We Tested 29 Eye Makeup Removers, These 12 Wipe Away Stubborn Shadow, Liner, and Mascara

Best Overall

Clinique Eye Makeup Remover

View On Amazon $36 View On Nordstrom $24 View On Sephora $24

Our Ratings

• Feel
  5/5
• Residue
  5/5
• Performance
  5/5

As far as eye makeup removers are concerned, a creamy lotion isn’t usually what comes to mind first. But, after putting this rich formula from Clinique to the test, it’s changed everything we know about eye makeup remover. “Initially, I was a bit worried about putting a cream on my eye since it’s a lot different than what I usually use, but I was amazed,” our tester admits. “It didn’t get in my eyes or cause burning — instead, it made my makeup come right off.” Given its silky texture, our tester was pleased to find that it left her lids feeling soft and moisturized. 

One thing to note: The formula contains sesame seed extract, which may trigger a reaction from those who are allergic to various nuts and seeds. 

Size: 2.5 fl oz. | Type: Lotion | Ingredients: Sesame seed oil, Algae extract

Best Value

e.l.f Cosmetics Cleansing Balm

View On Amazon $11 View On Ulta $11 View On Elfcosmetics.com

Our Ratings

• Feel
  5/5
• Residue
  5/5
• Performance
  5/5

A luxurious makeup-removing balm doesn’t have to be expensive. Case in point: This cleansing balm from e.l.f. Cosmetics. Our tester, who has tested tons of balms prior to this one, said that it stood apart from the rest. “I loved the feel of this balm on my skin. It didn’t feel harsh, unlike other makeup removers I’ve tried,” she says. “Compared to other balms I’ve used, it required minimal product — which is something I value a lot — and left behind no residue.” Formulated with a blend of nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and peptides, the balm offers deep hydration on top of effective cleansing. “The product effectively took off all of the eyeshadow I was wearing in just a few swipes and I never once felt greasy or slimy,” she explains. 

While our tester didn’t have a bad thing to say about the product’s makeup-removing capabilities, reviewers online mentioned that it might take a bit of elbow grease to remove waterproof eyeliner and mascara. 

Size: 2 oz. | Type: Balm | Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, Ceramides, Peptides

Best Splurge

Tata Harper Makeup Removing Oil Cleanser

View On Amazon $88 View On Nordstrom $88 View On Sephora $88

Our Ratings

• Feel
  5/5
• Residue
  4.5/5
• Performance
  5/5

Tata Harper is one of those brands you never stop hearing about. It’s for good reason, we can assure you that. If it wasn’t, celebs like Brooke Shields and Kate Hudson wouldn’t be feeding into the hype. What makes the brand so special is that it’s dedicated to sourcing plant-based ingredients from its own farm in Vermont with the intention of using nature to provide clear, youthful skin. With that said, farm-to-face isn’t cheap, so if you’re going to splurge on a makeup remover, let it be on this one. Not only did it wow our testers, but a little bit goes a long way, so you can get the most out of your money. “I used a tiny amount on my eyelid and was able to easily remove my makeup,” our tester confirms. “It required minimal effort and pressure, too.” The tester also admits that upon first application, he used a little too much and noticed some residual oil. But, next time he tried it, he used significantly less and had no residue left behind. 

Size: 4.1 fl oz. | Type: Cleansing oil | Ingredients: Alfalfa, Vitamin A, Squalane

Best Balm

Drunk Elephant Slaai Makeup-Melting Butter Cleanser

View On Amazon $36 View On Ulta $36 View On Sephora $36

Our Ratings

• Feel
  5/5
• Residue
  5/5
• Performance
  5/5

There’s no question about it: Drunk Elephant knows a thing or two about skincare. This makeup-removing balm is no different. I had the opportunity to test the two-in-one product in the lab and was not disappointed. The buttery smooth formula felt incredibly moisturizing, even on my eyes. And, although there’s oil in the formula, it didn’t get into my eyes or make me temporarily blind, which is something that happens to me often since I wear contact lenses. 

