When it comes to your getting-ready routine, applying eye makeup is the fun part. And though perhaps a less enjoyable task, removing said eye makeup is crucial. However, as anyone with sensitive eyes knows, using the wrong eye makeup remover can easily leave you burning, itching, stinging, or even swollen. To help narrow down the best eye makeup removers for sensitive eyes, Bustle spoke with Nashville-based ophthalmologist and aesthetic surgeon Dr. Melissa Toyos, who shares her tips on what to look for in a formula (and how to properly remove your eye makeup without causing irritation) below.
"Eyes are naturally more sensitive than other body parts because the skin is thinner and more delicate there than anywhere else on the body," Dr. Toyos explains of why you may experience eye irritation so easily. "Dry eyes, allergies, and even pollution can make them more sensitive," she notes. To keep irritation to a minimum, you'll obviously want a makeup remover that was specially designed for the more sensitive skin around the eyes. But more specifically, Dr. Toyos says to avoid harsh cleansing ingredients, like detergents and sodium laureth sulfate. It's also helpful to look for products that say they've been tested by ophthalmologists and are fragrance-free and hypoallergenic.
As for how to remove your eye makeup, Dr. Toyos says to be cautious of how harshly you're applying the remover. "Use a gentle rub," she says. "Forceful rubbing can stretch the skin, and it releases more histamines which worsens the cycle of allergies." If you've overdone it while trying to remove stubborn makeup, or allergies are the main culprit of your sensitivity, Dr. Toyos says that eye drops will help you out. "I recommend LUMIFY to reduce redness," she says.
Ahead, you'll find five of the best eye makeup removers for sensitive eyes on Amazon, including Dr. Toyos' favorite method for dissolving even the most stubborn of makeup (minus the irritation).