Best Eye Makeup Remover: 7 Picks for Waterproof Mascara and Sensitive Eyes

The best eye makeup remover for most people is Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water: it's unfragranced, needs no rinsing, and Shop TODAY called it the makeup remover dermatologists recommend most. If you wear waterproof mascara every day, Lancôme Bi-Facil was TODAY's pick for exactly that job, and Garnier's waterproof micellar water does it on a drugstore budget.

The skin around your eyes is delicate and lashes break easily, so the right remover is the one that dissolves makeup before you wipe. The seven picks below cover waterproof mascara, sensitive eyes, contact lenses, fragrance-free formulas, a balm and pads. We picked them from dermatologist-reviewed lists, the American Academy of Ophthalmology's advice and brand ingredient pages, and we say where the evidence is thin.

Quick picks

Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water

Best for: everyday eye and face makeup on sensitive skin, when you want one bottle and no rinse.

What we love

• Shop TODAY named it the most-recommended makeup remover by dermatologists. Dermatologist Dr. Alexandra Bowles says "It's effective at breaking down makeup and lifting debris from the skin without requiring excessive rubbing."
• It was an Editor's Pick on NBC Select's micellar water list, where staffer Jem Alabi, a self-described waterproof mascara lover, says it "doesn't sting, leave my skin too dry and red, or have an astringent smell."
• Bioderma says it "effectively removes makeup from face and eyes," calls it unfragranced, and lists it for all skin types, including sensitive.

Keep in mind

• Bioderma doesn't claim it's for waterproof mascara or say it's ophthalmologist tested. For very stubborn mascara, a two-phase remover is quicker.
• Micellar water is gentle, and that cuts both ways. Cleveland Clinic notes heavy or waterproof makeup may need an extra oil- or water-based cleanser.

Key ingredients: micellar cleansing agents (PEG-6 caprylic/capric glycerides), cucumber extract.

How to use: soak a cotton pad, and for heavy makeup let it sit on your closed lid for a few seconds, Bioderma says. No rinse needed.

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Lancôme Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover

Best for: daily waterproof mascara and eyeliner, if you'll pay more for a remover that works fast.

What we love

• Shop TODAY named it best for waterproof mascara. Makeup artist Merav Adler says "this is the least aggressive on your eyes. It won't remove your eyelashes."
• It's a bi-phase (two-layer) remover: an oily phase for waterproof formulas and a water phase so it doesn't feel greasy. Lancôme says it removes "all eye makeup from waterproof mascaras and eyeliners."
• Lancôme's listing calls it "great for contact lens wearers" and suitable for normal to sensitive skin.

Keep in mind

• It contains fragrance (it's on the ingredient list). If scent bothers your eyes, pick Clinique or Bioderma.
• It's a splurge for something you wipe off.
• Lancôme doesn't describe it as ophthalmologist tested.

Key ingredients: cyclopentasiloxane and isohexadecane (the oil phase), poloxamer 184.

How to use: shake until the layers mix, soak a cotton pad, hold it on your closed eye, then swipe gently.

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Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover

Best for: sensitive eyes, contact lens wearers and acne-prone skin.

What we love

• Shop TODAY named it best for sensitive eyes.
• Neutrogena says the dual-phase formula takes off eye makeup, "even waterproof mascara—without any greasy residue," and that it's "ophthalmologist tested so it's safe for contact lens wearers."
• It's oil-free, which matches the American Academy of Dermatology's advice for acne-prone skin: "Use an oil-free makeup remover."
• Aloe and cucumber extract are on the ingredient list.

Keep in mind

• We didn't find a fragrance-free claim on Neutrogena's page.
• The brand's directions say to rinse with warm water afterward, so it's not a no-rinse product.

Key ingredients: cyclopentasiloxane, aloe leaf juice, cucumber extract.

How to use: shake well, apply with a cotton pad on closed eyelids, then rinse, as Neutrogena directs.

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Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover For Lids, Lashes & Lips

Best for: a fragrance-free remover that still handles long-wear and waterproof mascara.

What we love

• Clinique lists it as fragrance free, alcohol-free, and dermatologist, ophthalmologist and allergy tested.
• The brand says it "dissolves and 'lifts away' long-wearing makeup, even waterproof mascara," and calls it "non-irritating, non-stinging."

