12 Eye Makeup Removers That Are Gentle—but Still Effective

This beloved micellar water is a French beauty staple. It has a brief list of ingredients and feels extra gentle on sensitive eyes. The waterlike remover is free from fragrances, dyes, parabens, and more but still manages to take off stubborn eyeliner. We and 35,000+ five-star reviewers are loyal repeat customers.

Here's a generational staple that has stood the test of time. Neotrogena's eye makeup remover is oil-free, if cleansing balms and oils aren't your cup of tea, so it doesn't leave your skin feeling greasy. It's formulated with cucumber and aloe to soothe the skin and provide a fresh scent.

If Oprah loves these, chances are you will, too. Similar to Face Halo, these cleansing pads are activated with water. They're a bit larger, so you can focus on your whole face of makeup—not just your eyes—and they're made out of 100 percent recycled materials.

Thomas recommends Garnier's micellar waters because they're budget-friendly, formulated without fragrances, easy to use, and not only remove makeup but cleanse the skin, too (which makes them great travel products). This one in particular is made specifically for waterproof makeup but still relies on the hero ingredient, micelles, to get the job done.

Sometimes you just need to use a makeup wipe. Whether you stash them in your gym bag for a post-workout refresh or keep them in your carry-on for long flights, they certainly come in handy. Cetaphil's use gentle ingredients that won't irritate your skin.

Standing for Best F*cking Makeup Remover, B.F.M.R. is an oil-based cleanser that removes makeup while cleansing and refreshing the skin. "I have to shout out the newest product from my own line," says Greenberg. "I included squalane to soften, jojoba oil to moisturize, and vitamin E to promote a stronger skin barrier." It dispenses from a glass spray bottle, so you don’t even need a cotton pad or cloth to use it, just your fingers. (Trust us; we've tried it.)

Eadem's pillowy, gentle cleansing balm isn't heavy or occlusive—which a lot of balms can't say. With ingredients like tiger grass, allantoin, and melon and moringa, it's soothing for even sensitive skin but still swipes off your heavy eye makeup (and SPF, too).

"She is that girl," says Thomas of MAC's makeup remover. "It's dermatologist-approved and great for waterproof makeup, too." It's packed with cucumber and rose extracts for a soothing, clean scent. It relies on a combination of cleansers that do all the work, so all you need to do is swipe.

Another hero product recommended by Thomas, Lancôme's Bi-Facil eye makeup remover is one to reach for if you have dry skin. She notes that its non-drying, oil-based formula is lightweight and effective on waterproof makeup without needing to pull at the skin.

Greenberg recommends these innovative pads for anyone who doesn't like oil-based cleansers and makeup removers—or for folks who can't seem to break up with their single-use makeup wipes. "The microfibers break down your makeup effectively, and you can reuse it up to 200 times," she says. "They're much more sustainable than traditional makeup wipes." All you need is water, but you can soak the pads in micellar water for heavier makeup.

La Roche-Posay's popular waterproof makeup remover combines water- and oil-based cleansers that, when combined, do double duty to remove your foundation and waterproof mascara. It's formulated with pol0xamer, a mild cleanser you'll find in contact lens solution.

For those with sensitive, acne-prone skin who are wary of using oil-based cleansers, this one from One Love Organics is for you. It's made with finicky skin in mind and is fortified with enzymes that gently exfoliate the skin and remove dirt and makeup. The smell is divine (like fresh-cut tropical fruit), and the texture is silky but still rinses off without any oily residue.