Thank you for all the AWESOME suggestions you left in the comments! I’m bookmarking this post so I can refer to it in the future as a resource. 🙂
My eyes are so sensitive — they get so teary — that you’d think I was watching The Notebook 24 hours a day.
So yes, I have a few things I use and love, but I’m always looking for more, so if you know of any good things, let me know. These are the products I’ve been using and loving for the past six months or so (during which time my eyes seem to have gotten much more sensitive).
For eyeliners, just good ol’ MAC Smolder Eye Kohl. It’s been around forever. It’s kind of like your basic creamy black eye kohl. It’s super dark, super smudgy, super soft, and it stays on your water lines and lash lines. And it doesn’t, for whatever reason, irritate my eyes. I can tolerate it.
Also, the Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliners — I feel like I keep talking about these — but they’re so great, even though they’re kind of expensive. They stay on, they’re twist-up, and they’ve got that skinny point, so you can really get in between the roots of your lashes, and they come in lots of wonderful, really wearable, pretty colors.
For eye makeup removers, I’ve been using two different ones — actually three. The first is DHC Deep Cleansing Oil, which works great. It doesn’t sting my eyes, and it takes off mascara really quickly.
If I’m wearing waterproof or long-wearing makeup and the DHC stuff doesn’t remove it, then I’ll use either Trish McEvoy Long-Wear Face and Eye Makeup Remover or Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover For Lids, Lashes & Lips. Both of those remove everything, and they don’t sting my eyes or irritate that sensitive eye area.
Eyeshadows for me — it seems like certain colors tend to aggravate my eyes more than others, like purplish colors, especially. And stuff with glitter.
How about you? If you have sensitive eyes, can you recommend any eye makeup removers, eyeliners and/or eyeshadows that don’t sting or make your eyes tear up?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Dear Karen! I’ve never taken the time to comment before, but i am a huge fan of your blog, all the way from the netherlands 🙂 I’d like to point out that clinique has another eye make up remover that my colleagues (I work in a cosmetics store) and I consider to be very suitable for sensitive eyes, it’s the one that comes in the tube, the Clinique Naturally Gentle Eye Makeup Remover!
Personally, I would recommend this over the take the day off eye remover, since it’s more soft and you need less of it to clean your eyes. (so it’s cheaper in the long run) I’m sure people at your store would be happy to give you a sample! I also really liked the The Body Shop eye makeup removers with chamomile back in the day, although they’ve recently changed them a bit, so i’m not sure if they are still good but the price is decent, so maybe it’s worth a try! 🙂 If you ARE ready to splurge, then the Sisley Démaquillant Doux is lovely and soft as well.. but quite expensive, in the end.. it’s just remover.
By the way, i love those chanel eyeliners too. i’m sort of saving up for the 100 santal, I love the brownish/copper color. Haha, this is the end of the rant! Hope it helped you a bit! 🙂 Love your blog!
Just got myself a brand new bottle of that DHC oil, it’s the best!
I love the Chanel liners too!! For remover, my favorite has been the koh gen do cleansing water – very pricey, but a little goes a long way and I like that it doesn’t leave an oily feeling.
Do you have any recs for mascara for sensitive eyes? No matter what I wear, it always seems to flake into my contacts after a few hours… So I end up not wearing it unless it’s a special occasion 🙁
Don’t laugh – stay with me here – I use PetCo Grooming Bath Wipes in Cucumber Melon ! Yep – they’re for DOGS, but they really work ! I don’t use a lot of waterproof products, so I’m not sure how they would fare on some of the tougher liners and mascaras, but for my “normal” makeup a few swipes is all it takes and my face is not only makeup-free, but clean, soft, and the scent is wonderfully subtle. If I get any in my eyes there is absolutely no pain, no tears, nothing. Bonus points for the price (about 12 bucks for a hundred wipes) and the size (bigger than any traditional facial cleansing wipe I’ve ever seen – 10 x 8 inches !) and no need to rinse if you’re doing a clean-up on the run…
I have no idea how I came up with using these – I think I was traveling and just grabbed one of of desperation – but they’re now a permanent part of my beauty routine. If you can get past the weirdness of exactly what they’re really for you may just fall in love with them as much as I have 🙂
I use Lancome Bi-facil eye makeup remover, and it doesn’t irritate my dry and allergic eyes. For eye epncils I love Bobbi Brown ones: soft, gentle and they do stay put. And Chanel le Volume Mascara.
