Q&A for How to Remove Mascara

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Question

How do you get mascara off without damaging your eyelashes?

Alicia D'Angelo
Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist
Alicia D'Angelo is a makeup artist based in New York City. She currently works for teams with Dior Makeup, YSL Beauty and Pat McGrath Labs as well as bridal companies Once Upon A Bride and Miss Harlequinn. Her work has been featured in Today.com, New York Live, Forbes.com, VH1, MTV, Vevo, Entertainment Weekly, Refinery 29, and NYXCosmetics.com. She has a Visual Communications degree from FIDM-Los Angeles.

Alicia D'Angelo

Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Eye makeup remover will target mascara more efficiently than a facial cleanser, micellar water, or makeup wipe can, and you don't have to rub your eyes as much, which can damage your lashes. Just dampen a cotton round with the remover and hold it to your closed eye for a few seconds, then lightly wipe the area.

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Question

Is it bad if you sleep with mascara on?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Yes, it can irritate the eyes and skin, so you should always remove your makeup before bed.

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Question

Can you use coconut oil to remove mascara?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Yes, you can. Any food-grade oil such as coconut or olive oil will work to remove mascara.

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Question

Can wearing mascara ruin your eyelashes?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Yes, especially waterproof mascara which can clog your hair follicles and make eyelashes brittles. Try to avoid mascaras that contain silicones.

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Question

How do you get mascara off?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Apply makeup remover to a cotton pad, hold it on your lashes for a few seconds, and gently wipe it away. Continue wiping, using fresh cotton pads as needed until the pad comes away clean.

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Question

How do you get mascara off without makeup remover?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

You can try soap and water, just be careful not to get the soap in your eyes. If that doesn't work, you can use facial cleaner or olive or coconut oil. Just apply it gently with your fingers or a cotton pad.

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Question

What if it's not getting off because of a lot of coats?

Community Answer

Makeup remover should work, regardless of the amount of makeup. It will just take longer if you have a lot of coats. If you didn't get it all off with one cotton ball, get another, put some makeup remover on it, and keep going until it's all off. Make sure your makeup remover is oil-based if your mascara is waterproof.

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Question

I have tried a lot of these options and my mascara is just being very stubborn and it is hard to thoroughly remove it. I hate sleeping with any mascara on what should I do?

Community Answer

Micellar water! You can pick it up in the skin care section of drug stores and grocery stores. Just put a little on a cotton ball or pad and hold it on your eye for a few seconds. Even stubborn mascara will wipe right off.

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Question

I've put makeup on and forgotten to take it off for two weeks now. It won't come off and my eye is going red. What do I do?

Community Answer

Go to your doctor immediately and get a referral to a dermatologist. Leaving makeup on for such a long time can be very bad for your skin and, by the sound of it, your eye as well.

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Question

How do I remove eyeliner?

Community Answer

Use eye makeup remover and follow the same steps as removing mascara. Be careful not to get anything in your eye.

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Question

What do I do if I have to remove it after a performance? I have dance, then straight after I have got band, and I have to remove red lipstick as well.

Annastacia S.

Community Answer

Wet a piece of a paper towel, in a bathroom, etc. Fold it, and place eyelashes inside the fold and pull softly away from your face. I use this method every week. Keep doing that until all the mascara is off. It should not take more than a minute. As for lipstick, just wipe with a towel, not too hard, and make sure you only wipe the lips, not your whole face. Then wet your lips with water and move your finger across your lips. That's it!

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Question

I don't have any of the stuff on the list. What should I do?

Luxuryx

Community Answer

Use soap and water, but keep your eye closed. You can also use olive oil, Vaseline, or lotion.

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Question

What should I do if I get makeup remover in my eye?

Community Answer

Quickly rinse your eye out with water until you have completely flushed out the makeup remover. Your eye might be irritated but you shouldn't suffer any long-term damage. If the irritation doesn't go away within a day or two, or gets worse at any point, see your doctor.

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Question

My mascara stains on my skin, how do I get that off?

Community Answer

First, cleanse your face, gently rubbing the stained area. Then, use makeup remover.

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Question

What if I've got eyeliner all over my face, but I don't have the right materials to remove it?

Community Answer

You can try good old-fashioned soap and water. Dampen a towel with warm water and apply a little bit of soap. Then scrub your eyes gently.

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Question

How can I prevent my eyes from getting irritated when I remove mascara?

Community Answer

Start by not rubbing your eyes as much - use a gentle touch. I would then head to the store and buy some makeup remover, which can remove the mascara with ease so you don't have to rub your eyes so much. This should help reduce the irritation you feel. If not, you may need to try a new brand of mascara as that could be contributing to the problem.

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Question

I keep getting little flecks in my eye when I remove my mascara. How do I avoid this?

Cecilia Flores

Top Answerer

First of all, don't use waterproof mascara unless it's completely necessary (beach, pool, rain, crying). Another tip is to only apply mascara to the top lashes and not the bottom lashes. Take your makeup-removing product of choice, close your eyes, and place your removing product on your eyelashes firmly for around 10 seconds. Then, keeping your eye shut, gently drag it down. Do this as many times as you need to completely remove the mascara. Avoid back and forth rubbing, tugging, or picking out the clumps of mascara.

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Question

What do I do if I get clumps of mascara in my eye?

Community Answer

Wash your hands, and in front of a mirror, use your fingers to fish out the clumps. You can also use an eye wash or eye drops.

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Question

How do I know if I have all the mascara off my eye?

Community Answer

While taking a shower, put your pointer finger under your eyelashes and gently blink (think of your finger as a mascara wand). You should be able to do this without seeing any mascara on your fingers.

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Question

I always leave my mascara on; is that bad?

Community Answer

It could make your eyelashes fall out faster which could lead to thing eyelashes.

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Question

How can I prevent mascara from running into my eyes when I wash my face?

Buggylu25

Top Answerer

Use a small cotton circle or swab with a gentle makeup remover (i.e. micellar water) to remove it before washing your face. Concentrating the makeup remover on your eyelashes first will remove a lot of the product, keeping it out of your eyes.

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Question

I got mascara under one of my eyes, and it makes it look like I have darker bags under one eye than the other. I want to get rid of it but I don't have the things for it in my home. What do I do?

Lia Hamilton

Community Answer

Wash the area with some face wash or cover it with concealer if you don't want to rub off any makeup. The only way to take off mascara is to wash it off.

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