Keep in mind

• We found no editorial review of this liquid. Shop TODAY's Clinique pick is the Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm, a different product. This pick rests on Clinique's claims and ingredient list.
• Some Amazon listings call it oil-free; Clinique's own page doesn't, and the formula has an oily phase.

Key ingredients: isododecane, isohexadecane, hydrogenated polyisobutene (the oil phase that lifts waterproof formulas).

How to use: shake well (it goes cloudy). For long-wear makeup, Clinique says to press a soaked pad over your lashes for 10 seconds before wiping, then rinse with cool water.

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Garnier SkinActive Micellar Water for Waterproof Makeup

Best for: waterproof mascara on a budget, with no rinse.

What we love

• NBC Select named it best for waterproof makeup. Dermatologist Dr. Hadley King says "it can remove waterproof and long-wear makeup without drying out the skin."
• It's a bi-phase micellar water that Garnier says removes "waterproof makeup, long-wear lipstick, waterproof mascara, dirt, and oil."
• Garnier calls it alcohol-free and fragrance-free, dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested, and fine for all skin types, including sensitive.

Keep in mind

• Shake it first so the two layers mix.
• Garnier's highlights say "oil-free," but its FAQ says the formula has an oil phase. If you're avoiding oil, Neutrogena or Almay is the clearer choice.

Key ingredients: micellar water plus an oil phase for waterproof formulas.

How to use: Garnier says to press and hold the pad over closed eyes "for 10 to 15 seconds, then gently swipe away makeup without harsh rubbing."

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Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Original

Best for: full-face makeup plus mascara, as the oil step of a double cleanse.

What we love

• Banila Co says the balm melts away "even the most stubborn face and eye makeup" and calls it "the ideal first step in your double-cleansing regimen."
• A cleansing balm is solid in the jar and turns to oil on your skin. Cleveland Clinic dermatologist Dr. Amy Kassouf explains why that helps: "You need a lipid, a type of fat, to remove waterproof mascara."
• It rinses off with water, so you don't need cotton pads at all.

Keep in mind

• We found no editorial review of it, so this pick rests on the brand's claims and its ingredients.
• It contains fragrance, and Banila Co doesn't make a sensitive-eye or ophthalmologist-tested claim. Keep your eyes closed while you massage it in.
• Balms leave an oily film until you rinse. Follow with your regular gentle cleanser, as the AAD advises after removing makeup.

Key ingredients: ethylhexyl palmitate and cetyl ethylhexanoate (the melting oils), vitamin E.

How to use: scoop with the spatula, massage onto dry skin, add water to turn it milky, massage again and rinse with lukewarm water, Banila Co says.

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Almay Oil Free Micellar Eye Makeup Remover Pads

Best for: travel, the gym bag, and nights you're too tired for a bottle and cotton.

What we love

• The pads come pre-soaked. Almay says they're "suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers" and "won't tug or pull."
• Fragrance-free and oil-free, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, and ophthalmologist and dermatologist tested, according to Almay.
• Almay says the pads are 100% plant-based fiber and the jar is made with 50% post-consumer recycled materials.

Keep in mind

• We found no editorial review of them. This pick rests on Almay's claims.
• Almay doesn't claim these are for waterproof mascara; it sells a separate Longwear & Waterproof pad for that.
• Isopropyl alcohol is on the ingredient list.

Key ingredients: poloxamer 184 (a mild cleansing agent), butylene glycol.

How to use: close your eye, press a pad on your lid and lashes for a few seconds, then sweep from the inner to the outer corner, Almay says.

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How to choose an eye makeup remover

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) doesn't back one brand: "I am not aware of any makeup remover that is preferred by ophthalmologists," one of its doctors writes. It suggests products that are hypoallergenic. So choose by your makeup, your eyes and your skin.

Makeup remover for waterproof mascara

Waterproof formulas need some oil to break down, and Cleveland Clinic notes that micellar water alone may not be enough for them. Look for a bi-phase remover (Lancôme, Garnier Waterproof, Clinique, Neutrogena) or a balm. Shake two-phase bottles every time; the two layers only work when they're mixed.