It’s intended to be used on your whole face, either on its own to remove makeup or in conjunction with the exfoliating powder that comes with it. I wouldn’t put the exfoliating powder anywhere near my eyes (that screams recipe for disaster), but it does work quite nicely when I want to give my skin an extra zhuzh while cleansing. Plus, the tub itself is pretty large, so even though the price is up there, I know I’ll get a good use out of it. I also love that it comes with a spoon that can be used to dish out the perfect amount of product every time and eliminate any cross-contamination from bacteria or grubby fingers. 

A quick thing to note: It has a fruit smoothie-like smell. It didn’t bother me, given that there is no added fragrance and the scents comes from fruit oils, but I know scent can be a trigger for those with super sensitive skin. If you're easily irritated by scents, you may want to perform a spot test first just to be sure.

Size: 3.88 oz. | Type: Balm | Ingredients: Blueberry extract, Kiwi extract, Strawberry extract, Cranberry seed oil, Açai fruit oil, Watermelon seed oil

Best Cleansing Water

Glossier Milky Oil

View On Sephora $16 View On Glossier.com $16

Our Ratings

• Feel
  4/5
• Residue
  5/5
• Performance
  4/5

If you hate the idea of slathering an oil or a balm all over your face, try this milky oil from Glossier. The perfectly-proportioned combo of oil and micellar water work together to create a dual-phase formula that dissolves makeup and conditions skin at the same time. The bottle is squeezable, so it’s mess-free, and it can be used either alone or with a cotton pad. “It’s super smooth and doesn’t feel greasy, despite having oil in it,” our tester says. “To my surprise, there’s no residue left behind, and I was able to use the same cotton round for both of my eyes (three swipes per eye).” 

Some reviewers say that the bottle is an in-between size and that they wish there was a larger size for more value and a smaller size to travel with. 

Size: 3.4 fl oz. | Type: Micellar water, Oil | Ingredients: Comfrey root extract, Pro-vitamin B5, Castor oil

Best Oil

Caudalie Makeup Removing Cleansing Oil

View On Amazon $30 View On Sephora $30 View On Kohls.com $30

Our Ratings

• Feel
  5/5
• Residue
  5/5
• Performance
  5/5

This pampering cleansing oil feels so luxurious it turns your daily cleanse from a chore into a treat. The gentle oil is formulated with four oils — sweet almond, rapeseed, sunflower and castor — to condition skin as you cleanse, leaving it silky smooth and product-free. “I usually stay away from oil-based products, but I was surprised to find that this cleanser didn’t feel greasy on the skin,” our tester shares. “After using it, my skin felt fresh with no residue left behind, making it my new holy grail product.” 

Size: 5 fl oz. | Type: Cleansing oil | Ingredients: Sweet almond oil, Rapeseed oil, Sunflower oil, Castor oil

Best Bi-Phase

Chanel Eye Makeup Remover

View On Chanel View On Nordstrom $40 View On Ulta

Our Ratings

• Feel
  5/5
• Residue
  5/5
• Performance
  5/5

Like most things stamped with the coveted Chanel branding, there’s an intentional and meticulous construction behind this formula. Spoiler alert: It’s exceptional. While it dissolves all traces of stubborn makeup as good as any top-performing makeup remover, it’s the state of skin afterwards that makes it such a stand out. 

The oil-based formula feels watery but is surprisingly pleasant to work with. “It’s not drippy, and though it contains oil, it didn’t leave behind a greasy or slimy feeling,” Senior Beauty Commerce Editor Shannon Bauer says. “It removed every speck of eyeshadow in one swipe. There was no residue left on my eyes after using it and I didn’t feel like I needed to wash it off with a cleanser.”

It goes without saying that almost $40 feels like a lot for a makeup remover, especially one that’s only three ounces. But, given the results during the lab test, our tester would recommend it for lighter makeup days. “It can get off the tough stuff, but for glam looks I would reach for something a little tougher,” she says. 