I just want to say, sometimes very teary, burny eyes can actually be caused by too little oily lubricant in your tears, resulting in dry eyes and a paradoxical overproduction of watery tears. I’ve had this for a few years now and since starting on drops I have no symptoms any more.(They can’t cure the condition but they can treat it). Maybe get your eyes checked out if things are seriously irritated/irritating. It’s pretty common in women in their later 30’s apparently…
Bella, if you see this, would you mind saying what eye drops you are on? I have the same problem and my doctors seem clueless.
I’m not Bella, but I have the same problem and just use lubricating eye drops from the pharmacy/drug store. Ask the pharmacist there’s so many different kinds and I’ve used a few of them for the same result. I like the ones that are specifically for “Dry eyes”. Or sometimes I get “artificial tears”, sometimes it just says “lubricating drops”… (those are all from different brands, but one of them is Bausch and Lomb) They seem to all relieve my eyes quite well especially when waking up.
Ooh, thanks for this post! I have contacts so I’m extra careful about what I put near my eyes, and I love recommendations of good ways to get mascara off. Currently I’m using coconut oil, but I will only ever do that after my contacts are off… Don’t want to worry about tugging it around and not being able to rinse it out of my eyes!
I’ve been wondering: what’s your favorite everyday mascara? It’s so hard for me to figure out what is good for everyday and what isn’t… Maybe I don’t know how to apply mascara that well still. Always clumps. Always.
Hey Karen! I really like the Clarins instant eye makeup remover for waterproof makeup! Its really the best and doesnt feel like anything on the eyes! Besides, I really like using either Nars or Shu Uemura cleansing oils for the face as well as eyes.. it does the job pretty well and removes everything!
Hey Karen!
I have super-duper sensitive eyes, and dry eye – so the skin around my eyes also doesn’t self-hydrate the way it should.
What I ended up finding out the expensive (and red, dry, flaky, sad way) is that I have to be married to La Mer “the cleansing gel” for life. It’s pricey, but a squirt and some water and all of my makeup comes right off. I show no restraint with mascara, either, so this is impressive. 😉 I bought just for face washing, thinking I’d need something additional for eye makeup removal. Generally, I don’t. I use the gel, not the foam. I find the foam dries me out. Like I said, it’s pricey – but the bottle lasts a couple of months: http://www.cremedelamer.com/product/5825/26244/The-Cleansers/The-Cleansing-Gel/Calming-gel-removes-excess-oil
If I am not going to do a full face wash (say I want to take off a bit of makeup before the gym) I use the Chanel eye makeup remover on a round pad. Then I wet the dry side of the pad with some water and wipe the remover off. 🙂
Hi Karen! Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Crayons do not irritate my sensitive eyes, even when they’re shimmery colors. As for eye makeup removers, I’m still on the lookout for my holy grail. I’ve tried Clinique’s Take the Day Off but it didn’t remove all my mascara :(. For years, I’ve used Almay’s eye makeup remover pads — which are good but still not my HG!
Hi!
My eyes (and skin) are sensitive but not watery. The Neutrogena cream eye-makeup remover (it’s in a short blue tube) works really well for me – I can’t use watery removers because they irritate my eyelids, but the cream and oil based ones are fantastic.
I’ve never had a problem with eyeshadows. And I use Clio Kill Black liquid eyeliner for my top lash line and Rimmel Exaggerate waterproof pencil eyeliner for the bottom.
You already mentioned the winner for me, the DHC Cleansing Oil. I use that at the beginning of my shower to get my makeup off, and then wash at the end of my shower with a foaming gel (La Mer cleansing gel) to get any conditioner residue and remaining makeup off.
Out of many that I’ve tried Orlane was the absolute best…but it’s also $50 a bottle…
I am using Philosophy’s “Just Release Me” right now and it it’s ok but it still makes my eyes water a bit.
