Love it or Leave It: Eye Makeup Remover

We’ve tried a lot of mascaras. It’s a bit of an occupational hazard. Not to mention the never-ending array of liquid liners that we’ve attempted to artfully apply. And then there are the eye shadows, from powders to liquids, which have graced our lids. Experimenting doesn’t frighten us anymore but we hate to get stuck wearing products that we don’t love. We’ve rounded up the best and the worst eye makeup removers all so that you won’t be caught with something less than sensational around your eyes… like liners that run and mascaras that flake.

Love it: Ultra-Soft Eye Makeup Remover Pads from Neutrogena

We found this product after filling up our cart with drugstore brands one day in search of reasonably priced options in effective eye makeup removers. The pads themselves are soft and thick, offering up a plush, ready-to-go option for effective eye makeup removal. Promising to removal all traces of makeup, including waterproof mascara, Neutrogena’s Ultra-Soft Eye Makeup Remover Pads actually delivered and they didn’t break the bank doing so; we paid $7.99 for a month’s supply at Walgreens.

Leave it: L’oreal’s Eye Makeup Remover

We found Loreal’s oil-free eye makeup remover to be ineffective and aggravating to the gentle skin around the eyes. The packaging states that this remover is safe for contact wearers and Opthamologist tested but we felt an immediate stinging sensation upon applying the product. While we are generally a fan of the L’oreal brand, this is one product that’s best left at the counter.

Love it: Soft and Swift Make-Up Remover from VMV Hypoallergenics

Suitable for all skin types, VMV Hypoallergenics’ makeup remover banishes more than just black mascara and eyeliner; this fragrance-free and preservative-free product eradicates any type of makeup residue, from foundation to lipstick. Supremely gentle, yet surprisingly effective, we put this product up against our toughest, darkest liquid eyeliner and Soft and Swift Make-Up Remover prevailed. Buy it for $15 online at vmvhypoallergenics.com.

Leave it: Too Faced Lash Injection Antidote

We were truly excited about Lash Injection Antidote from Too Faced cosmetics, namely because the product claims to be capable of removing even that glue-like substance known as waterproof mascara (which should be called removal-proof mascara if you ask us). We were willing to put up with the slight stinging sensation that we felt upon initially applying the remover because we figured, to actually remove this most impervious of eye makeup products, some harsh chemicals would be required. Unfortunately, Lash Injection Antidote was not the remedy we’d hoped for.

Love it: Purifying Eye Make-Up Remover from Ole Henriksen

Danish Ole Henriksen studied skin care and cosmetic chemistry in London before heading stateside to open his signature spa on Sunset Boulevard. He’s treated a long list of celebrity clients including Charlize Theron, Mathew McConaughey and Christy Turlington. Thankfully, Henriksen’s star skin care is available to mere mortals who simply need log on to www.olehenriksen.com and scoop up the ultra-effective Purifying Eye Make-Up Remover. Priced at $25 for 75 pads or about 33 cents per pad, this A-list favorite is D-list affordable.