Size: 3.4 fl oz. | Type: Bi-phase liquid | Ingredients: Cornflower and Rose extracts

Best Pads

Marcelle Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover Pads

View On Amazon $15 View On Walmart $26 View On Marcelle.com $10

Our Ratings

• Feel
  5/5
• Residue
  5/5
• Performance
  5/5

Makeup remover pads and wipes have gotten a bad rep these last few years. It makes sense why — they can be a little more irritating than balms and oils, as well as less planet-friendly — but as long as you’re removing your makeup before bed, it’s hard to hate. If you’re still part of the camp of people who stand by their wipes, these gentle pads are right up your alley. “They’re moist without making your face all wet and don’t seep into your eyes,” our tester explains. “It dries on contact and leaves skin feeling smooth instead of sticky.” It only took one swipe per eye to get rid of stubborn eye makeup, which, obviously, is impressive. But, the best part of all is that the tester says “eyelids aren’t red at all” after. 

Seeing as the pads aren’t overloaded with liquid, they may dry out over time, especially if you don’t use them that often. If that’s the case, you may need to wet them a bit in order to bring them back to life. 

Size: 85 wipes | Type: Wipes | Ingredients: Aloe vera

Best for Waterproof Makeup

Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover

View On Nordstrom $33 View On Sephora $33 View On Clarinsusa.com $33

Our Ratings

• Feel
  4.5/5
• Residue
  5/5
• Performance
  5/5

Waterproof eye makeup is key for a long-lasting, impenetrable makeup look. But, if you’ve ever packed on waterproof mascara, then you know how much of a struggle it is to get off. To rid yourself of raccoon eyes for good, consider Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover: As the name suggests, it removes tough eye makeup in an instant. Our tester, who tried it on eyes covered in dark shadow and mascara, was easily impressed. It seamlessly wiped away her eyeshadow and left her skin “comfortable and soothed” with no residue in sight. “This is a great option for those, like me, who hate residue on their eyes,” she says. “Usually, makeup removers leave a sticky oil on my eyes and I can’t see clearly for some time, but this one didn’t do that.” 

If we could change one thing, it would be to make it fragrance-free, since not everyone is a fan of fragrance and it can be irritating to some. 

Size: 4.2 fl oz. | Type: Bi-phase | Ingredients: Glycerin, Chamomile extract, Damascus rose extract

Best for Sensitive Skin

Neutrogena Eye Makeup Remover

View On Amazon $7 View On Ulta $12 View On Neutrogena.com

Our Ratings

• Feel
  5/5
• Residue
  5/5
• Performance
  5/5

This drugstore staple has been around for decades and continues to be a favorite among supermodels, beauty professionals, and everyday makeup wearers alike. Why? It’s affordable, effective and doesn’t tout any bells and whistles. All you need is a cotton pad and a tiny bit of the dual-phase liquid to lift eye makeup without the need for scrubbing or tugging. “I love that the product is water-based and feels nice on my eyelids,” our tester shares. “Very little is needed to take off all of my makeup, which is huge.” To get the best results, the brand suggests shaking the bottle to break up the formula and then apply it directly to the face. You might notice an immediate calming effect, thanks to soothing aloe and cucumber extracts. 

There’s so much to love, except when it comes to sizing. The size is pretty standard — it’s not too big nor too small. Several reviewers noted that they wish that there was a bigger size and a smaller size to travel with, though. 

Size: 5.5 fl oz. | Type: Bi-phase liquid | Ingredients: Aloe vera and Cucumber extracts

Best for Sensitive Eyes

Mary Kay Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover

View On Marykay.com

Our Ratings

• Feel
  5/5
• Residue
  5/5
• Performance
  5/5

Chances are, at one point or another, you’ve tried one of Mary Kay’s iconic cosmetic products. This eye makeup remover by the brand is our pick for those with sensitive eyes (like contact lens-wearers) because it refreshes skin and lifts makeup from the super sensitive eye area without any stinging or pain. Plus, it was tested by dermatologists and ophthalmologists, who proved it to be suitable for those who wear contacts and those who have skin allergies.

And, even though it’s gentle enough for those with sensitivities, it’s still highly effective. “It does an amazing job of removing makeup — I feel refreshed without any irritation,” our tester says. “I only needed a couple swipes to get rid of all of the makeup I had on; it performed way better than I expected it to.” 

It’s available at Amazon and Mary Kay, but we wish more retailers carried it in case they sell out. 

Size: 3.75 fl oz. | Type: Bi-phase | Ingredients: Water and Dimethicone