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Hit List: Worst Eye Makeup Remover for Sensitive Eyes
What’s the Worst Eye Makeup Remover for Sensitive Eyes?
What brand/products win this category? What makes it so awful?
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Estee Lauder stings the crap out of my eyes.
Not to mention it does nothing to remove makeup! It’s absolutely terrible!
Really? The Gentle Eye Makeup Remover is my absolute favorite. They also have Take it Away Total Makeup remover. Which one didn’t you like?
I agree, the EL Gentle Eye Makeup Remover works well on me, and doesn’t burn my eyes.
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.
For me it’s philosophy’s Purity wipes – they make my eyes hurt for hours after I’ve tried to wash my face. I gave up on them.
Any Neutrogena makeup remover product. BURN!!
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!
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!
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.
The Clinique one and my eyes do not get along. It hurts and makes them water and my makeup doesn’t come off. It is one big fail.
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!
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.)
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.
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) 🙂
And that wasn’t supposed to be a reply :S lol
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.
Budget Nivea is really bad I think.
clinique’s was really bad ..and lately I use avene gel makeup remover..but you d better close ur eyes really tight..stings like hell!!
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… 🙂
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.
Philosophy’s Purity wipes. It just moved my makeup around my face and didn’t take anything off. Soap and water would have been more effective than the wipes. Thankfully it didn’t sting.
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
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.
Agreed, these burn and feel very harsh on my skin!! It’s awful! I adore the neutrogena remover as well 🙂
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.
Neutrogena wipes burned my eyes like crazy.
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.
The Simple one made my eyes so swollen and puffy for days. I was miserable. It was horrible.
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.
for me it was Makeup for ever for sensitive eyes, it burned when I tried it.
I did not like the Philosophy Purity wipes at all….stung my eyes like crazy and did not remove my mascara.
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.
I agree!
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”.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Yes to Cucumbers wipes! They stung/burned like crazy. And was on The Cut’s top 5 products or something…
Yeah that stuff is terrible! I used it on my face only and it stung so bad!
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..
It burned for me too. It claims to be hypoallergenic. It seems that a lot of people get the same reaction.
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.
Maybellines in the blue top one, didn’t remove anything!
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!
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.
I use MAC’s cleanser too it is very good isn’t it? 🙂
theBalm’s Carrot Eye Makeup Remover, omg. That thing BURRRRRRRRRRRRNS.
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.
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!
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.
neutrogena oil free make up wipes.
they sting.
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.
ysl eye makeup remover
the worst 🙂
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.
* were
I totally agree with you, those are awful!!
Clinique Take The Day Off
Didn’t remove waterproof mascara and left my eyes irritated and red for days after.
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.
Pond’s brand cold cream. It burns my eyes. I use the drugstore brand cold cream.