There’s nothing worse than getting home after a long day at work, to find you’ve run out of makeup remover because you didn’t get to the store in time.
That feeling of defeat may have you asking yourself, ‘Is waking up with panda eyes really all that bad?’, the answer is yes.
You should never sleep with mascara on.
Mascara adds weight and thickness to your lashes when you apply it, and throughout the day things are going to fly into them, such as dirt particles.
By not taking off your mascara, you are allowing all kinds of bacteria to linger and get into contact with your eye, which could lead to some not-so-nice infections.
Sleeping with mascara could also damage your eyelashes, causing them to weaken, and in some cases, fall off.
Now, that’s enough horror stories.
We wouldn’t give you the bad news without giving you solutions, so this article will provide you with some alternatives to makeup remover that you can use to remove your mascara.
The best news is that these are probably items you’ve already got lying around in your pantry or bathroom.
You may even decide to banish makeup remover from your grocery list after trying some of these out!
Milk Or Yogurt
While these wouldn’t be the first makeup alternatives you’d think of, dairy products have been proven to be effective in removing makeup, including mascara.
Milk is also known for hydrating the skin, think back to all those old movies where women would soak in baths of milk!
You’re also likely to have these ingredients in your fridge, so it’s good to know they are useful back up makeup removers.
All you need to do is dip a cotton ball into the yogurt or milk, and lightly wipe at your lashes with it.
Keep repeating this until the mascara has been removed from your eyelashes.
After this, rinse your face with lukewarm water, and notice how soft your skin will feel!
Vaseline
Vaseline, or petroleum jelly, is already likely to be sitting in your medicine cabinet.
While it is great for removing mascara, it also works to make your eyelashes thicker over time!
This type of gel is affordable, and can hydrate your skin too. All you need to do is cover a cotton swab in the Vaseline, and gently run it along your lash line and on the eyelashes to remove the mascara.
Use a wash cloth or cotton pad to wipe all the gel and mascara marks away, and then wash your wash as you normally would.
Baby Shampoo
It may sound strange, but baby shampoo can be effective in removing mascara.
Baby shampoo differs from regular shampoos as it is gentle, hypoallergenic, and safe for the eye area.
Squeeze a dime-sized amount of baby shampoo onto a cotton pad, and wipe your eyelashes gently until you can feel your eyelashes are smooth and free of mascara.
Once this is done, wipe your face and eyes with a cotton pad, or washcloth.
The Infamous Waterproof Mascara
Waterproof mascara can be tough to get off, so we actually have an in depth article on how to do so here.
While some love and praise waterproof mascara, many have veered away from it, due to the difficulties that come with taking it off.
Waterproof mascara is made with some hefty materials in order for it to be resistant to anything wet, and yes, that includes some makeup removers.
Mixtures that contain oils are the most effective when removing this type of mascara.
They will also hydrate your lashes, which is needed as waterproof mascara can leave them quite dry and prone to breaking.
Coconut Oil
From being a wonderful addition to smoothies, to being a healthier cooking oil, this ingredient is bound to already be in your kitchen for its many uses.
Just scoop up some oil and rub it with your fingers until it becomes more liquid.
Rub it into two cotton pads and place them over your eyes. Leave them there for around 30 seconds for the product to sink into the lashes.
Wipe the coconut oil and mascara away and then wash your face with some lukewarm water.
Coconut oil is also hydrating for the skin, so you’re killing two birds with one stone here!
Olive Oil
Olive oil is very effective at removing the toughest waterproof mascaras. It is also something that is bound to be lying in your kitchen.
Not only will this remove your mascara, it will also nourish and hydrate your eyelashes!
Place a few drops of olive oil onto a cotton ball or cotton pad. Rub it gently on your lashes in a downward motion.
Once all the mascara is off, you can wipe the excess off with a washcloth and warm water.
Vaseline, or petroleum jelly, is also effective at removing waterproof mascara, just as it is effective at removing regular mascara.
Just use the same method you would use if it were normal mascara, and wash it off at the end!
Final Tips For Mascara Removal
All the makeup remover alternatives above are likely to be found in your home.
They are all effective at removing mascara, with some even giving your face and lashes some extra hydration while it does its work!
Here are some final tips for removing mascara:
- Never scrub harshly at your eyelashes. This can cause some of them to weaken and fall off. You should wipe them gently with the ingredients you choose.
- If you are having difficulty removing some mascara that is on the lash line, especially waterproof mascara, then you can grab a Q-tip and dip it in whatever remover you are using. This allows for more precision without being rough on your lashes.
- If a certain remover you have selected seems to be too harsh, you can dip the cotton pad in some warm water before adding the product, this will soften it down. Warm water will also help the removal process.
Final Thoughts
Mascara is a staple part of a makeup routine and can make anyone transform their eyes from tired and dull, to alert and sparkly.
Depending on which mascara you use, removing it at the end of the day can be a hard task all in itself, especially if you’ve run out of makeup remover.
The alternatives in this article are likely to be lying around the house somewhere, and they may surprise you.
You may find that some of them work even better than conventional makeup removers.
If you’ve found one that you really like using, you can cut down on costs by removing makeup remover from your grocery list altogether, using a much cheaper alternative!