I can’t wait to see all the rec’s you get here 🙂 great question!!
Hi there. Long time reader/lurker, first time posting. I really love extra virgin coconut oil and a warm wash cloth for my sensitive eyes. It allows me to get all up in the nitty-gritty: (under my lash line, tight-line, water proof anything) without stinging or irritating. Plus its really good for you skin and it’s cheap. Love your blog! I often catch myself chuckling along with you (and Tabs 🙂
Hi Karen, this is my first comment, so first of all…LOVE your blog and you tube channel! I am very sensitive and allergic, but LOVE makeup. I can’t even wear falsies because I have a bad reaction to the glue. I usually use the nars eye liner pencils because they don’t move at all. I will try the chanel on your recommendation. Anything that slides around and falls in my eye is automatic aggravation. I’ve have no reaction to any nars eye products ( the face primer, yes). To remove all eyemakeup, even waterproof I use MUFE SENS’EYES and MarioBadescu eye makeup remover gel non oily. Both are non irritating and do not burn. The MB remover is so gentle and is the best at getting everything off and making my eyes feel like I’ve haven’t had to tug and pull to get anything off!
For that same problem I stopped using eyeliners, I barely use mascara.
eye shadows: I don’t use high end so I can’t give you and high end brand
my experience so far with ELF, Detrivore and wet and wild have been great.
I swear I don’t want to see loreal, revlon . rimmel anymore.
If I could recommend you an Eyemakeup remover will be a dutch brand called Derlon , that works fine for me. But I can also recommend you
two home remedies that will help you with water proof, olive oil and also witch hazel I use to take of regular make up. I also use rose water on my face and help wonderful when is irritated
I have to agree about the extra virgin coconut oil. It works great for removing eye makeup & just makeup of all kinds, in general. I’m a fan of using a drop plus castor oil for cleansing my skin. Some have experienced breakouts after using evco but I’ve never experienced this.
It’s antibacterial & oh so gentle for use on the eyes. I’d encourage you to try it for a week to get a good idea of how it works for you. Plus, it’s cheap (I sometimes get mine from TJ’s) and it smells yummy 🙂
Hi Karen! I personally love Fructis’s Nourishing Cleansing Oil, and it removes the most stubborn of makeup with no trouble. (Even Benefit’s new They’re Real liner pen!) It smells great, it’s inexpensive, it’s not too hard to get rinsed off, and it doesn’t burn my eyes at all.
I also like Clinique’s Take the Day Off cleansing balm, but it’s pricey.
I have really sensitive eyes now too! I used to never go without eyeliner and mascara, but sometimes now I just cannot take it. By the time I finish with eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara, my eyes are so red and watery that I really don’t want to bring attention to them! I try to use soft liners such as Chanel Kohl liners and I also have one by Dior that I love. I’m not sure how everyone uses the Chanel waterproof liners. I bought two beautiful colors and ended up returning them because they seemed hard and really difficult to apply. I do not care for them at all. I am enjoying reading all of the recs here….thank you!
There is a wonderful makeup remover by Mary Kay called Mary Kay® Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover. It even works on waterproof makeup. Retails for about $15 or so. Also, I love to used coconut or olive oil as an inexpensive alternative. You can mix either of the two with witch hazel as well.
I have sensitive eyes and I use baby oil to remove my eye makeup and I use baby shampoo to cleanse my eye area and I use baby wipes to remove any lip products and it all works like a charm and you save a lot of money.
The eye makeup remover that I keep repurchasing over and over again that does not irritate my sensitive eyes is Paula’s Choice Gentle Touch Makeup Remover. I’m on bottle 6 or 7 at this point. My eyes are very sensitive, I wear contacts, and I have allergies.
As far as eyeliners go, I get the least amount of irritation using NARS Black Valley on my waterline. I can use UD liners around my eyes, but if I use them on my waterline in the past 6 months they seem to come off on my contacts and cloud them, which is annoying.
What I tend to do lately is tightline with NARS Black Valley.
