The Trick To Removing Waterproof Mascara Is Surprisingly Easy

Created to reduce the chances of being wiped off, waterproof mascara can pose a problem at the end of the day when it comes time to remove it. Making things even more problematic, yanking and pulling can tear eyelashes and cause breakage while decreasing your skin's elasticity. The good news is that wearing waterproof mascara doesn't have to require you to block off twenty minutes when you go to wash your face.

Waterproof mascara comes formulated with different ingredients than traditional mascara to help water roll off rather than absorb. Celebrity makeup artist, Daniel Chinchilla, tells InStyle, "Beeswax, candelila, and carnauba waxes are most commonly used, causing water to roll off the mascara instead of making it smudge." This thick wax can lead to lash loss when you're rubbing away at your eyes at night, however. 

When searching for your waterproof formula, steer clear of formulas made with sodium laurel sulfate, which is linked to cancer and neurotoxicity; it may be irritating for the eyes as well. Additionally, avoid diazolidinyl urea since it can cause redness and itchy eyes, according to Good Housekeeping.

While this may seem relatively obvious, many still take their waterproof product off with regular remover. The bottom line is: if you use a different kind of formula, you should use a different kind of product to take it off.

Once you find a remover that you like, douse a cotton pad in it and hold it gently to your lash line. Allow the product to soak through rather than rubbing vigorously, Good Housekeeping recommends. "You should be gentle and choose soft pads that are not abrasive for your eyes," Elise Brisco, OD, CCH, integrative optometrist and clinical homeopath tells the outlet. Once the product saturates through your lashes, then you can gently move the cotton pad downwards. 

If your lashes need an extra swipe, use a cotton swab dipped in remover to clean up any areas that the pad may have missed, the outlet adds. Repeat the process as needed and remember that the "skin around your eyes is up to 10 times thinner than other parts of your face and is therefore more delicate," as Brisco explains to Good Housekeeping. Make sure you're as gentle on your lashes and your skin as possible.