How To Remove Waterproof Mascara and Other Waterproof Makeup

Waterproof makeup can be incredibly useful for those who live in hot, rainy, or humid climates, as well as for special occasions like weddings. But figuring out how to take off waterproof mascara and other waterproof makeup products at the end of the day can be tricky if you don’t have the right products on hand. Scrubbing your skin to remove makeup at the end of the day could leave your skin feeling dry or make your skin appear red and irritated. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to remove waterproof eye makeup without putting your skin at risk. 

Ahead, we’ll share tips on how to remove waterproof mascara without irritating your skin. We’ll also offer a look at some of our favorite gentle products to get the job done. Keep reading for the intel and get ready to retire your harsh makeup removers for good. 

Can I Remove Waterproof Mascara With Just Water?

A good waterproof mascara, like the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Waterproof Mascara, will stay put even if your lashes come into contact with water, sweat, or tears. While that’s definitely useful for rainy or tearful days, it also means that they can’t easily be removed with water alone. Instead, you’ll need a dedicated waterproof mascara remover that can help dissolve the mascara without damaging your lashes. 

If you prefer a super easy mascara removal process, a tubing mascara, like the L’Oréal Paris Double Extend Beauty Tubes Tubing Mascara, might be a better choice for you. Although this pick isn’t waterproof, it’s designed to hold up throughout the day without smudging, running, flaking, or clumping. Plus, removal is a breeze. Simply close your eyes and splash your face with lukewarm water (or hold a wet cotton pad over your closed eye). Once the mascara gets wet, the tubes will slide right off your lashes, leaving nothing but healthy-looking fringe behind. 

How To Take Off Waterproof Mascara

When trying to figure out how to get waterproof mascara off, there are a few options to consider: traditional makeup removers, cleansing wipes, cleansing balms, and micellar water. Keep reading for more details on how to use each to take off your waterproof makeup. 

1. Eye makeup remover

When you think of a makeup remover, we can bet that you’re probably thinking of the traditional eye makeup remover. These formulas typically contain water and oil and help dissolve waterproof makeup without requiring you to pull, scrub, or tug at your skin. To use one, grab a clean cotton pad and saturate it with the makeup remover. Then, close your eyes and hold the pad over your lid for around ten seconds. Gently wipe the pad across your lid to remove your makeup, and repeat the process if necessary. 

Editor’s Tip: While many eye makeup removers are designed to remove waterproof makeup, that’s not true of them all. Read the packaging on your chosen product carefully to make sure that it is designed to remove waterproof mascara before making your purchase.

2. Makeup-removing towelettes

After a long day, it can be tempting to skip the nightly cleanse and hop right into bed. But we probably don’t need to tell you that isn’t the best idea. Sleeping in your makeup can contribute to skin concerns like irritation and even acne, per the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). If you don’t want to spend time at the sink or hop into the shower, give your face a quick cleanse with makeup-removing towelettes. These facial wipes can help remove dirt, oil, and other impurities while gently (but effectively) removing mascara, eyeliner, and other waterproof makeup. Keep a pack on your nightstand for those nights when sleep takes priority over your usual nighttime skincare routine. Just make sure to close the pack afterward so the other wipes don’t dry out. 

3. Cleansing balms

Oil-based makeup removers are among the best products for removing waterproof makeup. They can help dissolve both waterproof and traditional makeup, as well as dirt, oil, and other impurities that can clog your pores. 

While you can use a cleansing balm or oil on its own, we’re partial to double cleansing. This Korean beauty method, as the name suggests, involves cleansing your face twice—first with an oil-based cleanser and then again with a traditional water-based cleanser. For the latter, we suggest the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Radiant Smoothing Cream Cleanser, which contains vitamin C and salicylic acid and helps remove all traces of dirt and impurities. Alternatively, you could use an exfoliating cleanser. The L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives 3.5% Glycolic Acid Cleanser is a great pick for all skin types, and it helps smooth, resurface, and brighten the skin.

4. Micellar water

Micellar water is a gentle cleansing option that can also be used to remove makeup—even waterproof mascara and eyeliner. These toner-like formulas are liquid formulas that contain small oil molecules (called micelles) suspended in water. The micelles attract oil, dirt, and makeup to help “lift” these impurities off of the skin. 

To remove makeup with micellar water, soak a cotton pad with the solution and gently wipe away your makeup until it’s completely removed. This may take a few wipes, especially if you’re wearing waterproof mascara, but it’s a great way to get all your eye makeup off without excessive rubbing. Once you’re done, you don’t need to rinse or wash your face (though you can, of course, if you want to). 

4 Tips and Techniques for Removing Waterproof Makeup

While choosing the right waterproof mascara remover is important, so is using it properly. Here are four tips to keep in mind when taking off your makeup at the end of the night.

Let it soak

Quickly swiping makeup remover across your lashes may not remove all of your waterproof makeup. Your best bet is to saturate the cotton pad in your chosen makeup remover, then hold the pad over your (closed) eye for about 15 to 30 seconds. This will help the makeup remover break up the mascara more thoroughly for an easier removal process. 

Wipe outward

When removing makeup, it’s often tempting to rub your makeup remover onto your lashes in circular motions or pull upward to avoid being met with raccoon eyes when you look in the mirror. Neither of these approaches is ideal, though—pulling your skin upward or downward could potentially lead to the makeup remover getting in your eye. Instead, gently swipe your chosen makeup remover across your eye, moving from the inner corner outward. 

Use cotton swabs

If you find that you still have makeup on the base of your lashes or beneath your lash line after removing your makeup, use a cotton swab dipped in makeup remover to help clean up any residue. 

Hydrate your eye area 

We’re guessing you probably moisturize your face after cleansing—your eye area deserves the same treatment. Post-makeup removal, apply an eye cream or serum to help trap in moisture and keep your eye area feeling hydrated. We love the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid + 1% Caffeine Eye Serum, which helps boost moisture retention, firms the skin, and helps diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renewal Anti-Aging Eye Cream Treatment, which provides up to 24 hours of hydration and targets five visible signs of aging, is also a great pick.

Next Up: Our 9 Best Waterproof Mascaras That Don’t Smudge or Budge

Photo Courtesy of L’Oréal Paris