Hi, Karen. Vaseline works for me. It removes all make up and protect the skin from scratched by the cotton pads. I then finish it with baby wipes which are approved by eye doctor safe for the eyes, or baby wash gel. But then this baby wipes I use now have more rough material that iritate my skin around eyes. There are pro and contra about vaseline but there are paten and research about using vaseline for treating dry eyes and I personally believe no problem. I think that sometimes the cleanser/remover doesn’t sting but the make up that does while I remove it and get in your eyes mixed with the remover. By the way, not only eye make up, moisturizer contain alcohol denat usually make my eyes teary.
My eyes are pretty sensitive, but two removers I’ve found work really well are the Sephora brand & pure coconut oil. Obviously the coconut oil is cheaper and honestly works just as well. I get a big jar at Trader Joe’s for $6.
Removers I’ve found that don’t work at all (as in make my eyes sting & tear up) are Almay and the CVS brand of the Neutrogena version. Almay in particular BURNED! It was awful.
I have sensitive eyes and dislike almost remover I have tried except Aveda Pure Comfort Eye Makeup Remover. It’s super gentle and works!
Extra virgin olive oil is the best eye makeup remover I’ve tried yet! It gently removes waterproof formulas and leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated. Plus it’s affordable too!
Hi Karen, I have horribly sensitive dry eyes, so I definitely feel your pain. Grapeseed oil (yes, the kind from grocery store!) is the least irritating eye makeup remover out there, and I really have tried’em all :). As for makeup – Estee Lauder’s DW Kohl Eyeliners, anything Bobbi Brown (cream shadows in those little jars and mascaras are especially non-irritating for long wearing products), Inglot and UD shadows (but sadly, I do have to avoid glitter at all cost). To me personally, finding a good long wearing mascara that doesn’t bother my eyes was a real struggle, but somehow at one point I put my hands on the little tube of magic called Long Wearing Intensifying Mascara (from Bobbi Brown) – it really is amazing, give it a try if you haven’t yet. I hope this helps ;)!
Another vote for coconut oil. Just rub some all over your eye area and then use a cotton swab to remove. Works like a charm and no harsh chemicals! All natural and inexpensive.
I’m fairly sensitive too, but don’t like the mess of some oil-based removers. I used to use Avon’s creamy remover, but the last time I went to order they had stopped selling it except as an add-on. So now I use Maybelline’s Clean Express gel-based remover. It’s super gentle and works fast. For some reason I never see it at CVS, so I get it at Walmart. The one from Bliss is great too, but Maybelline is just more cost effective when I use it every day.
I too have sensitive eyes and I agree MAC smolder eye kohl works great. I do avoid eye products when my eyes are extra watery and a bit itchy. Eye drops only, lol. Eye makeup removers I love are Lancome Bi-Facil is AMAZING! Good drugstore options are Maybelline oil free eye makeup remover and Milani eye makeup remover. I do remove my eye stuff first before using a cleanse off oil because no matter the brand it ALWAYS irritates my eyes. It’s just less irritating with mascara, eyeliner, etc already removed. I like MAC cleanse off oil and drugstore (currently using) Garnier dry skin cleanse off oil.
I’ve had great success with oil based products – just remember to wash them off so that they don’t get IN your eyes. I am currently using Almay eye makeup remover pads and the Yes To series wipes (I like the tomato and cucumber ones) at night. The Almay ones seem to have some kind of oil in them as they leave a sheen and oily feel on my lids when I remove eye makeup. But they work very well with waterproof or tough to remove eye makeup. I wear night/day contact lenses and I have lighter colored eyes so I have pretty sensitive eyes. I follow up makeup removal/face washing with RoC night cream, Olay eye serum/lash combo, and Vitamin C for old acne scars and dark spots.
I really didn’t feel the Clinique Take The Day Off was able to deal with my mascaras. I’ve been using Bioderma Sensibio for a while now, and it’s freaking awesome. I also use it all over the face as a toner sometimes, it’s really refreshing.
