Makeup

Are You Really Removing All of Your Makeup?

If you're waking up with raccoon eyes or lipstick smear, discover the best ways to keep your makeup from crawling into bed with you

by Erica Smith | COMMENT

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How to Remove Waterproof Mascara I dread layering on coats of mascara, regardless of how luscious it makes my lashes look -- all I can think about is how I'm going to lose half of my eyelashes once it's time to remove my makeup. Long-lasting and waterproof mascaras these days have less and less water in their formulas and more and more water-repelling waxes. Which is great, because your mascara is less likely to smudge or run. And also not great, because it's such a chore to remove.

If you want to keep your lashes intact, here's the mascara-removing technique King suggests: Before you do anything, dampen two cotton rounds (cotton balls will leave stray fibers lodged in your lashes, or worse, your eye) with water, then apply a gel-based makeup remover like Philosophy Purity Made Simple 3-in-1 Cleansing Gel For Face and Eyes, $23, or a cleansing oil like Josie Maran Argan Cleansing Oil, $32, to the cotton rounds. Rest the rounds over your closed eyelids for five to 10 seconds. "You want to let the product actually work and dissolve the mascara before you even start moving the pad," King says.

When you do begin to move the pads, treat your lashes like an extremely moody cat -- don't pet or swipe against the grain. "Never rub back and forth -- you should stroke down your lashes gently and slowly, then circle in towards the bridge of your nose, over eyelids, and again stroke down lashes," says King. "Follow this pattern until the mascara is removed." Your lashes will thank you.

SEE NEXT PAGE: The Right Way to Remove Eyeliner

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