How to remove waterproof mascara

A simple, gentle method that protects your lashes and the thin skin around your eyes, and what to do when mascara just won't budge.

Waterproof mascara does its job very well: it survives rain, tears and swimming. The same qualities make it hard to take off, and the usual answer, rubbing harder, is the one thing the skin around your eyes doesn't need.

01Why waterproof mascara won't come off with water

Waterproof formulas use waxes, oils and film-forming ingredients that repel water. Water-based removers, including many micellar waters, slide over them. Oil dissolves them, which is why oil-based and two-phase removers are the usual answer.

02What you need

• An oil-based or two-phase remover, such as our Fragrance-Free Biphasic Make-up Remover.
• Soft cotton pads. Reusable ones are fine if they are washed often.
• A cotton bud for the lash line, if you like.
• Optionally, a mild cleanser or micellar water to finish.

03The method, step by step

1. Take out contact lenses and wash your hands.

2. Shake the remover so both phases are mixed.

3. Soak a pad until it is wet but not dripping.

4. Close your eyes and press the pad gently over the lashes. Hold for about ten seconds. This is the step most people skip. It gives the oil time to soften the waxes.

5. Wipe once, downwards and outwards, following the lashes. Most of the mascara should come away in one movement.

6. Use a fresh corner or a cotton bud soaked in remover along the lash line for any traces.

7. Repeat on the other eye with a fresh pad.

8. Finish with a mild cleanser or micellar water if you want no oil trace.

04Pads: disposable or reusable?

Either works. Disposable cotton pads are soft and hygienic; reusable cotton or bamboo pads cut waste if you wash them after every use, ideally at a high temperature. Avoid rough flannels on the eyes, and don't use the same pad on both eyes if one is irritated.

05When it still won't budge

Hold the pad for longer, up to thirty seconds, rather than pressing harder. Tubing mascaras, which wrap each lash in small polymer tubes, come off differently: they loosen with warm water and gentle pressure, sliding off the lashes in small pieces. If you often struggle, a non-waterproof mascara on ordinary days is kinder to your lashes.

06Common mistakes

• Rubbing side to side, which pulls lashes and irritates the lid.
• Using a dry or barely damp pad.
• Using the same pad on both eyes.
• Pulling the skin at the outer corner to stretch the lid.
• Sleeping in mascara, which can leave lashes brittle and eyes irritated.

07If your eyes are sensitive

Choose a fragrance-free remover. Fragrance is a common cause of eyelid irritation, and there is no need for it in a product used this close to the eyes. Our biphasic remover is fragrance-free, with no declared allergens. It does contain camomile, from the daisy family, so skip it if you are allergic to that family. Our simple routine for sensitive skin covers the rest of the face.

08Quick answers