Hey Karen! You might want to try a miccelar (not sure about the spelling!) water, as they’re usually pretty gentle. The classic – and one I have used for years – is by French pharmacy brand Bioderma. I don’t know how easy it is to get hold of in the US but I order mine from a French pharmacy website and delivery to the UK is pretty reasonable. I put some on a cotton pad, hold it against my eyelid for 10 seconds or so, then wipe away. More stubborn make-up may need a second pad but I find it pretty effective for my everyday make up, and it’s never made me cry! I hope you find something that works for you too :).
You should try Ultrabland from LUSH! It’s an all natrual cream cleanser that cuts through makeup like a dream! It works wonders!
I love the Neutrogena Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover. It’s a super hardcore, dual phase remover. For me, it takes off everything! I haven’t used an eyeliner or eyeshadow that it can’t take off. It can also remove face makeup, which I love. Best of all, it’s only about $8 for the big 5.5 oz bottle.
For eyeliner, I’ve never really had irritation with the Rimmel Scandal eyes eyeliner. I use the nude one frequently and I haven’t had a problem with it yet!
Bourjois Gentle Eye Makeup remover is the absolute best I find! I tried Clinique and it wasn’t really good at removing everything, I really had to tug and pull.. I also tried Josie’s cleansing oil but man that stings if it gets in the eye accidentally. Lancome’s BiFacial/Neutrogena’s dupe used to be my fave, but didn’t like the oily consistency.
I feel your pain! I will forever love Bioderma Crealine cleansing water as a makeup remover. It doesn’t work for waterproof mascara (at least for me, others have said it does for them), but it removes everything for me with no stinging, itching, etc. I also use it all over my face to make sure every trace of sunscreen is gone. If I’m using really hardcore mascara or something, I’ll use straight up olive or coconut oil.
I love the Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof. I only own two right now, but I just want all of them! I just ordered a cream liner from an indie brand that looked similar to Khaki Precieux in swatches, but if that doesn’t work, I’ll be re-stocking that one ASAP, it is my favorite. Their mascaras have also been great for me, most mascaras itch for me, or they don’t look good, or both. However, when I bought a second tube of the Khaki Bronze Volume de Chanel, it made me itch – probably because it was a LE from last fall, must have been old?
Where do you buy it? It’s hard to find here in the US!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002WDIPR8/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Amazon! I haven’t had any issues – always sealed and fresh!
My problem is that mascara makes my eyes feel heavy and tired. As soon as I do an eye look, I almost immediately feel sleepy.
Cleanser: coconut oil. Jojoba works, too.
Eyeshadow: Maybelline 24-hour Color Tattoo cream shadow. My skin erupts at nearly anything, and I’m fine with this stuff.
Eyeliner: Ulta Gel Liner. Believe it or not.
Mascara: Bobbi Brown, or Nyx Doll Eyes Lengthening (which surprised the hell outta me).
I have crazy sensitive eyes, and the two best I’ve tried are the Lancome Bifacil and Lumene’s Waterproof remover. No pain, no stinging, no weird, greasy film left behind.
http://mwritesabout.blogspot.com
I have sensitive eyes too and I always use waterproof makeup as I have annoyingly oily lids. I’ve been using the L’oreal Absolute Eye And Lip Makeup Remover which is fab and not too pricey! It’s one of those bi-phase ones that you shake up. I use mainly higher priced eyeshadows (like urban decay) as cheaper drugstore shadows always irritate my eyes for some weird reason?!
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I use coconut oil on a cotton square. It smells amazing, is cheap and works well. You can blot the rest off with a tissue if you want or wash it off.
I feel ya on the sensitive eyes. I love UD Bourbon, especially in the summer, but I rarely wear it because somehow the little flecks of glitter always irritate my eyes (and I don’t use it on my waterlines). It’s a bummer because I love how it looks.
Do you find the Clinque remover makes your eyes cloudy? It always does for me!
I love Boscia Makeup Break up cleansing oil and their purifying cleanser. I also have sensitive eyes and wear contacts and I’ve never had any problems with Boscia. I’ve even gotten a little in my eye and it didn’t burn. I tried other cleansers and I always go back to Boscia. I never wake up with leftover mascara or eyeliner under my eyes.
