just use Mac’s Cleanse Off Oil in Tranquil.

Melissa Avatar

Maybelline Expert Eyes burned so bad! I picked it up because I was trying to find an expensive makeup remover. I love Lancôme Bi-Facil eye makeup remover but it’s not cheap. Maybelline’s product is supposed to remove waterproof makeup. It does that but after pouring half the bottle on a cotton ball and enduring red, burning eyes. I’m just going to stick with my old faithful product.

Lorraine ER Avatar

Wet and Wild, but what did I expect? I figured since their makeup had improved so much that maybe their remover would be decent but it smells like floor cleaner and burns. I now use it with water when I clean brushes and it works great for that!

Ryou Avatar

I’m tempted to say “alcohol-soaked sandpaper”, but I guess that isn’t a legitimate eye make-up remover. 😛

My eyes aren’t that sensitive, so I very rarely have problems with burning. While I do love cleansing oils, though, the cloudy eye syndrome that follows isn’t always pleasant.

casey23 Avatar

Definitely Avon’s Eye makeup remover, the thing that’s like milk… I don’t remember if it is targeted for sensitive eyes only, but I do know that it kills my eyes!! Used it twice or thrice then threw it away.

Amelie Avatar

Equality for me for the L’Oréal and Maybelline waterproof removers. Both of them burn so hard! My eyes where so red after using any of the two and hurt at least for five minutes.

lily Avatar

HANDS DOWN, Ole Henriksen Purifying Eye Makeup Remover. These pads are just plain awful, they burn like nothing else, I felt like I was on FIRE when I used these and they are so expensive!!! I gave it 2 tries then gave it away to my mom, who had the same issue. It ended up in the trash.

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