Oil based or oil free eye makeup remover?

An oil based eye makeup remover or balm melts waterproof formulas fastest. An oil free makeup remover suits acne-prone skin: the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says "Use an oil-free makeup remover," and to look for "oil-free, won't clog pores, or non-comedogenic" on the label. Neutrogena and Almay say they're oil-free.

Sensitive eye makeup remover (fragrance free and hypoallergenic)

Start with formulas that say fragrance-free and "ophthalmologist tested": Clinique, Almay and Garnier. Bioderma is unfragranced too. Lancôme and the Banila Co balm list fragrance. More gentle picks are on our sensitive skin page.

Eye makeup remover for contact lens wearers

The FDA's contact lens advice is simple: "Apply cosmetics after inserting lenses and remove your lenses before removing makeup." The AAO explains the worry: if particles get between the lens and your eye, "they can scratch the cornea and may lead to infection." Neutrogena, Almay and Lancôme all say their removers suit contact lens wearers.

Eye makeup remover for lash extensions

We didn't find AAO, AAD or brand guidance naming a remover for extensions, so we haven't given one a badge. Ask your lash artist what's safe for the glue they used. Whatever you use, be gentle: the AAO warns that "Rubbing, tugging or pulling can fracture your natural lashes, and even cause permanent damage to the eyelash follicle."

The best way to remove eye makeup

1. Take out your contacts first. That's the FDA's order: lenses out, then makeup off.
2. Soak the pad, don't drip it. Shake two-phase removers first. The AAO says "Whatever eye makeup remover you use, avoid getting it in your eyes."
3. Press and hold. Close your eye and hold the pad on your lashes. Dr. Bowles told Shop TODAY that pressing the remover on "helps dissolve the makeup without the need for rubbing." For waterproof mascara, Clinique says 10 seconds and Garnier says 10 to 15.
4. Wipe down and out, once. Bowles says being gentle here helps "prevent unnecessary irritation or lash breakage." The AAO asks you to "Be gentle with your eyelashes and the delicate areas around your eyes."
5. Get the lash line with a swab. The AAO's tip: "Brush a clean cotton swab along the base of the eyelashes to remove all makeup remnants."
6. Rinse your lids. The AAO says "Thoroughly rinse any remover off your eyelids." Then wash your face with a gentle cleanser, as the AAD advises.

Out of remover tonight? Our guide to how to remove makeup without makeup remover covers petroleum jelly, plain oils and your regular face wash. And if you curl your lashes, our eyelash curler picks work best on lashes you haven't tugged on the night before.

Comparison table

FAQs

What is the best makeup remover?

It depends on what you're removing. For everyday eye makeup on sensitive skin, a gentle micellar water like Bioderma. For waterproof mascara, a bi-phase remover like Lancôme Bi-Facil or Garnier Waterproof. For a full face of makeup, a balm first, then your regular cleanser.

What's the best makeup remover for waterproof mascara?

A two-phase remover or a balm. Waterproof formulas need some oil to break down, which is why Dr. Kassouf at Cleveland Clinic says you need "a lipid, a type of fat." Lancôme Bi-Facil was TODAY's pick, and Garnier Waterproof was NBC Select's.

Is micellar water good for removing eye makeup?

For regular mascara and eyeshadow, yes. Bioderma and Garnier both list eyes in their directions, and neither needs rinsing. For heavy or waterproof makeup, choose a bi-phase micellar water, or follow with a cleanser.

Can you use eye makeup remover with contacts in?

Take them out first. The FDA says to "remove your lenses before removing makeup." Then pick a remover the brand says suits contact lens wearers, such as Neutrogena, Almay or Lancôme, and rinse your lids well.

Is it bad to sleep in mascara?

Yes. The AAO says to "Remove all eye makeup at night before sleeping, especially mascara that can stick to the lashes," and warns that eye makeup that isn't removed properly "can cause irritation." The AAD adds: "Remove your makeup, including eye makeup, before going to bed."

If your eyes stay red, itchy or sore after removing makeup, stop using that product and see an eye doctor.

Pick for your mascara and your eyes, press before you wipe, and rinse your lids: that's most of it.