I haven’t found an eyeliner that stays on my water line.
I love UD’s eyeliners for pretty much everything including waterlines! Even the glittery ones don’t give me any irritation, although they don’t last as long on the waterlines as the matte ones.
As far as removers go, the Neutrogena biphasic one is excellent (and cost effective). Lancome BiFacil is also a favourite, although more expensive (and does leave more of an oily film than the Neutrogena).
I have very sensitive eyes and I have found that the Philosophy Purity face wash gets rid of eye make up REALLY well!! If I am wearing heavier or waterproof eye make up first I put on a small amount of olive oil on my fingers, and gently rub over my eye lids and then follow with the Purity face wash… never had raccoon eyes or teary eyes!! 🙂
I have trouble getting mascara off because I have to follow even waterproof formulas with Anastasia’s Lash Genius to prevent smudging on my oily skin. Most removers don’t work for me, although so far I’ve avoided trying the really pricey ones. Of things I have tried, coconut oil works wonderfully, but I end up with blurry eyes for a while after using it; a sample I got of MUFE Sens’ Eyes works extremely well — oddly, it stung my eyes the very first time I used it, but hasn’t since; next runner-up is Lumene’ remover, which needs a little time, but will take everything off; Sephora’s micellar water and makeup removing wipes do a decent job, if they were fragance-free I would like them a lot better; the Neutrogena remover doesn’t do much and Almay’s is useless for me, the Estee Lauder remover I got a sample of did not work well and stung my eyes, and the Fructis cleansing oil has way too much fragrance for me. When I use up the Lumene remover I have, I think I’ll spring for the MUFE Sens’ Eyes.
If my eyes turn red from my eye makeup, I put one drop of Alcon eye drops in each eye and they turn back to white in a few minutes. The Alcon drops have twice the redness-reducing ingredient of the other brands of drops, and I can manage one drop without disturbing my eye makeup (which admittedly is applied so as to survive rain, sleet, snow, sweat, humidity, and the occasional accidental encounter with a shower sprayer in the hand of a client with dementia, lol).
I’ve found that the Clinique Take the Day Off Balm works really well for me, as well as Purity Made Simple by Philosophy. I can rub both of those straight into my eye without it burning or stinging at all, and I’ve used both of them for approx. 4 years. I’ve noticed that the formulas of some eye products themselves are what makes my eyes sting. Even if I’m using my trusty removers above I have to be careful to avoid my eye area, so it might be the products you’re using too.
Just remembered I’ve been wanting to try this: http://store.swbasicsofbk.com/products/makeup-remover from SW Basics. Definitely worth a look for eye makeup remover because of how basic and simple the products are yet they get rave reviews!
I have very sensitive skin and eyes so I use Almay for sensitive eyes and The Body Shop Camomile Waterproof makeup remover. Hope this helps!
The only eye makeup remover that I can handle is Lancome Bi-facil. All Mac eyeshadows and Mac kohl power eyeliners feel like nothing’s on my eyes.
I have super sensitive eyes and Clinique is the only make up brand I can use daily. Any other brand that I have tried, either drugstore or high end, has caused me irritations. As many other commenters before me, I would suggest trying pure coconut oil. I’ve been using it for a few months and it works wonderfully.
I also have sensitive eyes and what works best for me are the Almay gentle eye make up remover pads
and Huggies Baby Wipes to remove my face makeup.
I use Almay’s oil-free eye make-up remover pads. They are so gentle I can use them even after my contacts are in. I hold them on my eyes for 5 seconds and then gently swipe away all traces of mascara, eyeliner and shadow. Highly recommended!
Coconut oil is the best makeup remover the Virgin raw stuff is the best beauty product I own. Natural and moisturising!! I have really sensitive skin but this has been a lifesaver!
Origins Clean Energy Gentle Cleansing Oil removes makeup and waterproof mascara without any stripping or harshness. I have strayed, but I always go back, because I love it and it’s the best for me and my sensitive contact wearing eyes.
I also have problems wearing blue eyeliner and any shadows with red dye pigment. I stick to black or greens without glitter.ew